4 ms·
Helicopters by definition require a power-to-weight ratio >1 and are inefficient compared to fixed wing aircraft, let alone e.g. trains. They're loud, dangero
by azalemeth 5y ago
Helicopters by definition require a power-to-weight ratio >1 and are inefficient compared to fixed wing aircraft, let alone e.g. trains. They're loud, dangerous (comparatively speaking) and inherently expensive. Tall walls can cause them to crash (c.f. vortex ring state) as can the weather.
A subway has none of these disadvantages, with the advantage of serving ~1.5k people at once as opposed to ~15, and the ability to not conflict for surface space.
- GDC7 5y agoI understand the argument against mass transportation with helicopters but they are completely banned except for cities like Sao Paulo, Brazil. Why are rich people who can pay a premium to "get there fast and in privacy" forbidden to land on buildings?
- PaulHoule 5y agoIn the 1970s they had helicopter shuttles from some tall rooftops in NYC (e.g. World Trade Center) to the JFK airport. I think it was killed by unreliable service, a poor safety record, and high costs. BLADE runs a helicopter shuttle today but I don’t think they land on skyscrapers.
- eesmith 5y agoThe New York Airways Flight 971 crash didn't help - https://gothamist.com/news/in-1977-five-were-killed-in-helicopter-accident-atop-midtowns-pan-am-building https://gothamist.com/news/in-1977-five-were-killed-in-helic... That heliport also wasn't profitable during the few years it operated in the 1960s. NYC does have https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Manhattan_Heliport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Manhattan_Heliport ("top business executives and time-sensitive document deliveries often use the heliport", as well as tourists and others) but it's on a pier, not on a roof.