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          HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM          277
  
A picture of this proposed Transportation Center is included in appendix E, and one of the buildings in this complex is already under construction, although the plans for the remainder of this project have not yet been finalized. 
  
The feasibility of operating helicopters into such a transportation canter has already been demonstrated by the extensive operations we have previously conducted onto the Post Office roof, located only several blocks away.
  
Appendix E includes a picture of the heliport atop the Post Office building, 13 floors above street level, where our helicopters have made over 100,000 landings and takeoffs, all without incident. 
  
What a closer-in downtown heliport will do for our operation can be seen from the fact that 48 percent of the total air passenger traffic generated in the Chicago area originates or terminates in downtown Chicago.

FUTURE EXPANSION OF SERVICE

The map in appendix F shows the routes over which we have conducted passenger service, and the map in appendix G shows the 60-mile "area" in which we are authorized to operate, extending northward almost to Milwaukee.
  
Senator MONRONEY. What do you operate now?
  
Mr. MOORE. At the present time, we are just operating the routes shown in appendix F.
  
Senator MONRONEY. Are you operating all those, Winneta to O'Hare, O'Hare to Chicago Loop, Chicago Loop to Midway, Midway to O'Hare, Gary, Ind. to Midway, is that correct?
  
Mr. MOORE. With the exception of the O'Hare-Winneta service which has been temporarily suspended.

Senator MONRONEY. That has been suspended?
  
Mr. MOORE. Yes.
  
Senator MONRONEY. You are operating all the rest of it?
  
Mr. MOORE. Yes, sir.
  
Senator MONRONEY. With your single-engine helicopters?
  
Mr. MOORE. Yes, sir.
  
Senator MONRONEY. Do you have a breakdown as to the way the percentage of traffic goes for the year, something between the various segments?
  
Mr. MOORE. Yes. At the present time, approximately two-thirds of our traffic is between Midway and O'Hare.
  
Senator MONRONEY. Still two-thirds between Midway and O'Hare?
  
Mr. MOORE. Yes. And one-third to the downtown area.
  
Senator MONRONEY. One-third from O'Hare to downtown. Are you still operating the Chicago Loop to Midway?
  
Mr. MOORE. Yes, but there is little or no traffic on that. 
  
Senator MONRONEY. Why do you operate it? Just to keep them going?
  
Mr. MOORE. We only operate the downtown area on a flag stop basis if there are passengers to pickup or drop-off there. We also carry passengers from Midway to O'Hare via the downtown stop on some hops.
  
Senator MONRONEY. Don't you think one of the reasons that this is so unprofitable at the moment and why you don't have as balanced a traffic as the other helicopter lines have is the fact that you have to land at Meigs Field, a $1 taxi-ride, or more, to take the helicopter?