The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A helicopter tour company is hoping to drive more business by opening a restaurant and bar on Bay Street, a move that will create an initial six to eight jobs.

Captian David Pearce, president of Top Fun Sun Nassau and Soter Aviation, which officially launched this past Saturda,y estimated that $500,000 had been invested in the start-up venture to-date .

“The Top Fun side of it is a restaurant and bar. It’s sort of a combination of a helicopter for service, and a restaurant and bar on East Bay Street at the old Tropical Shipping yard.

“ We were looking at targeting the tourists to give them something else to do besides just walking around Bay Street, and we have decided to put in a restaurant and bar, something that would support the helicopter offering based on the fact that they will com,e sit down, listen to music and have something to drink. If they want to go on a helicopter ride they can; if they don’t we have other attractions.”

Captain Pearce added: “The bar would create six to eight jobs locally. We are looking at expanding, obviously, as time goes on and we would be doing more hiring.

The captain, who has a military background and has been flying helicopters for 30-plus years, said the aerial tours can accommodate up to six persons at one time and last for six minutes. They cost $45 per person.

“We have one Bell LongRanger,” he added. “It’s a very safe and well known machine. It’s top-of-the-line as far as safety is concerned. Customers take off from a helipad on East Bay Street, across from the Rum Cake Factory, head towards the east end of the island, to the north across Athol Island, down the channel and back to the helipad on the former Tropical Shipping property.

“Very few people get the opportunity to ride on a helicopter. It’s a short ride, it’s affordable. We have had quite a few locals that have already flown with us based on the price. We operate a charter service as well to the Out Islands.”

Captain Pearce said further: “Later on we will be looking at offering field trips to schools and give local kids the opportunity to see a helicopter, and realise that there are other opportunities available in the aviation sector.”