Downtown Manhattan may soon see air taxis after the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at Pier 6 undergoes an overhaul. The Economic Development Corp. announced that Downtown Skyport LLC, a joint venture of Skyports Infrastructure and Groupe ADP, will operate the facility. This move paves the way for the introduction of eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) in the city's financial district.
According to Aerospace Global News, the heliport, connecting to major airports like JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia, is set for an upgrade to accommodate quieter and cleaner air taxis. Currently used by helicopters, it will soon be managed by Downtown Skyport LLC. A public hearing on December 9 will finalize the transition.
Saker Aviation Services, which ran the heliport until its contract ended in April, has faced scrutiny over connections between its executive, William Wachtel, and the Economic Development Corp. Despite this, the new operators plan to invest in electric infrastructure to support the city's vision for the future.
eVTOL developers like Joby Aviation, which has already tested its aircraft in Manhattan, support the city's move toward a quieter, cleaner future. Joby expressed its enthusiasm, stating, "We’re very pleased to see New York City and the NYC Economic Development Corporation leaning into the quieter, cleaner future of vertical flight," in a statement obtained by Aerospace Global News. Alongside competitors like Archer Aviation, they are reshaping New York's urban airspace. While the heliport will still serve helicopters, the new plan also includes space for maritime freight.
The contract in question, running initially from February 2025 through January 2035, guarantees the city incremental annual revenue, starting at $2.75 million. It's a figure that could set the precedent towards a crescendo of nearly $5.8 million by the 20th year. As presented by Crain's New York, this is dependent on continued growth in profitability, while Andrew Kimball, President of EDC, has discussed the city's willing bet on eVTOLs, capturing a vision of quieter and more sustainable aircraft soon becoming a reality.
