History San Francisco and Oakland Helicopter Airlines

a sikorsky s-61 of airline.

san francisco , oakland helicopter airlines 1 of first helicopter airlines operate without federal subsidy , first operate turbine engine helicopters. since helicopter landing sites scarce @ time, port of oakland s board committee supported service. passenger flights started 2 leased 10-passenger sikorsky s-62 turbine helicopters. in late summer of 1961, sfo helicopter airlines system timetable stated 68 flights day operated, airline claiming helicopters made less noise neighborhood trucks. in 1962, u.s. post office department granted san francisco , oakland helicopter airlines airmail contract number am-103, allowing transport u.s. mail until 1976. in 1962, sfo helicopter operating flight seeing aerial tours on weekends , holidays during summer months fisherman s wharf, san francisco fare of $4.50 adults , $3.50 children. in 1965, airline tried operating 15-seat westland-bell sk-5 hovercraft between san francisco international airport (sfo), oakland international airport (oak), , san francisco. in 1969, carried 320,000 passengers on more 100 flights day. according april 27, 1969 sfo helicopter airlines timetable, each arriving , departing flight @ sfo served not 1 2 gates: american airlines gate 45 , twa gate 53 staggered arrival , departure times each flight @ each gate being reflected in timetable. in may 1968, after continuous growth, company s schedule reached 14 weekday departures san francisco ferry building, 11 marin, 13 berkeley, 3 parking garage in oakland, , 9 lafayette. interline passengers connecting @ sfo , heading east beyond colorado, ticket sfo cost $4.75 marin or lafayette , $4.50 berkeley.

the san francisco , oakland helicopter airlines fleet of 1965 made of 1 sikorsky s-62 helicopter , 3 sikorsky s-61n helicopters.

the airline declared bankrupt in july 1970 , end of year, destinations had been reduced marin, berkeley, sfo, , oak. in 1973-1974, emeryville replaced berkeley 1 of reduced destinations. according october 26, 1975 sfo helicopter airlines timetable, 53 flights being operated on daily basis additional 26 flights being operated every day except on saturdays service being flown san francisco international airport, oakland international airport, marin county , emeryville.

they disappeared official airline guide in 1976 , had gone out of business altogether in 1986.

sfo helicopter airlines had resumed scheduled passenger service 1983. according july 1, 1983 pocket oag, 22 round trip flights being operated every weekday bell 206 helicopters between san francisco international airport , oakland international airport. same referenced oag lists competition helicopter airline on sfo-oak route: spirit heliporter operating 25 round trip flights every weekday bell 206 helicopters same company flying 24 round trip flights every weekday between sfo , china basin in san francisco. 1985, oag listed sfo helicopter service between sfo , oak , between sfo , oakland convention center flights being operated bell 206 helicopters.