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MASTER
5-1-67

WHEATLAND PAPER

During the fifteen years that New York Airways has flown passengers between the major airports and the New York metropolitan area, it has clearly demonstrated substantial contributions of vertical lift aircraft when matched against the increasingly slower and congested surface traffic.

Even while acquiring practical operating experience over the years, however, it was obvious that the ultimate solution to the problem of fast urban air service to the public lay in transporting them to and from a midtown location. Unfortunately, through those early years, no such facility existed. However, when the onstruction of the Pan Am Building was announced in September, 1960, Robert L. Cummings, President of New York Airways, immediately recognized the potentials of such an elevated platform in midtown Manhattan. Writing toe Juan T. Trippe, Chairman of the Board of Pan American World Airways, Cummings outlined the advantages of a helicopter operation from the 808-foot-high roof. Trippe, equally aware of the problems presented by traffic-choked streets, promptly translated his interest into action. Engineering plans were developed to incorporate the structural requirements of the projected heliport [[crossed out]] surface [[\crossed out]] on the flat surface of the 59th floor. Extra stressing quired 300 tons of steel as well as reinforced concrete slabs capable of bearing an impact load of 30,000 pounds per square foot. Special fire-righting and airport equipment wiht antifreeze wiring, including boundary and landing lights, was installed. The lighting design was extremely difficult in order that the landing area could be distinguished from the glaring city lights. As the building reached completion, all facilities required by a heliport had been incorporated.