Operation Heli-STAR - A Vertical Flight Short-Haul Transportation System

Operation Heli-STAR (Helicopter Short-Haul Transportation and Aviation Research) was established and operated in Atlanta, Georgia, during the period of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Heli-STAR had three major thrusts: 1) the establishment and operation of a helicopter-based cargo transportation system. 2) the management of low-altitude air traffic in the airspace near the Olympic venues, and 3) the collection and analysis of research and development data associated with items 1 and 2. Heli-STAR was a cooperative industry government program that included cargo shippers in the Atlanta area, the helicopter industry, aviation electronics manufacturers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and support contractors.