Synonyms / Other Terms Used
Helicopter Pad, Helipad, Helicopter Rides, Helicopter Tours, Helicopter Transportation
Category
Transportation, Transport Facilities, Transport Modes, Travel, Tourism, Concessions
Message / Function
To indicate the location of helicopters
Source | Description | |
---|---|---|
D/FW | Side view of helicopter with wheels | |
ADV | Side view of helicopter with wheels | |
O'72 | Side view of helicopter with wheels | |
PC | Side view of helicopter with landing pontoons | |
AIGA | Side view of helicopter with landing pontoons | |
DER | Side view of helicopter, horizontal line below | |
SSRS | Side view of small helicopter with landing pontoons | |
TAC | Side view of helicopter | |
CNIS | Side view of helicopter | |
Eco-Mo Foundation |
Side view of helicopter | |
ISO 7001 | Side view of helicopter | |
SVI | Side view of helicopter | |
Peru MST | Side view of helicopter | |
SADC | Side view of helicopter | |
Düsseldorf Airport |
Side view of helicopter | |
EJP | Side view of helicopter |
Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.
Discussion
Pictogram variants found generally show a side view of a helicopter. Often they only differ in detail: the size indicated for example by the number of windows, landing gear as wheels, skids or pontoons, or the way rotors are drawn.
In her dissertation concerning optimization of pictograms, Skone (1977) examined a total of seven renderings of helicopters with varying level of detail, based on two different helicopter types. While displaying wheels seemed negligible for fast recognition of a helicopter, showing windows appeared to be more important. A pure outline version tested proved to be least effective.
In the Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation reached a comprehension score of 95.1, an almost perfect value (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). On the other hand, when Fiori (2008) examined an map symbol similar to the pictogram labeled DER in the table above, only 39.3 % of the respondents answered correctly. Answers like Flying Club, Air Taxi, etc. indicate that a higher percentage of the participants identified the helicopter as such. This study was conducted in Brazil.
Recommendation
We recommend the use of a pictogram variant similar to the one of the Eco-Mo Foundation.
Tests of pictograms of referent Heliport / Helicopter
Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.
Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.
Skone, K. (1977): Erkennbarkeit von Symbolvarianten. Dissertation, Psychology Department, University of Vienna.
See also
Airport, Arrivals / Arriving Flights, Departures / Departing Flights, Flight Connections, Transfer
Updated 2024-03-12 by Ch.Brugger