Freeport, US πΊπΈ Closed Airport
52TX
-
4 ft
US-TX
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 28.966099Β° N, -95.290063Β° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: 52TX
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Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
H1/ |
39 ft | 32 ft | MATS | Active |
The exact date is not publicly documented, but the heliport was listed as 'permanently closed' in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records and various aviation databases around the early 2010s. It was still listed as active in 2007, suggesting it ceased operations sometime between 2008 and 2012.
The closure was due to economic and corporate reasons tied to the parent company and the offshore industry. The heliport's operator was likely connected to Hercules Offshore, a major drilling and marine services company that faced severe financial distress, culminating in bankruptcy filings in 2015 and 2016. The downturn in the offshore oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico during this period led to widespread consolidation and the closure of non-essential support facilities like private heliports.
The site of the former heliport has been completely absorbed into a larger industrial complex. Based on satellite imagery and business maps, the location at 28.966099, -95.290063 is now part of the Vulcan Materials Company's Freeport Dock. The original concrete helipad with a faded 'H' marking is still visible on the ground, but the area is actively used for the storage and handling of industrial aggregates and other bulk materials. The heliport is non-functional and the land has been fully repurposed.
As a private facility (Pvt), the Hercules Marine Services Corp Heliport (52TX) was a crucial logistical hub for the offshore energy sector. Its sole purpose was to support oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Helicopters based here would transport work crews, technicians, company officials, and time-sensitive light cargo to and from offshore drilling rigs, production platforms, and support vessels. It represented a typical example of the private aviation infrastructure that was essential for the day-to-day functioning of the US offshore industry during its peak.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. The original operating company is defunct, and the property has been repurposed for a different heavy industrial use by Vulcan Materials Company. Re-establishing an aviation facility at this site is considered highly improbable.
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