One Shell Square Emergency Heliport

The closure was not due to a single event but likely a combination of factors that affected many private urban heliports in the US. These include: 1) **Prohibitive Costs:** Extremely high insurance premiums and liability concerns, especially after the 1977 Pan Am Building helicopter accident in New York City which increased scrutiny on rooftop operations. 2) **Regulatory and Security Changes:** Increased FAA regulations and post-9/11 airspace security restrictions made operating in a dense downtown area more complex and costly. 3) **Economic Viability:** A probable decline in regular use for executive transport meant the high cost of maintenance, certification, and insurance was no longer justifiable.

The site is no longer a heliport. The rooftop of the Hancock Whitney Center is now used to house essential building infrastructure, including large HVAC units, extensive communication arrays, and other mechanical equipment. Satellite imagery of the coordinates confirms the absence of any helipad markings (such as a circle or 'H'), and the space is occupied by this infrastructure.

The heliport was situated atop One Shell Square (now Hancock Whitney Center), which upon its completion in 1972 was the tallest building in the Southeastern United States. The heliport was a symbol of corporate modernity and prestige for its primary tenant, Shell Oil. Its official designation as an 'Emergency Heliport' indicates its intended purpose for critical missions, including medical evacuations from the Central Business District, high-priority executive transport, and as a strategic point for disaster response and evacuation in a city highly vulnerable to hurricanes.

There are no known public plans or prospects to reopen the heliport. The significant financial, liability, and security challenges that led to its original closure remain prohibitive. While the future development of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) or 'air taxi' services could theoretically create a new use case for such facilities, there are no current, concrete proposals for this specific location.