Aircraft mooring installation

An installation comprises a floating platform to facilitate mooring, payload transfer and support operations for waterborne lighter-than-air aircraft such as airships and hybrid lift air vehicles. A floating platform 1, which may be anchored from below, is equipped with a centrally mounted mooring mast 2. A waterborne aircraft 8 can be secured by attaching its nose to the central mooring mast 2 via an articulated coupling that leaves the aircraft 8 free to rotate in any direction necessary to align with prevailing wave and wind forces. Additionally, the platform may include a rotatable deck and jetty structure 3, 4 incorporating one or more hinged boarding ramps 5 that are arranged to turn freely about the centre of the platform and so maintain heading alignment with a moored aircraft, whilst providing a secure access path 13 between a service boat 12 and the moored aircraft 8, irrespective of movements induced by wave and wind forces.