PGA of America and Bell announce helicopter program for 101st PGA Championship

The PGA of America announced — in collaboration with Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company — a new and innovative transportation solution for the 101st PGA Championship at Bethpage Black. The partnership between Bell and the 2019 PGA Championship will offer an unparalleled flight program that will transport key stakeholders — including C-Suite executives, corporate hospitality clients and PGA Officials — from multiple sites in Manhattan and surrounding New York Metro corporate centers to and from an on-site landing zone located at Bethpage State Park, just minutes from the PGA Championship.

As part of the relationship, Bell will be the official helicopter provider of the 2019 PGA Championship. This 2019 PGA Championship-specific flight program will utilize two types of aircraft, Bell’s class-leading 429 and Bell 407 models, both of which deliver a smooth ride, optimal comfort and unsurpassed visibility.

Bell will coordinate operations with its longtime customer Zip Aviation and BLADE, an on-demand flight service in and around New York City.

“The PGA is excited to be working with Bell in New York around the 101st PGA,” said PGA of America director of championship sales and marketing  Via this relationship, we’ll be providing an innovative transportation solution to the PGA Championship while also enhancing our corporate hospitality program,” said PGA of America Director of Championship Sales and Marketing John Handley. “To work with Bell, an industry leader in the aerospace sector, also aligns with our strategy of being a technological leader in the golf industry.”

“Bell is proud to provide aircraft to services like Zip Aviation and BLADE who give customers precious time back when traveling,” said Susan Griffin, executive vice president of Commercial Sales, Bell. “We are excited to offer customers attending the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black a one-of-a-kind experience and raise the bar for air travel in one of the world’s most popular corporate helicopters, the Bell 429.”

One of golf’s four major championships, the PGA Championship, conducted by the PGA of America, has evolved into one of the world’s premier sporting events. It annually features one of the strongest international fields in golf, the fairest setup and the only all-professional field among golf’s majors. Since 1916, golf’s best professionals have won the PGA Championship, from Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson to Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy.

For more details or booking information on Bell’s various 2019 PGA Championship Flight programs, please visit zipaviation.com and/or flyblade.com.