In the midst of controversy over the heliport contract awarded by the EDC to FirstFlight, Ron Ricciardi, the vice chairman of FirstFlight, names Robert Grotell the interim manager of the South Street Heliport. Grotell is the former senior aviation official for the NYC Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Grotell worked as a city transportation official under Mayors Bloomberg and Giuliani, but ceased working for the City in 2004, where his title was deputy commissioner of transportation. Grotell is currently an aviation consultant. The City’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee held a hearing in response to the criticism that has arisen over the awarding of the South Street Heliport contract to FirstFlight. Many of the current helicopter operators in the NYC region feel that FirstFlight is inferior and does not have the requisite experience to operate a heliport in the metropolitan area. One local operator, Linden Airport Management Corporation has filed a suit in federal court to overturn the EDCs choice, claiming that it was biased and politically motivated. Others believe that having FirstFlight operating the heliport is a conflict of interest, give that Alvin S. Trenk, a director of First Flight owns Air Pegasus, the company operating the controversial West 30th Street heliport. Since Trenk runs a sightseeing business, other helicopter companies say that it would be unfair to have their competitor also be their landlord. Patricia Ornst, an official of the development corporation, is reported by the New York Times to have attended the hearing, but did not comment on the complaints surrounding the EDCs decision.