Tilt Rotors and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Airport System

This study examines market, infrastructure, technology, and policy requirements for sustained commercial tilt-rotor service between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey service area and other cities in the high-volume, short-haul market. It examines the feasibility, benefits, and drawbacks of using the major Port Authority airports (John F. Kennedy, La Guardia, and Newark), to support tilt-rotor service to high-volume destinations currently served by turboprop aircraft operated by regional airlines. The authors conclude that the unique features of the tilt rotor offer a significant opportunity to reduce airport congestion, but realizing such benefits may take many years. The estimated costs of the tilt rotor, public doubts about a vehicle that many people associate with helicopters, and the apparent unwillingness of the airlines to participate suggest that the tilt rotor will need time to earn acceptance.