Indianapolis, US 🇺🇸 Closed Airport
ICAO
US-11401
IATA
-
Elevation
715 ft
Region
US-IN
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 39.782005° N, -86.158728° E
Continent: North America
Type: Closed Airport
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
H1/ |
35 ft | 35 ft | CONC | Active |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
Circa early 2010s. The exact date is not publicly documented, but reports from 2013 confirm that WTHR (Channel 13) had ceased operating its news helicopter by that time. The heliport was depicted on aeronautical charts in the 1990s but was no longer listed as active by the mid-2010s.
Primarily economic reasons. Like many local television stations across the United States during that period, WTHR grounded its helicopter due to the extremely high costs associated with operation, maintenance, insurance, and pilot salaries. The decision was also influenced by the rise of more cost-effective news-gathering technologies, such as a widespread network of ground-based traffic cameras and, later, the advent of professional-grade drones, which could provide aerial footage at a fraction of the cost and with less risk.
The heliport is permanently closed and defunct. The physical site is the rooftop of the WTHR-TV station building located at 1000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis. Satellite imagery still shows the faded markings of the helipad, including a large 'H', on the roof. However, it is no longer registered or used for any aviation activities. The building itself remains the active broadcast headquarters for WTHR.
The Channel 13 Heliport was a private-use facility integral to the news operations of WTHR-TV, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis. Its sole purpose was to launch and land the station's news helicopter, famously branded as 'SkyTrak 13'. From the 1980s through the 2000s, the helicopter was a critical tool for providing live, breaking news coverage from the air. It gave the station a significant competitive advantage in covering major events such as traffic snarls, police chases, fires, storm damage, and large public gatherings like the Indianapolis 500. The aerial perspective offered by SkyTrak 13 was a hallmark of the station's news brand and a vital part of daily broadcasts, particularly for morning and evening commute traffic reports.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. The industry-wide economic and technological trends that led to its closure have only intensified. Drones have become the standard for affordable aerial videography in local news, making a dedicated, multi-million dollar helicopter operation obsolete for most markets. Reopening the facility is considered extremely unlikely.