Downtown Skyport, a joint venture between vertiport developer Skyports and French airport operator Groupe ADP, has been selected as the preferred operator of New York City’s Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH).
The consortium, which is due to start operating the heliport from February 2025, was selected by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) with Andrew Kimball, EDC’s president and CEO commenting: “New York is a leader in driving technology and innovation while enhancing quality of life for all New Yorkers, and today, we are propelling those plans forward at Downtown Manhattan Heliport with a new operator.”
AAM ecosystem
UK-based Skyports, which specialises in designing, building, owning and operating networks of vertiports around the globe, broke ground earlier in November on what is slated to be the world’s first permanent commercial vertiport in Dubai. It is also collaborating with SEA Milano and 2i Aeroporti in Italy to develop Italy’s advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystem across Milan and the wider Lombardy region. Meanwhile Groupe ADP, which operates Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Paris-Le Bourget airports in France as well as 10 civil aerodromes.
The two companies, alongside Volocopter, previously partnered in 2022 on the first integrated vertiport, which was constructed in Pontoise in France to serve as a testbed for future electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) flights.
According to NYC City Record on Line, the agreement with EDC will provide Downtown Skyport will provide for a five year term with three five year options to renew for a total of 20 years.
Located at the foot of Wall Street on NYC’s East River north of the Staten Island Ferry and south of the South Street Seaport, DMH is the only heliport Federal Aviation Regulation Part 139 certified in the country. The 84,000 sq. ft. facility features a pier, a barge with parking bays for 12 helicopters and a passenger terminal offering a VIP lounge, passenger waiting area and gift shop. It is the first public heliport to use a barge for aircraft parking.
Preparing for future eVTOL operations
Given the consortium’s combined experience in developing and operating vertiports, it is anticipated that having been selected to operate the heliport, Downtown Skyport will look to explore AAM operations and ready the facility for the launch of air taxi services from eVTOL startups including Archer and Joby Aviation.
In October, NYCEDC also extended its concession agreement with Atlantic Aviation to continue operating the East 34th Street Heliport with the heliport operator announcing plans to begin a project to upgrade utility infrastructure and install charging stations at the heliport to support eVTOL aircraft operations.
Image source: Skyports
