FAA blocks Indianapolis heliport closure, orders it kept for aviation use

The FAA has reversed its earlier position on Indianapolis Downtown Heliport (8A4) and told the Indianapolis Airport Authority to keep the 5.36-acre site in public aviation use. In a new federal notice, the agency said it will not release the authority from its Airport Improvement Program obligations, blocking a proposed sale of the property for nonaviation redevelopment.

The authority first sought to close the heliport in 2021, citing falling helicopter traffic and high running costs. The FAA counted 447 operations there in 2025, excluding flights by IU Health, which moved its operations to Indianapolis Regional Airport. In November 2024 the agency backed closure, finding that money from selling the land could benefit aviation more if it went back into Indianapolis Regional.

That decision drew objections. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita asked for reconsideration, arguing the property still had value for public safety work, helicopter training and newer aviation technologies. He called the reversal a win for taxpayers, public safety, advanced air mobility and aviation.

The FAA received 737 public comments during its review: 686 in favour of keeping the heliport open and 41 supporting closure, according to the agency. It also weighed an offer from Sweet Helicopters to buy the site for more than its appraised value and continue running it as a public-use heliport. In its revised determination, the FAA gave more weight to keeping the airfield in place for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and other advanced air mobility activity.