Definition
An FAA Advisory Circular titled 'Heliport Design,' which provides recommended standards and guidance for the planning, design, construction, and marking of heliports, including VFR heliports, hospital heliports, and rooftop heliports.
Plain English
It is the FAA's guidance document that tells designers how to lay out and mark a heliport so it is safe to use. Pilots reference it to understand why heliports look and behave the way they do.
Context Anchor
You may see AC 150/5390-2 cited in FAA helicopter and instrument procedure material when a procedure or discussion depends on the design of a VFR heliport.
Derivation
An Advisory Circular (AC) is the FAA's standard format for issuing non-regulatory guidance. The number 150/5390-2 is the FAA's filing code: 150 covers airports, and 5390 is the series for heliports. The '-2' indicates this is the second major revision in that series.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing the standards behind heliport design helps pilots interpret what they see — touchdown markings, approach/departure paths, and obstacle clearance areas — and judge whether a site is suitable for the operation they are planning.
Intuition Check
Do not read AC 150/5390-2 as a chart, clearance, or procedure. It is a guidance document about heliport design.
Example Sentence 1
Before approving the new hospital helipad, the planner consulted AC 150/5390-2 to confirm the touchdown area met recommended dimensions.
Example Sentence 2
Heliport markings met the requirements in AC 150/5390-2 for safe VFR arrivals.