NYCEDC and the City of New York Renew Atlantic Aviation as Operator of the East 34th Street Heliport
The Five-Year Renewal Requires the Build-Out and Installation of Electric Charging Infrastructure in Anticipation of Electric Aircraft Certification
Builds Off Mayor Adams’ Vision to Provide More Sustainable Transportation and Quality of Life Improvements for New Yorkers
NEW YORK, NY—Today, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the City of New York announced a five-year renewal with Atlantic Aviation for the operations of the East 34thStreet Heliport. Under their renewed contract, Atlantic Aviation must retrofit the heliport with the supporting infrastructure and charger installation within a year following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for commercial operations of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft—anticipated as early as 2025.
Last November, Mayor Adams and NYCEDC announced a new vision for a first-of-its-kind hub for sustainable transportation and deliveries at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH)—the only other city-controlled heliport in addition to the East 34th Street Heliport. The announcement included the first-ever piloted demonstration flights of eVTOL aircraft in an urban environment from two companies—Joby and Volocopter—a world-first from an urban heliport. Additionally, BETA Technologies, another company in the field, demonstrated the multimodal interoperable electric charger it has developed, an example of what will be deployed at the East 34th Street Heliport.
With Atlantic Aviation’s investment, New York City is positioning itself at the forefront of this emerging industry and sustainable technology that will also bring significant quality of life improvements to New Yorkers due to the quieter noise profile of electric aircraft. Additionally, all of the heliport’s existing quality of life measures remain in place including limited operating hours, weekend closures, a flight volume cap, and a prohibition on sightseeing flights.
“New York City is leading the way in embracing this exciting new technology—electric vertical take-off and landing—that will bring significant quality of life improvements for New Yorkers and new sustainable transportation,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “NYCEDC looks forward to working with Atlantic Aviation in our continued partnership as they ready East 34th Street for quieter and greener helicopter alternatives and ensuring this site is a true asset for New Yorkers.”
“Atlantic Aviation is firmly committed to continuing our position as the leader in innovation and sustainability within the business aviation industry,” said John Redcay, Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer at Atlantic Aviation. “Maintaining our presence at the East 34th Street Heliport and expanding infrastructure there to support eVTOL operations aligns with our commitment to community-beneficial transportation solutions and will support New York City on its journey to facilitating quiet and sustainable aviation operations.”
The East 34th Street Heliport is currently operated by Atlantic Aviation under a Concession Agreement with the Department of Small Business Services and NYCEDC with an initial term that started on October 1, 2019, and ran through September 30, 2024. The renewal term maintains Atlantic Aviation as the current operator through September 30, 2029.
Across their national portfolio, Atlantic Aviation is partnering with leading eVTOL companies in preparation for their FAA certification. Atlantic Aviation is also working closely with Con Edison including completion of a site assessment and continued collaboration to inform the heliport’s electrification plans.
“Today’s announcement underscores New York City’s forward-thinking approach to sustainable transportation, and I am proud of the oversight I’ve provided in advancing the electrification of our heliports chairing the City Council's Committee on Economic Development,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “As a champion of decarbonization, I have worked diligently to support the sector’s transition toward greener technologies, and this renewed partnership with Atlantic Aviation is an exciting step forward. By retrofitting the East 34th Street Heliport for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts, we are reinforcing our city’s commitment to quieter, cleaner skies and a more sustainable future. I look forward to continuing this critical work alongside NYCEDC and our industry partners to lead in this transformative sector, ensuring that New York City remains at the forefront of innovation and environmental stewardship.”
“New York City’s continued leadership in advancing sustainable aviation marks a significant milestone for urban transportation,” said Vertical Aviation International’s Northeast US Regional Representative Josh Rousseau. “This five-year renewal recognizes the vital importance of current operations at the East 34th Street Heliport, as well as the critical need to make real investments for the future capabilities of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and eVTOL aircraft.”
“Stop the Chop NY/NJ is pleased that NYC EDC is taking steps to reduce the negative impacts of noisy and polluting fossil-fueled helicopters by transitioning to cleaner, electric alternatives,” said Stop the Chop NY/NJ Chair Melissa Elstein. “We know that eVTOLs will be quieter and spew fewer harmful emissions across NYC, ensuring a better quality of life and environment for all New Yorkers. We encourage the EDC to mandate the use of these aircrafts once they are federally certified for commercial use.”
Announced in November 2023, a procurement process for the future operator of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport is currently underway and an announcement of the future of site is forthcoming. In addition to the supporting infrastructure for eVTOL and last-mile and maritime freight delivery, the RFP also requires plans for workforce development training in aviation, maritime, and other relevant sectors.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
