Tennessee Gas Nr 2 Heliport

The closure was most likely due to a combination of economic and operational reasons. As pipeline inspection and maintenance technologies evolved, the necessity for a dedicated heliport at this specific compressor station diminished. Corporate mergers and subsequent operational reviews often lead to the consolidation of assets and the elimination of facilities deemed non-essential or redundant. The role of helicopter patrols may have been replaced by more advanced methods like internal pipeline inspection tools ('smart pigs'), high-resolution satellite monitoring, drone surveillance, or patrols staged from larger, regional airports.

The site of the former heliport is now a mowed grass field located on the grounds of the still-active Tennessee Gas Pipeline Compressor Station 229, which is operated by Kinder Morgan. There are no remaining visible structures, pavement, or markings to indicate that a heliport ever existed at the coordinates. The surrounding area remains a secure, active industrial facility for natural gas compression.

The Tennessee Gas Nr 2 Heliport was a private industrial facility with logistical, not public, significance. Its sole purpose was to support the operations of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, a major natural gas artery transporting fuel from the Gulf Coast to the Northeastern United States. The heliport was located at Compressor Station 229 in Hamburg, NY. Its primary operations included:
- **Pipeline Patrol:** Launching helicopters for routine aerial inspection of the pipeline right-of-way to check for leaks, construction encroachment, land erosion, and other potential hazards.
- **Personnel and Equipment Transport:** Rapidly moving maintenance crews and light equipment to remote or difficult-to-access sections of the pipeline for repairs.
- **Emergency Response:** Providing a staging point for quick aerial access in the event of a pipeline emergency.
The heliport was an integral part of the maintenance and safety infrastructure for this critical piece of national energy infrastructure during its time of operation.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Tennessee Gas Nr 2 Heliport. Given the length of time it has been closed and the significant advancements in alternative pipeline monitoring technologies, it is extremely unlikely that the operator, Kinder Morgan, would have a business or operational need to re-establish a private heliport at this specific location.