First Helicopter Airline to be launched

[Wings Level]

Entrepreneur Sees Opportunity in Gridlock

By Michael P. Bruno
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Friday, October 18, 2002; 12:00 AM


At least one local businessman is looking to capitalize on gridlock. Steve Walker, a multimillionaire financier, has said he will launch his much-anticipated helicopter airline in spring.

In an interview, Walker, president of venture capital firm Steve Walker and Associates, declined to discuss details. But the Web site for his helicopter company, America Rising (www.capitolrising.com), gives more information.

Assuming "appropriate government approvals," a helicopter "fleet" will fly scheduled corporate shuttle service between downtown Washington and downtown New York, offering a dozen round trips per day in each direction from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the Web site. The helicopters would accommodate 12, 18 or 30 passengers.

"We're setting up the first helicopter airline. This is going to work, this is going to be a big thing," Walker said.

Walker has been trying for at least two years to create a network of so-called "helistops" between Baltimore and Richmond, including one in Tysons Corner where he has met resistance from local residents concerned with noise pollution.

Walker's helicopter service would be targeted at high-worth executives -- the "time is money" crowd.

 

[Anaconda]

far be it...there is another operator of scheduled S-76 service, i believe they operate in the NW...have to research it...i know there is one in asia, as well as a frax operator here in the states...

 

[turning2]

Anaconda,
You're one the money about the one in the NW. Helijet, www.helijet.com Last time I checked they were the largest helicopter sched operator in the world.

2

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I think PANAM ran a helio service from NYC_JFK also...way back before most of us were born....in the 70s...
I could be wrong..
either way it sounds like a dumb A$$ idea and a quick way to waste millions...oh well...

 

[ShawnC]

Well when I was in Princeton, I saw helicopters fly to and from the general direction of NYC about every half an hour or so. I was tempted to pull out a scanner and see what was up.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

I can barely remember flying on San Francisco Helicopters when I was about 4 years old. I think it was on an S-61.

Pan-Am flew from the top of a building on 34th street. Helijet runs from Vancouver to Seattle, Victoria...and I think Abbotsford and Whistler. They are the only helicopter airline operating in N. America (I think!!!).

Cheers!

GP

 

[Typhoon1244]

First? What about New York Air? They flew whatever the civilian version of the CH-46 Sea Knight is during the '70's.

 

[HAL]

My first helicopter ride was in the mid 60's on LA Airways, which operated Sikorsky S-61's around the LA basin. We often took it from Newport Beach (the Newporter hotel) to LAX instead of driving. It was scarier than hell for me as a young kid to walk across a ramp to board the thing with the huge blades whirling by overhead and the engines screaming, but the ride (and the memories) was worth it in the end.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/094288/L/

HAL

 

[abexpilot]

It looks like this fellow has figured out how to make a small fortune in aviation.

 

[Slim]

Capitol (Capital?) Helicopters in the DC area in the early 1980s. They flew between DCA-IAD and, I believe, BWI. There was also talk of service between those airports and RIC/PHL. It lost money very rapidly and didn't last a year.

Good luck to those who try this!

 

[LR25]

During the Olympics in ATL, there was a helicopter service between Hatsfield and downtown (somewhere?) allday everyday during that time. It seemed really efficient. They did PAX and freight from Mercury's ramp allday long

I also remember seeing pictures of a Rotodyne type of helicopter doing PAX service somewhere, not sure if it was the states or overseas.

I dont think its a bad idea, I wish I had a helicopter rating now.

 

[bobbysamd]

Helo airlines

I think there was an outfit known as St. Louis Helicopter during the '60s.

As Gulfstream mentioned, I recall a helo airline in New York during the '70s. I'm 51, which might be why I recall it!

I was not around in the '40s when helicopters first came out, but I have read where it was predicted that everyone would have his own personal helicopter, just like cars. For that matter, there was a big postwar airplane boom predicted, and we know where that went.

I bet a lot of it has to do with public acceptance. Flying low to the ground on the support of rotors would freak out a lot of people. Also, cost would be prohibititive. Helicopters aren't cheap to operate, too, especially insurance.

I agree with the others, though, I think it's a great idea. But, the service would have to be frequent and cheap to be accepted.