Boulder City OKs helicopter tour firm

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004 | 9:33 a.m.

While Clark County struggles through site selection for a regional heliport, the Boulder City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to base one helicopter tour company at the city airport.

County officials previously decided against trying to put a regional heliport in Boulder City, saying it is too far from the Strip.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters President Brenda Halvorson said while Boulder City is a "huge risk" for her company, she hopes to fill the minutes traveling to Boulder City from the Strip by processing purchases or going over safety information during the ride there.

The council voted 5-0 to approve a sublease for Papillon, which will take over airport property that had been the used by Lake Mead Air, a sightseeing tour company that used fixed-wing airplanes.

City Attorney Dave Olsen said the council didn't have much choice in approving the sublease because the airport is governed by federal laws that prohibit the city from discriminating against types of aircraft when deciding who can use the airport. And even though they apparently had little choice, council members said they were glad to approve the sublease.

City officials and others who spoke during the Tuesday council meeting hailed Papillon as a good company. Council members also said they were happy Papillon's president was agreeing to limit the helicopters to a flight path that will take them far south of any city homes.

"We have other helicopters at the Boulder City Airport that we have no control over, and they fly over homes and low right now," Mayor Bob Ferraro said. "That won't happen with Papillon ... This will be a major benefit and I'm all for it."

Papillon would be the first helicopter tour company at the Boulder City Airport, which also serves as home base to some private helicopters, Ferraro said.

Ferraro said he's not worried about other helicopter tour companies coming to the Boulder City Airport because "we don't have the space for them there."

Papillon will take at least a year to move tour operations to Boulder City from the company's current local headquarters at McCarran International Airport, Halvorson said.

Halvorson's decision to move to Boulder City comes as county Aviation Department officials look at land in Sloan as the site for a regional heliport. The County Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday to identify land for a heliport, and Halvorson said Papillon could have a presence at a regional heliport too.

The Sloan site, which is already owned by the county, has drawn sharp criticism from some Henderson residents who fear it will bring dozens of helicopter flights close to their homes daily.