US Helicopter
Encyclopedia
US Helicopter was an independent air shuttle
service that operated regularly scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan
to Newark and JFK airports. Flights left from Downtown
(JRB, near Wall Street) and Midtown (TSS, East 34th Street
) Manhattan Heliports to Delta Air Lines
Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport
(JFK). There were also flights to and from Bridgeport, Connecticut
(BDR). It was headquartered at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport
, Pier 6 E River in Lower Manhattan
, New York City
.
, Mohegan Sun
, Foxwoods and Atlantic City
. Working with the air traffic control and FAA, the helicopters operated on special dedicated flight paths between the heliports and airports. The fleet consisted of three 8-seat Sikorsky S-76
dual engine helicopters with first class executive leather interiors, each operated by two pilots. US Helicopter was the only scheduled helicopter airline service in the United States certified by both the United States Department of Transportation
and the Federal Aviation Administration
.
The company offered seasonal service to East Hampton, New York
and Belmar, New Jersey
. East Hampton flights took 35 minutes and Belmar flights took 18 minutes. These flights cost $799 and $326, respectively, and operated annually from June to September.
Each heliport was equipped with a VIP lounge/waiting area, as well as TSA
screening capability. They had roomy leather chairs, large TVs and Bloomberg Terminal
s. Passengers traveling via Delta Air Lines
and Continental Airlines
were checked in at the heliport and could obtain boarding passes and baggage receipts to their final destination. These passengers remained in secure areas, eliminating the need to go through airport security again at the airport. Passengers traveling with other airlines could connect to the appropriate terminal to complete the check-in process and proceed through security to their flight gate.
in November 2006. Flights from Newark used to operate from a secured area at Gate 71 in Continental Airlines
' Terminal C.
The company had severe financial difficulties in 2009 and had to borrow operating funds at high interest rates. On 25 September 2009, US Helicopter suddenly shut down. The next month, the company filed an 8-K form stating that it no longer had resources to continue to file Securities and Exchange Commission reports or prepare financial statements. The airline never operated again.
Air shuttle
An air shuttle is a scheduled airline service that operates a frequent, regular service on short routes with a simplified fare and class structure. Although no exact specifications exist, frequency is normally once per hour or more often and travel time is typically an hour or less, although longer...
service that operated regularly scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
to Newark and JFK airports. Flights left from Downtown
Downtown Manhattan Heliport
The Downtown Manhattan Heliport , also known as the Downtown Manhattan/Wall St. Heliport, is a helicopter landing platform at Pier 6 in the East River in Manhattan, New York.- History :...
(JRB, near Wall Street) and Midtown (TSS, East 34th Street
East 34th Street Heliport
East 34th Street Heliport is a heliport on the east side of Manhattan located between the East River and the FDR Drive viaduct. Also known as the Atlantic Metroport at East 34th Street, it is a public heliport owned by New York City and run by the Economic Development Corporation.The East 34th...
) Manhattan Heliports to Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
(JFK). There were also flights to and from Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
(BDR). It was headquartered at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport
Downtown Manhattan Heliport
The Downtown Manhattan Heliport , also known as the Downtown Manhattan/Wall St. Heliport, is a helicopter landing platform at Pier 6 in the East River in Manhattan, New York.- History :...
, Pier 6 E River in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Services
When operating, flights to the airport lasted eight minutes and cost $159. Flights operated on weekdays from 7:15 am to 7:45 pm, with service on the hour to JFK, then back to the Manhattan heliports at half past the hour. The company also offered chartered service to popular locations including the Hamptons, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
, Foxwoods and Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. Working with the air traffic control and FAA, the helicopters operated on special dedicated flight paths between the heliports and airports. The fleet consisted of three 8-seat Sikorsky S-76
Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
dual engine helicopters with first class executive leather interiors, each operated by two pilots. US Helicopter was the only scheduled helicopter airline service in the United States certified by both the United States Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
and the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
.
The company offered seasonal service to East Hampton, New York
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
and Belmar, New Jersey
Belmar, New Jersey
Belmar is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,794. The Borough of Belmar is governed under the Faulkner Act system of municipal government....
. East Hampton flights took 35 minutes and Belmar flights took 18 minutes. These flights cost $799 and $326, respectively, and operated annually from June to September.
Each heliport was equipped with a VIP lounge/waiting area, as well as TSA
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
screening capability. They had roomy leather chairs, large TVs and Bloomberg Terminal
Bloomberg Terminal
The Bloomberg Terminal is a computer system provided by Bloomberg L.P. that enables financial professionals to access the Bloomberg Professional service through which users can monitor and analyze real-time financial market data movements and place trades on the electronic trading platform...
s. Passengers traveling via Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
and Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
were checked in at the heliport and could obtain boarding passes and baggage receipts to their final destination. These passengers remained in secure areas, eliminating the need to go through airport security again at the airport. Passengers traveling with other airlines could connect to the appropriate terminal to complete the check-in process and proceed through security to their flight gate.
History
The company started service in March 2006. Service to the East 34th Street Heliport was added in September 2006 and to Newark Liberty International AirportNewark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
in November 2006. Flights from Newark used to operate from a secured area at Gate 71 in Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
' Terminal C.
The company had severe financial difficulties in 2009 and had to borrow operating funds at high interest rates. On 25 September 2009, US Helicopter suddenly shut down. The next month, the company filed an 8-K form stating that it no longer had resources to continue to file Securities and Exchange Commission reports or prepare financial statements. The airline never operated again.
Airports served
- Downtown Manhattan HeliportDowntown Manhattan HeliportThe Downtown Manhattan Heliport , also known as the Downtown Manhattan/Wall St. Heliport, is a helicopter landing platform at Pier 6 in the East River in Manhattan, New York.- History :...
(Downtown Manhattan) - East 34th Street HeliportEast 34th Street HeliportEast 34th Street Heliport is a heliport on the east side of Manhattan located between the East River and the FDR Drive viaduct. Also known as the Atlantic Metroport at East 34th Street, it is a public heliport owned by New York City and run by the Economic Development Corporation.The East 34th...
(Midtown ManhattanMidtown ManhattanMidtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
) - John F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, Terminal 3, Gate 11 (QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
) - Sikorsky Memorial AirportSikorsky Memorial AirportIgor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport , formerly known as Bridgeport Municipal Airport, is a public airport located in Stratford, three miles southeast of the central business district of Bridgeport, in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States...
(Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
) - East Hampton AirportEast Hampton AirportEast Hampton Airport is a public airport in Wainscott, New York, three miles west of the central business district of the village of East Hampton, in Suffolk County, New York, USA. It is owned and operated by the Town of East Hampton....
(East Hampton, New YorkEast Hampton (town), New YorkThe Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
) (seasonal) - Monmouth Executive AirportMonmouth Executive AirportMonmouth Executive Airport is a public-use airport located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The airport is five miles west of the central business district of Belmar and east of Farmingdale...
(Belmar, New JerseyBelmar, New JerseyBelmar is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,794. The Borough of Belmar is governed under the Faulkner Act system of municipal government....
) (seasonal)
See also
- New York AirwaysNew York AirwaysNew York Airways was a helicopter airline in the New York City area. Founded in 1949 as a mail and cargo carrier, on July 9, 1953 it became the first scheduled helicopter airline to carry passengers in the United States...
, the first helicopter airline to serve Manhattan; now defunct