Skypad Heliport

The heliport ceased operations primarily due to heightened safety concerns and stricter regulations for rooftop heliports across the United States. The catalyst for this change was the fatal May 16, 1977, Pan Am Building (now MetLife Building) helicopter accident in New York City. This event, where a helicopter's landing gear collapsed on the rooftop helipad, led to multiple fatalities and prompted a major re-evaluation of the safety of urban rooftop operations. Consequently, many similar heliports, including Skypad, were closed due to prohibitive insurance costs, increased liability, and new regulatory hurdles.

The heliport is permanently closed and has been completely dismantled. The location is the rooftop of the 100 Colony Square office building. The entire Colony Square complex underwent a massive redevelopment project that was completed in 2021. As part of this renovation, any remaining infrastructure of the helipad was removed. The rooftop now houses standard roofing materials and modern HVAC and mechanical equipment for the building. There are no visible traces of the former heliport.

Skypad Heliport was a private rooftop heliport located atop the 100 Colony Square office tower in Midtown Atlanta. Opened in the early 1970s, it was an integral feature of the original Colony Square, one of the first mixed-use developments of its kind in the city. The heliport was a symbol of modern corporate prestige and convenience, designed as a premium amenity to attract high-profile corporate tenants. Its primary operation was providing on-demand, point-to-point executive transport, allowing VIPs to bypass street-level traffic and travel quickly to and from Atlanta's main airports (like Hartsfield-Jackson or Fulton County) and other regional business centers.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening a heliport at this location. The recent, comprehensive redevelopment of Colony Square did not include any provisions for aviation facilities. The significant increase in high-rise construction and population density in Midtown Atlanta since the 1970s, combined with stringent modern safety regulations for urban air traffic, makes the reactivation of a traditional heliport on the site infeasible and impractical.