Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 16000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
The incident described below is only one of an ongoing series of similar events that have occurred on the east end of the south ramp at the ZZZ. A number of these events have been reported; in detail; to the ZZZ FAA FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) without acknowledgement or resolution. The fundamental issue is the congested use of the ramp for the basing/parking of a mixture of fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft; conducting taxi/air-taxi departure and arrival operations. In the majority of cases a helicopter air-taxiing for departure or arrival surprises or startles the pilots of a fixed-wing aircraft taxiing from or onto its ramp area. Because they are technically airborne at during the reported events; the helicopter pilots are communicating on the TWR frequency while the fixed-wing pilots are using GRND Control while taxiing. In some cases; the air-taxiing helicopters; mostly passenger tour flights; have passed close to or over the fixed-wing aircraft within separation distances that create significant concern for the fixed-wing pilots.  In the one case; was taxiing my aircraft along a taxiway near my ramp when an air-taxiing tour helicopter surprised me by approaching from my right ahead of me. I had no way of knowing of its proximity until I was within 70-80 feet of it. The helicopter hesitated a moment as it approached the taxiway; then proceeded to cross over the taxiway immediately in front of my aircraft causing me to quickly stop to avoid a close encounter. I reported the event to the GRND controller. If I had been advised of the helicoper's approach by GRND Control; I would have been able to avoid being startled and having to stop quickly.
Flight crew reports conflicts with helicopter arrivals and departures during aircraft taxi in airport ramp area.