Los Angeles, US 🇺🇸 Closed Airport
US-10862
-
367 ft
US-CA
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 34.069698° N, -118.292° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: 8CL8 8CL8 8CL8
It appears that United Ca Bank Data Processing Ops Heliport (US-10862) in Los Angeles, US, is a private or specialized heliport, rather than a commercial airport open to the general public. As such, there are no publicly available traveler reviews or experiences regarding overall sentiment, terminal facilities, security wait times, customs/immigration, or transportation connections.
Information on heliports of this nature typically focuses on operational details for pilots and air traffic control, rather than passenger services. The facility's name suggests it is likely associated with specific corporate or operational needs, such as for a bank's data processing operations, and is not designed for public travel. While some buildings in Los Angeles, such as the US Bank Tower, have rooftop helipads with specific operational markings (like a "12" indicating a weight limit of 12,000 lbs), these are distinct from public transportation hubs.
Therefore, it is not possible to summarize traveler sentiment, facility quality, security, or transportation aspects as these services are not offered to the public at this type of heliport.
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
H1/ |
42 ft | 39 ft | CONC | Active |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
The heliport, under the name 'United Ca Bank Data Processing Ops', ceased to exist around 1981. This is because its operator, United California Bank (UCB), was rebranded as First Interstate Bank in that year. While the helipad may have remained in use for a short period under the new name, it was fully decommissioned by the late 1980s or early 1990s.
The closure was driven by a combination of factors:
1. **Corporate Rebranding:** The primary trigger was the 1981 renaming of United California Bank to First Interstate Bank, which made the heliport's official designation obsolete.
2. **Technological Obsolescence:** The name 'Data Processing Ops Heliport' strongly suggests its primary function was the rapid physical transport of time-sensitive materials like computer data tapes, punch cards, and financial documents between the data center and other bank branches or headquarters. The rise of electronic data transfer and telecommunications in the 1980s rendered this function obsolete.
3. **Economic Factors:** Maintaining and insuring a private rooftop heliport is extremely expensive. As its primary logistical purpose diminished, the high operational cost could no longer be justified.
4. **Regulatory and Liability Concerns:** Increasing stringency in urban aviation regulations and growing liability concerns led many corporations across the US to decommission their private heliports during this period.
The heliport site is the rooftop of the 31-story commercial office building at 3450 Wilshire Boulevard in the Koreatown/Wilshire Center neighborhood of Los Angeles. The helipad is fully decommissioned and no markings remain. The rooftop space is now used for modern building infrastructure, such as HVAC units and communications equipment. The ICAO code 'US-10862' is a non-official identifier from a third-party aviation database and is not an official FAA location ID.
This heliport was a symbol of the corporate power and technological optimism of the 1970s. Located atop the major office tower at 3450 Wilshire Boulevard (then known as Equitable Plaza), it served the data processing center of United California Bank, a major financial institution. Its existence highlights a bygone era of corporate logistics where helicopters were a critical tool for overcoming urban traffic to move physical data and key personnel. It was one of many private rooftop heliports that characterized the Los Angeles business landscape, representing a unique solution to business needs before the digital age.
None. There are no known plans or prospects for reopening this heliport. The significant financial costs, immense regulatory and zoning hurdles for urban aviation, and opposition from residents in the now densely populated residential and commercial area make reopening infeasible. Furthermore, the original business case for the heliport is entirely obsolete, and there is no modern logistical demand for such a facility at this location.