Skyports and Groupe ADP partner to operate Downtown Manhattan Heliport
November 25, 2024
A public hearing is to be held on 9 December to confirm the appointment, announced the York City Economic Development Corporation (NYDEC), with Downtown Skyport to assume control of the strategically-located vertiport – a crucial chapter in bringing advanced air mobility to market in the US.
As reported on the New York City online record service, Downtown Skyport LLC (a consortium of the two companies) will be awarded a concession to operate the heliport at Manhattan’s Pier 6 for a five year term, with the agreement to be administered and managed by the NYCEDC. Following a five year initial term, three five year options will also offer the potential to extend the contract for a total of 20 years.
The City will receive incrementally larger annual guarantee for every year of operation, starting at $2.75 million and rising to $3.21 million by year five. By year 20, with established operations projected to become more profitable, this rises to almost $5.8 million.
Currently operated by Saker Aviation Services, the Downtown Manhattan Heliport is located alongside Wall Street on the East River with easy access to Kennedy, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and Teterboro Airports; “making it convenient for busy executives, leisure travellers, and sightseers,” explains its website. Consisting of a pier and a barge (with adjacent car parking space), the facility can accommodate 12 helicopters weighing up to 50,000 lbs on its barge.
Although eVTOL operators are unlikely to have imminent need of the heliport’s unique position as the country’s only FAA Part-139 certified helicopter facility (enabling it to serve scheduled services in aircraft with nine-31 seats), the heliport is also the first public heliport with a semi-automatic fire protection foam system, and the first to use a barge for aircraft parking.
California-based eVTOL developer Joby Aviation is among the manufacturers excited about the upcoming news, having completed a series of exhibition flights from downtown Manhattan last year. “We’re very pleased to see New York City and the NYC Economic Development Corporation leaning into the quieter, cleaner future of vertical flight,” commented Joby, adding: “We’re excited to fly from the heliport again when we launch in NYC”.
“Together with our partners United And Southwest Airlines, we are excited to work with New York to help electrify the downtown NYC heliport and bring quieter, more affordable electric air taxis to New Yorkers,” added rival eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation.
