The Big Apple's answer to getting around fast
The saying “time is money” resonates especially true for corporate titans, government dignitaries, celebrities, athletes, and socialites—and nothing seems to waste time and money more frustratingly than sitting in traffic. According to a 2003 Urban Mobility Study by the Texas Transportation Institute, traffic delays cost New Yorkers an average of 49 hours per year. Thanks to helicopters, streetwise jet-setters can rise above Manhattan’s grueling gridlock, and their heliport of choice is Atlantic MetroPort, conveniently located on 34th Street between Franklin Roosevelt Drive and the East River. Patricia (Pat) Wagner, general manager of Atlantic MetroPort for the past 25 years, describes the ever-evolving services and amenities the heliport provides.
Private Air: What is the history of Atlantic MetroPort? Pat Wagner: Pan Am Airlines opened the first East Side Heliport in the mid-1970s on East 60th Street and the East River. Pan Am sold the heliport to AvPorts in 1987, and the heliport remained at that location until we moved to the current address (East 34th Street and the East River) in August 1997.
The MetroPort will be relocated one last time into a new modern building on the same property sometime during 2008. Atlantic Aviation and AvPorts merged in December 2005, so the MetroPort is now part of a larger FBO (fixed base operator) family with greater resources. The new building will provide MetroPort clients with new amenities and a more space to relax. We haven’t yet determined the medium, but somehow the new MetroPort building will showcase the past and future use of the helicopter in New York. Also, the building and landscape design will certainly be a welcomed asset to the East River waterfront community in terms of beauty and inspiration.
PA: What types of helicopters frequent the MetroPort? PW: Sikorsky 76 models A, A+, B, C, C+, the Bell 430, Agusta Power, and Eurocopter twin-engine models.
PA: Describe the MetroPort traffic. PW: Year-round we’re always busy with Manhattan’s entertainment, political, and business events, and since The United Nations is a neighbor we regularly welcome their representatives and visitors. During the summer our traffic peaks due to jet-setters vacationing at hot spots like the Hamptons and upstate New York.
Recently we’ve seen a lot of movie executives and actors because of renewed interest in New York as a film location. We’re closed on the weekends so we’re able to accommodate production and event requests. A couple of years ago the MetroPort was the backdrop for Destiny’s Child’s video landing at MTV’s Music Awards, and recently Tom Cruise stopped by with a film crew for a Mission Impossible: III promotional video.
PA: What makes Atlantic MetroPort different from the other two Manhattan heliports? PW: We cater specifically to private (privately owned, private charter, and fractional-owned aircraft) and corporate helicopters. Sightseeing and tour operators are not allowed to land and depart from our helipads, so we remain a quiet and private haven for our clients and passengers. We know our clients on a very personal level and are able to satisfy their travel and privacy requests. We deliver on both in-flight and on-ground requests. Many times I have personally driven a client to a meeting or appointment when traffic has delayed their car service or a taxi is nowhere to be found. “Customer Service First” is our mantra, and the Eastern Region Helicopter Operators Council has recognized us for such focused dedication by naming Atlantic MetroPort the “Heliport of the Year” for the past five consecutive years. For more information on New York City’s Atlantic MetroPort please call 212.889.2319 or visit AtlanticAviation.com.