Would you pay double to Uber a helicopter

Once airborne, the flight from Campo de Marte in northern São Paulo, Brazil to the Guarulhos International Airport took 10 minutes and cost 211 reais ($63), plus 30 reais ($9) for the car ride from house to helipad, or about twice what the trip would have cost by cab alone. The same trip in a cab, however, could have taken an hour or two in rush-hour traffic.
https://www.voom.flights/en/where_we_fly
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-21/uber-lets-you-hail-a-helicopter-in-brazil-for-63

Given the author's comment that he paid double the car ride to take the Uber helicopter, I will use that as a baseline.

However, services seem to cost proportionately more in the first world, so it may cost 3X-4X. Also the infrastructure for helicoptering in Sao Paulo is extensive, and it is still relatively rare in the USA.

Helipads in NYC area


Helipads in financial district of Sao Paolo

The last time I took a cab to MEX, it was about 150 pesos. The more expensive airport-based cab charged me about 220 pesos for the trip back. At todays' rates, that's between $8 and $12 (aprox.)

I'd gladly pay $24 for the ride back.

The nearest helicopter pad to my house is at a hospital about 1.5 miles away. Failing that, the second closest I know about, and there ought to be others closer, is about 9 miles away. I wouldn't pay extra for that one at rush hour.

Quote: Nareed

The nearest helicopter pad to my house is at a hospital about 1.5 miles away. Failing that, the second closest I know about, and there ought to be others closer, is about 9 miles away. I wouldn't pay extra for that one at rush hour.

In Sao Paulo those two helipads that he is describing are roughly 12.5 miles apart, so he is talking about $5 a mile.

Campo de Marte is a small executive airport with a 5000' runway and a grass and a concrete helipad.
http://www4.infraero.gov.br/aeroportos/aeroporto-de-sao-paulo-campo-de-marte/

Are private, non-emergency travelers allowed to use any helipad in Sao Paulo? What if the CEO's chopper lands when your Uber is on the way. Do you get bumped to the next skyscraper?

Quote: Ayecarumba

Are private, non-emergency travelers allowed to use any helipad in Sao Paulo?

I doubt it, and describing that Voom (on demand helicopter service) as an Uber helicopter seems like a bit of poetic license. They only fly to the three airports in Sao Paulo, and pictured below a fancy hotel and a heliport. I assume the hotel helipad is only open to guests.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Are private, non-emergency travelers allowed to use any helipad in Sao Paulo? What if the CEO's chopper lands when your Uber is on the way. Do you get bumped to the next skyscraper?

Everything regarding aviation is regulated, helipads included. Not to mention there's an issue of private property.

Past allowing for emergencies, I doubt there's a requirement in any jurisdiction to open a helipad for general use by all.

In the USA many airports are public use airports solely because they received some federal funding at some time in their history even if they've been privately owned at all times. A helipad is less costly and less likely to need funding assistance. Zoning laws in the USA sometimes try to regulate helipad use (not construction) but its unlikely a code enforcement officer will cite some medevac pilot even though I beileve Santa Monica, CA once threatened to.

Given the descriptions of the auto traffic and its high variability, I'd say the helicopter is a very attractive bargain.