APCI Emergency Heliport

Economic reasons and facility conversion. The heliport was an ancillary support facility for the Chalmette Refinery. The refinery was shut down due to the dramatic fall in fuel demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the new owner, PBF Energy, announced plans to permanently convert the site into a renewable diesel fuel production facility, rendering the oil refinery's emergency heliport obsolete in its original function.

The heliport is permanently closed and defunct. The site it occupied is part of the former Chalmette Refinery, which is currently being redeveloped and converted by PBF Energy into the 'Chalmette Renewable Diesel Facility'. While the physical concrete or asphalt pad of the helipad may still exist on the grounds, it is no longer a registered or operational aviation facility.

The APCI Emergency Heliport was a private, un-towered heliport located on the grounds of the Chalmette Refinery. Its name likely refers to a past owner or operating company, though in its later years the refinery was operated by Chalmette Refining LLC (a joint venture of ExxonMobil and PDVSA). The heliport's sole and critical purpose was to support the massive industrial complex. Its operations were focused on emergency services, including:
- **Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC):** Providing rapid transport for workers injured in industrial accidents to nearby hospitals.
- **Emergency Response:** Flying in specialized personnel, sensitive equipment, or firefighting foam concentrate during emergencies such as fires, chemical spills, or equipment failures.
- **Logistical Support:** Occasionally used for transporting key personnel or critical parts to and from the facility, especially during turnarounds or emergencies.
It was an essential component of the refinery's safety and emergency response plan.

None. There are no prospects for reopening the APCI Emergency Heliport (US-0093). The parent facility it was built to serve no longer exists in its original form. It is possible that the new renewable fuels facility, once fully operational, may establish its own new emergency heliport to meet its own safety and regulatory requirements. However, this would be a new facility under a new designation, not a reopening of the old one.