The residents of renowned Steyn City can escape the notorious Gauteng traffic with the launch of a new helicopter facility, aptly named Ultimate Helistop - a first for residential developments in South Africa.
While other estates in South Africa offer helipads for landing and take-off, the scale and functionality of Steyn City’s Ultimate Helistop is a first for residential developments in the country.
“For a start, these helipads function simply as a launch or landing pad,” said Giuseppe Plumari, the CEO of Steyn City Properties, during the launch of the new facility on Saturday.
“In contrast, the Steyn City Ultimate Helistop has a FATO [Final Approach and Take-Off area], plus three independent helicopter parking pads and is a seven-star facility boasting a full array of attentive services including a beautiful reception area, a lounge, and viewing area for convenience and comfort with a coffee station and the latest reads.”
Steyn City was introduced to the market in 2015, setting new standards by offering living space with unparalleled facilities and a range of homes from luxury apartments to lock-up-and-go cluster homes and freehold houses.
The addition of the Ultimate Helistop’s facilities allows for both the storing of helicopters and scheduling flights, which the developers say, “represents the culmination of a dream for developers”.
Developers Douw Steyn and Giuseppe Plumari, who is also Steyn City Properties CEO, said the addition of the helistop was always part of the “master plan."
“This will give the residents convenience of helicopter services to shuttle them to the Sandton CBD, airport transfers, scenic flights, direct transfers to other towns, cities, and lodges,” said Ultimate HELI CEO Shaun Roseveare.
Plumari says that Ultimate HELI was “an obvious choice as a partner” for the facility owing to the company’s experience, expertise, and reputation as a world-class helicopter and heliport operator.
It also features an office suite with meeting pods and washroom facilities. Its parking bay configuration also makes it possible to load up to three helicopters at a time, ensuring there is no delay between taxi or take-off, even if more than one flight has been scheduled, Plumari elaborates.
Added to this, the Ultimate Helistop is capable of storing a number of helicopters in its sizeable hangar, which measures 650 m².
All services provided by Ultimate HELI are also available to non-residents, who can schedule or charter a flight to make a weekend getaway more enjoyable.
Flights can also be organised for time-pressed businesspeople who need to conduct regular site visits or simply to mark a special occasion such as an anniversary celebration mid-air with a bottle of bubbly, or a gifting idea for a golfing partner’s next big birthday before a round of golf at Steyn City’s Nicklaus Design championship golf course.
“The building’s magnificent design mirrors the blades of a helicopter rotor,” adds architect Bryan Charters, who worked closely with Ultimate HELI to ensure the building complied with international standards.
A “touch of elegance” has been added by interiors expert Stephen Falcke.
