Baltimore Heliport is taking to the air in Canton

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Baltimore Heliport listens to its customers.

Located on Pier 7 at 1800 South Clinton St., the heliport opened in the spring of 2006, meeting the demands of the business community in Baltimore City. Dan Naor, the chief operating officer of the helipad and Baltimore Marine Center, said the need for a helipad was evident since 1994, when his company began developing the marina.

“We had many requests from executives who come from New York or outside Baltimore to have a place to land,” Naor said. “In the old days, we used to land on the floating piers in the marina, but it got to the point where we had some many requests that we had to do something about it.”

The helipad has capacity for six helicopters, at a cost of about $4 million. Clients of the service vary, with the helipad maintaining its own Bell 407 chopper. In addition to a couple taking a charter flight to Cambridge, Mass., for their anniversary last week, local television stations WJZ-13 and WBAL-11 also use the helipad.

The most unique user may be Stat MedEvac, a Pittsburgh-based medical transport company that works with several hospitals in the region, including Johns Hopkins. MedEvac helps to transport both organs and patients.

“The previous location [we used] had long walks to the helicopters, and the fuel trailers were spread out,” said Michael Zangara, a pilot for Stat MedEvac. “Hopkins wanted something closer to the hospital, and when the heliport opened up and made us an offer, we moved in. We wanted to get a better response time.”

Zangara added that the amenities separate the Baltimore Heliport from others. Pilots and businesses are drawn to the operation for its streamlined refueling process, expanding hangar space and a pilots’ lounge just a stone’s throw from the tarmac.

“It’s only getting better,” Zangara said. “There are more and more improvements, and the Maryland aviation authority might start funding some things.”

More information

» The Baltimore Helipad

1800 South Clinton St.

Baltimore

410-675-8888

www.baltimoreheliport.com

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com