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But there were a number of conditions attached to these predictions. One of these was that the potentialities of the helicopter could not be realized unless the necessary heliports were provided. For that reason, the Port Authority followed up on its economic study of the helicopter with an operational study to determine what a heliport should be like and how a location for a heliport should be chosen. The general conclusions of this study were published in 1955 under the title of "Heliport Location and Design". The conclusions and recommendations in that study have since been endorsed or concurred in by the International Air Transport Association, the Aircraft Industries Association and the Air Transport Association of America. They have thus become the standard for heliport design the world over.
With the information on potential helicopter traffic from our first study and the information on heliport requirements from the latter study, we were able to draw up a regional plan for heliports to serve the Port District. This plan was submitted to the conference on this subject sponsored by the Regional Plan Association earlier this year. The completion of the first phase heliport we are dedicating today marks the first step in the conversion of that plan from blueprints to steel and concrete.
I cannot emphasize too much the important part that has been played by the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, the Borough President, the Comptroller, the Director of Marine and Aviation, the City Engineers and their associates in the Government of the City of New York in making this heliport a reality. It is built on land belonging to the City. It could not have been built except for the active and understanding appreciation on the part of Mayor Wagner and his colleagues. I want to take this occasion to offer particular thanks to them for all they have done.