How to Arrive at the Olympics in Style

31 July 2012 – Forbes

If you plan to attend the London Olympics and want to arrive James Bond style, look no further than the London Heliport located on the River Thames between the Battersea and Wandsworth bridges. Originally known as the Battersea Heliport and opened in 1959, the heliport was recently acquired by the Reuben Brothers who also own London-Oxford Airport and subsequently renamed. This means that attendees at the London Olympics can now arrive via a private jet to the London-Oxford Airport and then be whisked away via a Capital Air Services EC135 helicopter straight to the heliport.

It’s worth mentioning that for the London Olympics, the London Heliport is in the Prohibited Zone but the rules have recently been clarified regarding its operation. Specifically, helicopters will be free to fly in and out of the heliport subject to the following rules:

– Minimum 2-hour notice flight planning notifications established for the games period.
– Pre-registration for those operating into the heliport.
– Normal passenger/crew manifests.
– Personal photo-identification.
– Adherence to established flight tracks.

Attendees at the games should also remember that the London Heliport could see up to 20 movements per hour during peak times (there will also be an additional charge of £100 per landing during the Olympic period) while under normal circumstances, passengers would then take a limousine directly to their central London hotel, residence or office.
However and once at the heliport, passengers can walk to the adjacent Limehouse Marina to board a James Bond Sunseeker powerboat straight from the movie “The World Is Not Enough” for the less than 40 minute ride to the Olympic Stadium’s boat dock – plenty of time to sit back, relax and enjoy the magnums of champagne that will be on board!