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Address by
Donald V. Lowe, Chairman
The Port Authority
at the
Dedication Ceremonies
Port Authority-West 30th Street Heliport
Wednesday, September 26, 1956 - 11:00 A.M.

On behalf of my fellow commissioners and the staff of the Port of New York Authority, I am happy to welcome you here today for the dedication of this, Manhattan's first heliport.
This ceremony marks another milestone - another first in the transportation history of this great metropolitan area. We are gathered here to witness the opening of an air terminal new to Manhattan. It will make possible a new type of metropolitan transportation -- direct air lift to and from the midtown areas.
The Port Authority has long been convinced of the great potentialities of the helicopter for New York and Northern New Jersey, and has long been eager that this great center of transportation should avail itself of the benefits to be derived from the everyday use of this aircraft. In 1949 and 1950, we took an active part in proceedings before the Civil Aeronautics Board, and strongly urged that agency to authorize helicopter service in this area. The result of those proceedings was the certification of New York Airways as a helicopter carrier of passengers, mail and cargo.
About four years ago, New York Airways began operations with a modest schedule of nine inter-airport flights a day carrying mail only, and flying only during daylight hours. The beginning was small, but the growth has been rapid. In December 1952, two months after inter-airport flight began, New York Airways extended its service to White Plains and Bridgeport,