Downtown Helistop

Fort Lauderdale Downtown Helistop 201 SE 2nd Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-523-4354 See a map to the downtown helistop.

In partnership with the State of Florida Department of Transportation, the City of Fort Lauderdale has completed construction of a new $3.6 million Downtown Helistop to meet the corporate community's growing transportation needs. This project was completed through a creative and cooperative funding plan which consisted of a $1.1 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation, a $1.4 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and $1.1 million in matching local share. This facility is the only public-use helistop in the State of Florida located in a Central Business District.

• Download the helistop data sheet (includes layout diagram) in pdf format.

Helicopters are fast becoming a preferred method of travel among businesses because they can access a smaller landing area and are faster and more efficient than surface transportation. Nationally, heliports and helistops have contributed to the economic growth and vitality of a number of progressive cities such as New York, New Orleans, Portland and Indianapolis.

There are over 40 helicopters based at Executive Airport, the largest number based at any airport in the Southeastern United States, and more than 700 helicopters throughout Florida.

The state-of-the-art facility is situated above the Central Park Mall Parking Garage in the heart of Fort Lauderdale's dynamic downtown. The helistop offers convenient access to the City's Central Business District and many of Broward County's civic, government, financial, educational and cultural attractions located in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

The Downtown Helistop is convenient to other major aviation facilities in the South Florida area and is just three miles north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and six miles south of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Miami International Airport is 25 miles to the south and easily accessible by air.

The helistop's close proximity to South Florida's three major airports makes it a strategic link for business travelers and visitors needing fast, efficient transportation to other Florida cities including Palm Beach, Orlando and Tampa.

The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Helistop is designed to accommodate intermediate category general aviation helicopters with a maximum takeoff weight of 11,900 pounds and a 46-foot rotor diameter used by today's corporate and charter operators. The helistop features a landing area and one helicopter parking position on a 14,500 square-foot elevated platform. A fully furnished lobby located just below the elevated platform on the sixth floor of the garage provides travelers with a comfortable area to converse and conduct short business meetings. The lobby serves as a meeting room/pilot briefing area and has access to plentiful parking and convenient ground transportation. The platform is wheelchair accessible by elevator from the lobby level. The helistop opened in June 2002 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no fees to users. The lobby is open and staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is available at other times with advance reservations.

The new helistop is an outstanding example of the City of Fort Lauderdale's progressive approach to downtown revitalization and it's commitment to providing its citizens with efficient transportation options.