City Council To Consider Heliport Near Bridgeport
(CBS) -- A new proposal for a busy heliport near Bridgeport is hovering over City Hall.
The waterfront heliport near 24th and Halsted could become the busiest facility in the six-county area, offering aerial tours of Chicago.
But there is turbulence from angry neighbors over details CBS 2 has uncovered.
Chicago Helicopter Express wants the city's OK for what would begin as a private heliport that would launch 20 takeoffs per day.
CBS 2 has learned there would be up to 125 takeoffs and landings daily. The waterway heliport would become the busiest in the six-county area, flying 5:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
Bridgeport neighbor John Tominello says it would be "a busy, dirty, noisy, dangerous helicopter hub" that would disrupt the neighborhoods.
But bakcers say the industrial site would contain the sound of the whirlybirds. Some townhomes are within earshot, however.
"There will be no noise impact to the local community. Emissions is insignificant," Trevor Heffernan of Chicago Helicopter Express says.
Noted aviation attorney John Hoff says the safety concern of so many flights is easier to work out than the noise.
The heliport has just cleared its first hurdle. The Chicago Plan Commission voted unanimously to OK it. Now, it goes before the full City Council.
Already approved is a public-private heliport near Roosevelt Road and the river.