Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 | 11:05 a.m.
Another helicopter tour company could soon use the Boulder City Airport as a base for flying tourists to the Grand Canyon.
The City Council on Dec. 9 will considering approving the plans. The Airport Advisory Committee heard the plan Nov. 4 and unanimously recommended the council approve it.
Heli USA, which currently operates out of McCarran International Airport, as well as the Grand Canyon and Hawaii, would lease 10,000 square feet in hangars and four helicopter tie-down spaces owned by Boulder City Airport Properties.
The city wouldn't get additional lease revenue. Heli USA would sublease from Boulder City Airport Properties.
Because the municipal airport receives Federal Aviation Administration grants, it must lease to any commercial operation that meets local airport regulations, as long as there's space, airport manager Kerry Ahearn said.
Four tour operators fly out of Boulder City Airport now.
Heli USA would launch at most 24 flights a day, first departing at 7 a.m. and last at 6 p.m., Omar Palacios, the chief operating and financial officer, said. Two types of tours would be run, one lasting an hour and one just over an hour.
The company would have 27 employees at the airport.
Palacios said the tours from Boulder City will be less expensive than those from Las Vegas, but a rate hadn't been set yet.
An hour and a half flight from McCarran to the Grand Canyon is $319 per person.
Eventually, the company would like to add an airplane operation in Boulder City as well, he said.
Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].
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