Thank you for your continued support of the NEHC. We are very pleased to announce there has been a new world record set for circumnavigating the globe in a helicopter as of August 2008. The flight was completed in eleven days, seven hours and two minutes covering 21,000 nautical miles. I don’t know about you, but that’s farther than I’ve ever flown! For more information please see our Nov. 2008 newsletter’s article“Grand Adventure”.

In regard to the Boston Heliport, as some of you may have heard, Mayor Thomas M. Menino backed off from the push to build a heliport on the South Boston Waterfront after state Senator Jack Hart announced he would join Councilor at Large Michael Flaherty publicly opposing the plan. While he does not support the South Boston Waterfront location, Menino still believes an additional heliport is necessary for medical flights and private transportation, but would not overcome well organized political opposition that whipped up the South Boston neighborhood. City officials are pursuing increased access for helicopters at Logan, including a potential new helipad or refueling stop. The NEHC is committed to reestablishing a downtown public heliport. We understand its significance to the helicopter community and are in the process of scheduling a meeting with Senator Hart and Mayor Menino to try to advance our cause. We will keep you informed of any progress.

Bell Helicopter, one of our Industry Members, would like to have a roundtable discussion with NEHC members regarding the heliport in order to gain important insight into the project. Tom Grassia is planning to attend, and Bell Helicopter is hoping some of the New York City Heliport Operators, HAI and other groups and individuals who have successfully overcome public issues associated with heliports will be there as well.

Paul M. Montrone
President