Indianapolis Downtown Heliport-Operations Analysis and Marketing History

In response to increasing helicopter demand, the Federal Aviation Administration FAA initiated the FAAIndustry National Prototype Heliport Demonstration and Development Program. Four cities were selected for the FAA demonstration program. These were New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis. In January 1985, the Indianapolis Downtown Heliport was the first of the demonstration heliports to open. This study is an analysis of the operational characteristics of the Indianapolis Downtown Heliport from its opening in 1985 through March 1989, and an investigation of the marketing techniques used during the planning and development stages of the heliport as well as the continuing marketing effort used to retain and increase business. An analysis of operations at the heliport is performed using data collected by the heliport operators. The parameters examined concentrate on the types of missions, the variations and trends in the number of operations, the geographic distribution of the helicopters that use the facility, and the types of services required by the helicopter operators using the heliport. Due to limitations in the amount and accuracy of data available, only generalized trends rather than detailed statistical conclusions could be developed. Keywords Indianapolis downtown heliport Operations analysis Marketing analysis Development marketing Continuing marketing Service requirements Mission types.