The Roadgrip team have been installing the new helipad at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, ensuring that emergency air ambulances can continue to land safely and efficiently for years to come.
This project wasn’t a simple resurface; it was a full replacement.
The existing helipad had reached the end of its service life, so we began by ripping up the old surface and starting from scratch. The new helipad has been completely upgraded to meet current and future aviation standards. It now includes a larger concrete landing area surrounded by a four-metre safety zone and, for the first time, the facility can support both daytime and night-time air ambulance operations, with new aviation lighting and safety markings ensuring safe landings in all conditions.
We shotblasted the concrete to create the right texture for the specialist coating system to bond properly. Because the edge lighting was already installed, we had to hand grind carefully around the perimeter, making sure every edge was clean and level without damaging the sensitive lights. After that, we primed the surface and applied Mapei TNS Extreme, a high-performance coating system designed for heavy use and outdoor durability. This was used for all the helipad markings, including the large “H” and touchdown circle that guide incoming pilots.
As with many airfield projects, the weather didn’t make it easy. The site is exposed, and we faced strong winds for much of the installation period. Midway through the works, the team also had to accommodate another challenge: the installation of new internal lights halfway through the job.
At that point, we had only completed the first coat of the yellow markings, so when the lighting team came in, our crews had to return later and cut in precisely around each light fitting before finishing the final coats. It demanded patience, precision, and close coordination between teams, but that’s exactly the kind of challenge we thrive on.
Hospital helipads play a critical role in emergency care across the UK. They are not just landing spots; they are lifelines. For major trauma centres and specialist hospitals like Northumbria, helipads ensure patients with life-threatening injuries can be flown in directly, bypassing ground traffic and saving precious minutes when every second counts.
To meet Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) standards, hospital helipads must be clearly marked, durable, and safe in all weather conditions. The coatings must provide excellent visibility day and night, resist heavy rotor wash, and maintain grip in wet or icy conditions. That’s why materials like Mapei TNS Extreme, and precision workmanship, are so important.
Contact our UK team to discuss your helipad or visit Roadgrip Airports to learn more.
