Who We Are
HeliNY is a sightseeing, charter, and aircraft management firm with offices located at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (NYC) and at the Linden Municipal Airport (Linden, NJ). We specialize in the management and operation of helicopters, but our primary emphasis is on providing safe, exciting helicopter tours at a reasonable cost and comfortable charter flights, saving you time in your busy schedule.
The principals of Helicopter Flight Services, Lesley (Topsy) Taylor and John Kjekstad, are veteran pilots with more than 60 years of aviation experience combined. Topsy and John partnered in 1985 when they purchased two Bell 206 Jet Rangers and have since built the fleet to 10 helicopters. Learn more about our helicopters here.
At Helicopter Flight Services, our commitment to safety and the community goes beyond having well-maintained state of the art aircraft and experienced pilots; our Safety Management System creates a company-wide culture of safety. HeliNY is registered with the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and is recognized as a Wyvern Wingman Certified Operator and as Argus Gold. We are members of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council as well as Helicopter Association International.
Our Bell 407GX and Airbus EC130-T2 aircrafts are some of the quietest helicopters in their class, and through our active participation in the Fly Neighborly program, we are able to fly with little noise impact on our community, at levels below the most strict regulations.
Our service is custom tailored to each client without compromise. We pride ourselves on our safety, integrity, attentive services and professionalism, both in the air and on the ground. We offer a personal service that caters to its customers’ needs. Our small and flexible corporate structure enables us to pass on considerable savings to our customers as well as create an atmosphere where personalized service can be delivered on a consistent basis.
TOPSY TAYLOR
Topsy Taylor is an aviation enthusiast and has been involved in Aviation for more than forty years. She first soloed in a Piper Cub in 1962, and in 1974, received her Private Pilot License. She then advanced to taking lessons in a Beach Baron 58 out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City, flying all over the northeast. In 1985, Topsy started taking lessons at MacArthur Airport to get her Commercial Helicopter License. Her flight instructor was John Kjekstad; who would soon become her partner. That same year, they launched Helicopter Flight Services with the purchase of a Bell 206 Jet Ranger. Topsy’s main focus is safety, integrity and ensuring that Helicopter Flight Services is #1 in the helicopter business.
John Kjekstad has more than 11,000 hours of combined helicopter and fixed wing experience. Most of his time is in Bell Helicopters 206 B/L and the Bell 407. John holds an Airline Transport Rating, the highest rating possible to obtain. In addition, he is a Certified Flight Instructor and instrument flight instructor in helicopters.