Security Snafu Prompts Service Change At Wall Street Heliport

U.S. Helicopter has had to suspend its scheduled service from New York’s Downtown/Wall Street heliport to Newark and JFK airports after the heliport’s new operator, FirstFlight, failed to develop a TSA-approved security plan. U.S. Helicopter serves the airports with Sikorsky S-76Bs. As part of the service, passengers and luggage are security screened at the heliport and then may proceed directly to their airline gates without having to be re-screened at the airports. U.S. Helicopter has moved its departures to New York’s 34th Street heliport. A spokesman for U.S. Helicopter told AIN that a new security plan was approved December 11 and that company flights would likely resume shortly after the New Year.