Pick of the Week: Big Apple 'Copter Co.

I have to write about this company because everytime I think about it, it gives me chills how great of an idea it is. I said idea, not company.

The company is US Helicopters (USHP.OB) based in New York, NY. They operate a current fleet of * Sikorsky twin engine S-76 helicopters providing scheduled metro-hop flights from the East 34th Street Heliport, and Midtown Manhattan Heliport to both JFK and Newark Airports.

All officers of the company have strong share ownership and have exercised little if any of their options since it's founding in 2003. They continue to operate in the red with a -183% return on assets, with a market cap of 35.45Mil, and a Price/Sales ratio of 31.60. Shares have been changing hands in the range of $.60 - $3.50 per share in the last 52 weeks. With 1.04Mil of cash on the books, it leaves $.029 of cash per share, and shares currently are trading at $1.00 per share.

So why do I think this is a great company? It takes an hour to an hour and a half to get to the airport from Manhattan in a taxi or limo. In a helicopter it takes 8 minutes, and you get to go through TSA security clearance at the heliport and avoid the lines at the airport. With record bonuses being handed out in New York, and the continued growth of the financial industry, there is a lot of money around and people have to be a lot of places fast. This is a company in it's startup phases with a solid management team experienced in aviation and building companies.

The numbers are not in their favor currently, and there may be a bit of turbulence between here and there, but the idea and framework looks good from here.

Ultimately you have to make the call.

* This blog is intended only for entertainment purposes. I do own shares of USHP.OB and work in the aviation industry.