Feasibility of a helicopter commuter service

The feasibility of intercity helicopter service has been demonstrated at several locations in North America. To study the feasibility of a helicopter service in the Phoenix-Tucson corridor, the travel time and cost characteristics of a proposed helicopter service were compared to the characteristics of existing travel modes in the corridor. Helicopter service travel times were developed using current helicopter performance data and an assumption that heliports would be located in the central business districts of each city. Helicopter service travel cost (fare) was developed using the break-even analysis relating operating cost to demand revenue. From the comparative analysis, significant travel time savings would result with a helicopter service if demand exists between the heliport locations and heliport access times are negligible. However, any travel time savings were offset by significant higher travel costs for the helicopter service when compared with the travel costs of existing modes