V-Flyer

News article here

JFK airport helicopter service opens

NEW YORK -- A helicopter commuter line -- the nation's first in more than two decades -- debuted Monday, offering passengers the advantages of soaring over street gridlock and bypassing long lines at check-in and security counters...

...The flight between Wall Street and the American Airlines terminal at JFK takes 8 minutes....

...The TSA will have eight screeners to handle passengers coming and going on US Helicopter's 26 trips per day.

Shame it's only to the AA terminal at the moment, but hey - maybe room for expansion? [:?]

D'oh! I thoughted you'd finally worked out the secret to Teleportation Paul.

But Helicopter transfer would be kinda cool if your going to Wall Street. $160 isn't too bad if your in that much of a rush.

Mat xxx

I did a helecopter transfer from our hotel to the Airport in St lucia. [8D]. Too cool for words. For that price, espc if checkin and TSA is quicker too, I'd do it to JFK.

How awesome is that! And not that costly either.

If it does become popular, i wonder if this can become an option instead of the CDC for J pax?

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer
How awesome is that! And not that costly either.

If it does become popular, i wonder if this can become an option instead of the CDC for J pax?

Thanks,
Sarah

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that a long long time ago when Virgin first started the NYC route that a helicopter transfer was included at the other end?

It would certainly be cool if it was an option instead of the traditional limo transfer. [8D]

Don't know about VS utilizing helicopters, but Pan Am certainly did. New York Helicopter was once a thriving business. I recall quite early in my career finding myself on the same transcontinental PAA 747 LAX-JFK in business class with the president of my employer's company, and two vice presidents. They upgraded me from coach to join them, handed me a drink and we all stood chatting in front of the bar before lunch was served. Upon landing at JFK the president waved us all to follow and we were sent down a ramp, onto the tarmac and into the largest helicopter I've ever seen for a very quick, very cool trip into NYC.

Chuck-

My long-term memory recalls seeing a VS advertising video showing a red helicopter with Virgin on the side being pulled out of a hangar, so maybe there used to be one offered by them.

Originally posted by stevendq
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that a long long time ago when Virgin first started the NYC route that a helicopter transfer was included at the other end?

It would certainly be cool if it was an option instead of the traditional limo transfer. [8D]

No you are right, VS did use to offer a helicopter service for Upper Class passengers, as evidenced here.

Good find Bruce.

VS-EWR: Good memory. I was I could remember things when I was 5.

Originally posted by VS-EWR
My long-term memory recalls seeing a VS advertising video showing a red helicopter with Virgin on the side being pulled out of a hangar, so maybe there used to be one offered by them.

possible, although it could also be the London Air Ambulance

Ahhh - Interesting ad placement but a great idea.

The red Virgin helicopters that are often offered on EBay are the Air Ambulance ones that our cobber, Bruce has linked to.[}:)]

Nick

I did a helecopter transfer from our hotel to the Airport in St lucia

We got the rtn heli transfers to the Jalousie Hilton in 2002 best bit was VH not charging us:D

I always wanted to arrive like Clint did in Coogan's bluff on top of the PANAM building(now Met Life).Unfortunately the heli pad was closed after a 1977 accident that resulted in the death of Horror film maker Michael Findlay, his most infamous film being "Snuff".

A friend of mine has an office that overlooks the Wall Street helipad. I couldn't work there as I would spend the whole time watching the helicopters come and go. If this catches on, VS should consider offering this service - while the limo service in NY isn't bad, an eight minbute transfer time would really make a difference.

Originally posted by Richard28

Originally posted by VS-EWR
My long-term memory recalls seeing a VS advertising video showing a red helicopter with Virgin on the side being pulled out of a hangar, so maybe there used to be one offered by them.

possible, although it could also be the London Air Ambulance

I thought that too, but I remember the Virgin logo being much bigger and over the entire side of the fuselage.

Mr cat did the helicopter transfer thing some years ago, in NYC - he said it didn't cost much more than a taxi - but that doesn't appear so from the article. He landed somewhere along Lexington - on a helipad, I guess! [}:)]

Many years ago, if my memory serves me correctly there was a helicopter connection between LHR and LGW. I don't remember the name of the operator but I think it was around the late '80s.

I also travelled between St. Lucia International and Windjammer Landing by helicopter. My lasting memory is of one of the passenger doors not being tightly closed and spending the 15/20 minute flight holding it shut to prevent, (as I thought), my wife and son falling out.[:?].

Also, the pilot being a friendly chap, engaged us in conversation and kept looking round to speak to us in the rear seat. I kept thinking, nice guy but I wish he would keep his eyes on "the road"![:0]

Originally posted by catsilversword
Mr cat did the helicopter transfer thing some years ago, in NYC - he said it didn't cost much more than a taxi - but that doesn't appear so from the article. He landed somewhere along Lexington - on a helipad, I guess! [}:)]

Probably at the 34th Street helipad which is at 34th and East River.

The other main pad is the one that csparker referred to, which is down on Broad Street at the southern tip of Manhattan.

Chuck-