An Easy Commute
Point-to-point travel that’s speedy, stylish and safe.

	The state-of-the-art S-76 helicopter (above) has spacious executive cabins that can accommodate up to seven passengers comfortably and feature handcrafted-wood cabinetry and finely tailored upholstery (below).

It’s not quite as easy as whistling for a cab. But next time you need to reach Manhattan in a hurry – or, for that matter, anywhere in southern New England and eastern Pennsylvania – you might want to give AAG a shout.

AAG – or Associated Aircraft Group – is an integrated helicopter service that operates a speedy fleet of executive-configured Sikorsky S-76 helicopters along the busy Atlantic corridor. Their client list – a well-kept secret – includes many of the rich and famous, and others who are merely in a rush.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, AAG offers a wide variety of helicopter-related services between Boston and the Raleigh Technology Triangle area, including one-way and round-trip charters, fractional ownership, aircraft-management services, as well as maintenance and repair for those who own their own helicopters.

Although the company is headquartered in Danbury, CT, and has its flight operations based at Dutchess County Airport in Wappingers Falls, NY, AAG’s primary market is the New York metropolitan area. AAG recently expanded its services in the Philadelphia region, offering its customers services as far south as Raleigh, NC.

“Helicopter transportation allows more of a point-to-point travel,” says sales and marketing director Carolyn Marino. “What makes AAG ideal for commuting in the New York metro area is our ability to land at three different heliports in New York City.”

The other advantage is AAG’s aerial workhorse – the state-of-the-art S-76 – a direct descendant of the rotor aircraft flown by the President of the United States and five different military service branches, as well as search-and-rescue outfits, offshore oil missions and more than a hundred Fortune 500 companies around the globe.

The spacious executive cabins – outfitted with handcrafted-wood cabinetry and finely tailored upholstery – can easily fit six or seven passengers. With a top speed of 178 mph and a range of 450 miles on a single load of fuel, the S-76 is ideal for getting passengers where they want to go with the least amount of time and fuss. Flight time between New York City and Philadelphia, for instance, is a mere 40 minutes.

Safety is another trump card. Twin turbine engines and cutting-edge avionics make this Sikorsky a remarkably reliable craft. Worldwide, more than four million flight hours have been logged by S-76s.

The aviation equivalent of a time-share, fractional ownership under the Sikorsky Shares program has become an increasingly important part of AAG’s business during the past few years. Pioneered by the executive-jet industry, fractional ownership offers the convenience and efficiency of helicopter ownership at a fraction of the cost.

Those participating in the shares program can fly when they want and where they want, a service area that extends from Boston in the north to Raleigh in the south. One call and they’re there – it’s that simple.

“Fractional ownership is a guaranteed service, whereas charter is not,” says Marino. “Fractional share sizes begin at 1/16th, which entitles you to 75 units a year. Fractional is a perfect solution for someone who cannot justify the use of a full aircraft and can’t be bothered with the operational side of helicopter ownership. It is also a perfect fit for those companies that want to supplement their current helicopter fleet or enhance their fractional fixed wing programs.”

AAG has also earned kudos in recent years for its charity and relief work. Last year, the company dispatched two aircraft to help with the Katrina rescue-and-relief effort in the Gulf States, and AAG helicopters have been used to assist local police.

JOE YOGERST