Gulfstream III (G1159A)
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 95; Flight Crew Total 1400; Flight Crew Type 100
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was PF in the left seat and we were cleared for take off on Rwy XL.  As we were lining up on the runway; I heard the Tower clear a helicopter for an eastbound departure from the ramp; but I did not visually see the helicopter yet.  Once we were on the takeoff roll; I saw the helicopter lifting off from the ramp (ahead and to our left); but it appeared to be turning parallel to our runway to I diverted my attention back to the runway.  Right after initiating rotation; I saw the helicopter begin to cross over our runway; left to right; at approximately 200 feet AGL.  Because we were past V1 and already rotating on a short runway; I quickly determined an aborted takeoff was not an option so I continued our rotation.  During these few seconds; there were some communications between the Tower and the helicopter; but I did not comprehend them due to my focus on avoiding hitting the helicopter.  Shortly after liftoff (~100 feet AGL); I had to make an evasive maneuver to our left and reduce our climb rate for a few seconds to avoid hitting the helicopter.  Luckily; there was no terrain or obstacles to the left of our runway heading.  Once the helicopter passed off our right at what I estimate was 200-300 feet; I resumed a normal climb rate and a right turn back to our departure heading.  The Tower controller apologized and then handed us off to Departure.  Looking back on the scenario; I believe continuing the takeoff roll as we did was the right call; as we certainly would have had a runway excursion if we had attempted an abort at that point in the roll - passed V1 and already rotating.  Additionally; I am not sure how I could have anticipated the impending conflict earlier because helicopters maneuver on a dime and it was hard to tell its intending heading after liftoff.  After the event; I listened to the ATC recording on a publicly available website and it seems the controller tried to tell the helicopter pilot to remain north of the runway at all times; but that transmission was not acknowledged.
Twin Engine Jet Pilot reported a NMAC with a helicopter during takeoff.