CDW · Essex County Airport, Caldwell NJ
Essex County Airport (also called Caldwell) is shared by Zip Aviation and Charm Aviation as their evening and weekend NJ departure — 50 to 70 minutes from Midtown, no fee, free parking, seven days a week.
Essex County Airport sits 22 miles north-west of Manhattan in Fairfield, NJ — a general-aviation airport that the locals still call Caldwell after the original township name. Both Zip Aviation and Charm Aviation moved their night and seasonal tours here because the airport stays open until 22:00 (later than JRB) and runs seven days a week (unlike JRB on Sundays). The two operators share the apron but run their own desks, briefings and helicopters — picking one over the other is purely a fleet and route preference. Zip uses its Bell 407 fleet (sometimes the Sikorsky S-76 for VIP charters), Charm flies the AS350 and Bell 407. Both target the city-lights night flight and the Hudson Valley fall foliage route.
Drag, zoom, and tap the marker for the heliport address.
Open in Google Maps 27 Wright Way, Fairfield, NJ 07004
50–70 minutes from Midtown via the Lincoln Tunnel and I-280 West. Weekday rush hour can stretch this to 85 minutes — plan accordingly for evening flights leaving 18:00 or later. Each operator has its own clearly signed driveway off Wright Way.
No direct public transit. NJ Transit train from Penn Station NYC to Mountain Avenue (Caldwell) takes ~70 minutes with one transfer, then a 5-minute taxi to the airport — slow and rarely worth it. Uber from Manhattan typically costs $70–110 one-way; rideshare is the default for guests without a rental car.
Free on-site parking at both operator terminals — Zip and Charm each have their own marked guest lot. Spaces are usually plentiful (the airport is large), but reserve 60 minutes pre-flight for check-in on summer Saturday evenings. EV charging is available at the airport main terminal, a short walk from both operator desks.
Bell 407 plus a Sikorsky S-76C++ twin-engine — the only NYC sightseeing operator with a medium twin in the fleet.
See Zip Aviation tours →USA Today 10Best 2026: #4 helicopter tour in America (#3 in 2025). No 4-passenger minimums on the Empire tour.
See Charm Aviation tours →Yes — Essex County Airport runs seven days a week, including Sundays and holidays. Zip Aviation and Charm Aviation both shift their NYC-bound Sunday demand here when JRB is closed for sightseeing. Late-day Sunday slots fill fastest; book three to seven days ahead in summer.
By car (rental or rideshare): 50–70 minutes via Lincoln Tunnel and I-280 West, longer during weekday rush. Uber typically costs $70–110 one-way. Public transit is technically possible (NJ Transit to Mountain Avenue + 5-minute taxi, ~70 minutes plus waits) but rarely worth the schedule risk for an evening flight. Most guests Uber out and Uber back, since waiting for a return ride after a 21:00 night flight is more reliable than a train schedule.
No. CDW is a county-owned general aviation airport, not a city-funded sightseeing heliport like JRB. There is no per-passenger facility fee, no fuel surcharge at check-in for sightseeing flights — what you book online is what you pay. Both Zip and Charm include the airport handling cost in their seat price.
Both fly the same routes (city lights night flight, Hudson Valley fall foliage) and both have strong ratings. The picks are fleet and award profile. Zip Aviation uses its Bell 407 fleet, occasionally the twin-engine Sikorsky S-76 for VIP charters — slightly more cabin room. Charm Aviation flies the Airbus AS350 and Bell 407, and won USA Today's "Best Helicopter Tour" reader award in 2026. Price difference between the two on the same route is rarely more than $30 per seat — compare both on the tour page with live prices side by side.
Both NJ-based operators run live-priced tours from Essex County — compare fleet, route and crew side by side before you book.
See NJ-side tours
