Now you can take your time-share helicopter to your time-share house in the Hamptons.
Beginning on Memorial weekend, newcomer Gabriel Aviation is offering a summer-long charter package of helicopter service to and from the Hamptons for about the same price as a rental share in a beachhouse.
The trip will take 35 minutes – as opposed to an average of three hours by car.
The helicopter has been the preferred – if pricey – mode of travel for celebrities and captains of industry heading to the Hamptons’ oceanfront mansions.
But now, some regular folks are joining their ranks.
While many helicopter-charter companies already serve the area – 14 at last count – none has ventured into the share market.
“I wanted to spread the cost of helicopter flying to make it affordable to those who may not otherwise consider it a viable option,” says Jeff Hyman, 32, president of Gabriel Aviation.
He says his frustration at Hamptons traffic, coupled with a marketing background and passion for whirlybirds, was the catalyst for his idea.
Hyman’s company is charging $5,975 for a 15-weekend package (an average of $398 round-trip) for a limited membership of less than 50 individuals.
Other helicopter charters range from $1,600 to $2,200 each way for a five-seat chopper.
In contrast, the Hamptons Jitney bus costs $22 each way.
Gabriel has a fleet of air-conditioned, leather-appointed, five-passenger jet-powered helicopters to whisk its clients to the East End.
They will leave from three Manhattan locations and land at the East Hampton Airport and the Southampton helipad.
The company has set up a flexible scheduling system to accommodate members and their changing itineraries.
The copters will depart Thursdays and Fridays and return on Sundays and Mondays.
“So far, the response to the program has been very enthusiastic,” said partner Mike Renz, who’s also one of the company’s pilots.