Photos by Kault Photography; Courtesy of Wings Air Helicopters
Wings Air and the Westchester Community are providing free helicopter tours of NYC to frontline workers — and you can help.
While we may love the convenient parking shuttles and easy access for airlines like Jet Blue, Delta, and American, there’s one other airline that flies out of Westchester County Airport making a few waves right now: Wings Air Helicopters.
Back in May, the West Harrison-based company began offering a special service as a way of giving back to healthcare workers during the pandemic: free aerial tours of New York City. The company’s tours typically range from around $300 per person in a group to as much as $3,700 for a private tour of Manhattan with a few of your closest friends and a Champagne toast.
Helicopters Over New York for Healthcare Heroes gives the same amazing experience but with no cost. Wings Air is footing the bill themselves for 50% of the costs, and holding a GoFundMe campaign to provide the other 50%, allowing Westchester’s bravest to see the Big Apple from above for absolutely nothing.
“We wanted to offer healthcare workers a tangible thank you for their heroic efforts against this horrible virus, especially those from the hardest hit hospitals in New York City, Westchester County and Fairfield County,” says Wings Air General Manager Anna Macsai.
“The initiative was very well received, and the first flights took place in late May. Healthcare workers exhausted from the long battle against COVID-19 enjoy the distraction of a helicopter tour with their loved ones — for many it’s their very first time flying in a helicopter.”
Since the project began, Wings Air has provided around 20 free tours for 45 local healthcare workers and their loved ones, totaling over $13,000 in flight time. An additional 120 health professionals are now on a waitlist, hoping to receive their turns throughout the second half of the year. Here’s where you can help:
The program has presently exhausted its donation fund and is looking for a new round of public support to help get these local heroes their wings. The company’s GoFundMe page is accepting donations of any amount, but if you’re looking for a suggestion $150 covered the donation half of getting two passengers in the air for a 30 minute tour.
For more information or to register for the waitlist, click here.
