CARMEL, Ind. — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has his twin-engine helicopter back in the air near his suburban home.

        Irsay announced Wednesday that he had bought the helipad once used by Conseco founder Stephen Hilbert to travel to and from the company's Carmel offices.

        Irsay bought the helipad for $650,000 several weeks ago, shortly after he gave up trying to persuade the Carmel Clay Board of Zoning Appeals to approve the use a helipad at his home.

        His neighbors had complained about the noise from the 10-seat helicopter at his home just north of Indianapolis.

        Irsay plans to make the helipad near Conseco's headquarters available for critically ill patients traveling to a heart-treatment center being built about 15 blocks away along U.S. 31.

        “What we're gonna do is charge them $250 each time to land, and at the end of the year, donate it back,” Irsay said. “Everything just worked out for the best.”

        Irsay first used the Conseco helipad last week when he returned home from a trip to Houston.

        Mayor Jim Brainard, who has proposed that the city consider ways to get a helipad that can be used by businesses and hospitals, said it was good to see members of the community sharing the facility in a commercial area.

        “I am pleased that Conseco and Jim Irsay got together on this,” he said. “This will be good for the community, good for the neighbors, and it should work out well.”

Top pick Jones is holding out - hope, that is Colts owner buys helipad for home

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