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Port Authority- West 30th Street Heliport is Dedicated- 2 

warrants the additional location. The City and the Port Authority have worked together effectively for the development of this site, and I know they will continue to work together to develop other suitable sites in the City as they are needed."

Similar enthusiastic views of the future of heliports and helicopter service in the Port District were expressed by Hulan E. Jack, Manhattan's Borough President; E. George Sidle, Assistant Postmaster General; Robert L. Cummings, Jr., President of New York Airways; and Donald V. Lowe, Chairman of The Port of New York Authority.

At 12:00 noon, twin New York Airways S-55 helicopters took off for La Guardia Airport and Newark Airport on the first commercial helicopter flights to depart from Manhattan. The helicopters were piloted by Captain Jack Gallagher, Manager in Charge of Operations of Stamford, Connecticut; and Howard Higgins, Chief Pilot of Oceanside, Long Island. They carried cargoes of air mail including several thousand "First Flight Covers" bearing special cachets marking the historic event. The cargoes were placed aboard earlier by the distinguished speakers at the ceremony. For the next several weeks New York Airways, the only helicopter operator certificated to serve this area at this time, will carry only mail and cargo to and from the West 30th Street Heliport. It is expected that passenger operations will commence in November following a period of operational experience. Initially, the passenger service will be furnished by a fleet of five 5-passenger S-55 helicopters. Commencing early next year three 12-passenger S-58's will supplement the existing fleet.