Yachts larger than 200 tons.

[far-trader]

Well it does have the advantage? of being able to chase the helicopter for landing and giving it an into the wind boost when launching. Maybe?

Most I've seen are on the stern, I've always imagined so that it can be in the lee and permit the helicopter to chase the ship which I presumed was the easier method of matching speeds (the helo being faster and more maneuverable).

The length of the ship, it's displacement, and speed, as well as weather will all factor how much the deck is moving. I'm not sure placement aboard ship of the pad will be much of a difference. And amidships you add all kinds of other hazards with structure ahead and behind, and generally higher amidships. And if the worst happens and the helo crashes I'd think the damage would be more critical amidships than astern or bow.

Bow on might also be a choice of providing a clear unobstructed view of the helo for the ship's crew, to better aid the landing and takeoff with fewer crew.

Mostly conjecture and guesses though

EDIT: Addendum: I've got to say that forward radar/electronics mast (another guess) looks awfully tall and close to the pad though. And a tad redundant given all the other apparent radar domes and electronics masts.

 

[far-trader]

Apparently there is also a helipad on the stern And really, who doesn't need TWO helicopters on their megayacht The staff has to have some way of running to the market for more caviar without leaving you stranded and adrift :rofl:

I mean no one would use any of the SEVEN boats or TWO submarines abaord. Those are just for show

 

[Orr]

Regarding the forward helipad, perhaps it isn't used when the ship is underway? Might it be more of a "parking lot"?

Apparently these vessels spend more time moored and/or docked than actually sailing about.

 

[Timerover51]

The optimum place for a helipad on a ship is in the 3/4 length from the bow. I.E. somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 of the ship's length from the bow. Take a look at where most naval vessels of destroyer and frigate size have helipads. A set up like that means that they do not expect to use that landing pad while at sea.

 

[mike wightman]

Depends whose Navy you look at.

In the RN all the helipads are at the rear of the ship.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Just idle curiosity about this vessel BG posted:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Octopus-yacht.jpg

Is the prow the best place for a helipad? I would have thought a pad amidships would be easier to land on in anything greater than a light swell...

The prow isn't. It's bobbing more than the rest of the ship, but, on the upside, has a cleaner stream of air than the mess of vortices aft of the superstructure. Then again the broken up air could be a benefit. I don't really know. I looked through a book on helo aerodynamics many years back, and as much as I read of it none of it ever sank in with me.

Like the other guy said, I think most naval vessels have helo pads aft. Even when the venerable battleships replaced their seaplanes with helos they kept them in the aft quarter.

 

[SanDragon]

The vast majority of which would be solved by buying a personal aircraft carrier.