San Francisco available Helicopter Landing Sites

In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, helicopters would land in any parking lot or wide intersection. The emergency landing sites shown  below, are listed in the SF Emergency Medical Services Agency Manual, Appendix B:

Helipad History in San Francisco

San Francisco residents have successfully battled helicopter danger and noise since the early 1960s.   In the past, all heliport and helipad proposals have been defeated by concerned residents.  For example:

  • UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus: Never built, due to local opposition;
  • Davies Medical Center, Castro x 14th St.: Never built, due to local opposition;
  • Pier 54, 1986 SF Chamber of Commerce proposal: NOT approved;
  • Pier 70, 1988 Heliport proposal near Potrero Hill : NOT approved.

There are currently several unused San Francisco Helipads:

  • Hall of Justice, 6th x Bryant: Police Helipad, unused since 2000 fatal crash, which killed 2 police officers;
  • Bank of America Data Center, 11th and Market St.: Never used, due to local opposition;
  • Pier 32 Medical Helipad: Used in the 1980s for Medical transport;
  • Pier 94, Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard: Used from late 1980s to 2004 for Medical transport to SF hospitals.

Former Helipads:

  • Police Heliport at Lake Merced: Police Helicopter Unit closed after fatal 1976 crash;
  • Chrissy Field: Used for Medical Transport in 1980s/90s;
  • Pier 1/2, Ferry Building: former shuttle to SFO and Oakland airports;
  • Pier 43 Fisherman's Wharf: Commodore Tours flew over SF 1971-1986, finally closed after 10+ years of neighborhood residents' protests.