Custer Heliport

Relocation for operational efficiency and improved facilities. The heliport was located at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) administrative site within the city of Custer, which was considered a cramped and restrictive environment for aviation operations. The move to the Custer State Park Airport allowed the Helitack crew to be co-located with other air resources, provided more space for operations and maintenance, and ultimately improved the efficiency and response time for wildland firefighting missions.

The heliport is permanently closed and decommissioned. The site, located at the Black Hills National Forest Supervisor's Office, no longer functions as an active aviation facility. The helipad markings have been removed, and the paved area is now used for vehicle parking, equipment staging, and general open space for the Forest Service's administrative complex.

The Custer Heliport (US-0455) was a private-use facility owned and operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Its primary and critical function was to serve as the base for the 'Custer Helitack' crew, an elite team of wildland firefighters. For many years, this heliport was the launching point for helicopter missions throughout the Black Hills National Forest. Operations included rapid deployment of firefighters to remote and inaccessible fire lines, reconnaissance flights, and aerial water drops using helibuckets to suppress wildfires. It was a vital asset in the region's fire management strategy.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Custer Heliport. The relocation of the USFS Helitack base to the Custer State Park Airport was a permanent and strategic move to a superior facility. The original site is considered obsolete for its former purpose, and all helicopter operations are now based at the new location.