President Donald Trump is reportedly considering construction of a permanent helipad on the White House South Lawn after concerns emerged that the next-generation presidential helicopter is tearing up the grass during landings.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring plans to install a permanent helipad on the South Lawn of the White House as the new presidential helicopter fleet creates increasing damage to the historic grounds.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the proposal stems from concerns involving the new VH-92A Patriot helicopter, which officials say generates significantly more power and ground force than the older presidential aircraft it is replacing.
The VH-92A Patriot is replacing the aging VH-3D Sea King helicopters that have long served as part of the Marine One fleet transporting U.S. presidents.
Sources cited by the Journal said the stronger engines and rotor wash from the newer aircraft have caused substantial wear to the White House lawn during takeoffs and landings.
Officials have reportedly known about the issue for years.
Concerns involving the helicopter’s impact on the South Lawn date back to at least 2018, according to the report, when evaluations of the aircraft’s auxiliary power systems and engine strength raised questions about potential ground damage.
Currently, crews place protective boards beneath the wheels of the older helicopters shortly before landing in an effort to reduce wear on the grass.
The newer VH-92A system, however, reportedly creates significantly greater pressure and airflow than the previous aircraft, complicating efforts to preserve the lawn through temporary protective measures alone.
The proposed helipad would mark another White House renovation effort under Trump, who has previously overseen updates and modifications to portions of the presidential grounds and facilities.
No formal announcement regarding construction plans has been made, and details surrounding the size, design, or potential cost of a South Lawn helipad have not been publicly disclosed.
The VH-92A Patriot program has faced years of scrutiny over delays, technical adjustments, and escalating costs as the military modernizes the presidential transport fleet.
The aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky, was designed to replace the decades-old Sea King helicopters with upgraded communications systems, security capabilities, and transport performance.
Marine One operations have long been a visible feature of White House activity, with helicopters routinely landing on the South Lawn for presidential departures and arrivals.
Any permanent helipad installation would likely represent one of the more noticeable structural changes to the White House grounds in recent years.
on the White House South Lawn.
The helipad would prevent damage to the grass from the new VH-92A Patriot helicopter, which is much more powerful than the VH-3D Sea King that it is replacing, according to The Wall Street Journal reported, which first reported the story, citing unnamed sources.
The potential damage to the lawn from the engines, as well as an auxiliary power unit used to start the engines, has been known since at least 2018.
The older helicopter lands on boards that are placed underneath its wheels shortly before it lands.
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