First Bell 407GX delivered for tourism
Source: Bell, 11-Sep-12
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the delivery of two 407GX aircraft to Helicopter Flight Services, Inc., a New York based company offering tours, charters, aerial photography, lift work and custom projects. Helicopter Flight Services is the first to operate a Bell 407GX in a sightseeing capacity. Helicopter Flight Services operates [...]
Destin Helicopter Tours promoting tourism flights
Source: Destin Helicopter Tours, 07-Jun-12
For those looking for a way to enhance a Destin, Florida vacation experience, Destin Helicopter Toursprovides the solution. Even vacationers who have been to Destin many times before will be able to see things in a whole new way after a helicopter tour. The view from the helicopter provides memories that last a lifetime. The helicopter [...]
Falcon Aviation Services to start new tour from Marina Mall helipad
Source: AME Info, 04-Jun-12
The 15-minute tour – available from June 21 through to September 15 – starts and ends at Marina Mall helipad and journeys up and down the capital’s majestic Corniche. (see full story)
Helicopter Adventures Offers Flights from Myrtle Beach
Source: Helicopter Adventures, 04-Jun-12
Helicopter Adventures, the nation’s first and only attraction offering helicopter tours from a shopping, dining and entertainment complex is now offering flights from Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Free shuttles have pick up points on the north and south sides of the 350-acre complex, while the helicopter launch site is located on [...]
Pawans Hans adds two tourist routes; Pondering four more
Source: New Kerala, 01-Jun-12
Pawan Hans plans to connect Vrindavan and Mathura with New Delhi considering the high potential of religious tourism of the two cities. It is also mulling linking Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Mathura and Agra to Delhi. (see full story)
Pawan Hans wins Pilgrimage Tourism Award
Source: HeliHub.com, 29-Aug-11
Pawan Hans Helicopters, India’s nationally owned helicopter operator, has been awarded the Best Aviation Company Promoting Pilgrimage Tourism 2011. The award was presented by the tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai to R.K. Tyagi, the Managing Director of Pawan Hans, at a function organised by the travel publication “Today’s Traveller” in New Delhi last week. The [...]
Victoria State to ease tourism flight hours?
Source: Standard, 26-Aug-11
A Department of Planning and Community Development review of helicopter landing sites wants to ease the requirements for operators. The review suggests a permit should not be required where the hours of helicopter operation and frequency are limited and where there is a one-kilometre setback from a sensitive use. (Full story) Photo shows the Twelve [...]
Heli USA Airways reportedly buy seven AW119Ke
Source: HeliHub.com, 29-Jul-11
Heli USA Airways are reportedly looking to buy seven AgustaWestland AW119Ke helicopters. While no official announcement has been made by the manufacturer, it’s a case of “there’s no smoke without fire” with the following evidence What purports to be an AgustaWestland press release appearing on a US-based website Job positions being advertised clearly confirming the [...]
New tourist offering in India with AS350B3s
Source: Chardham Tours, 14-Jun-11
The Chardham Pilgrimage Tours comprising of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri destinations started with the opening of portals of both Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on May 6, 2011. The holy sites adorn the beautiful destination Uttarakhand. The Kedarnath place is situated at a height of 3,584 meter in Rudraprayag district whereas Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines [...]
Banning NYC tourist helicopters solves nothing, says official
Source: DNSinfo, 09-Jun-11
Patricia Ornst, director of aviation for the Economic Development Corp., warned that the city would lose its limited leverage over tourist helicopters if the choppers were barred from the downtown heliport. “They will move elsewhere and they will continue to operate,” Ornst told Community Board 1′s Financial District Committee. “It will be worse.”
Congresswoman calls for complete ban on NYC tourist helicopter flights
Source: Nydia Velazquez, 08-Jun-11
The following is the full text of a letter from Rep Nydia M. Velazquez to NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg:- The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg Mayor of New York City City Hall New York, N.Y. 10007 Dear Mayor Bloomberg: This letter follows up on April 5, 2010 correspondence regarding the issue of tourist helicopters. Relentless helicopter [...]
Helicopter tourism to lift off in Goa with six helipads
Source: Times of India, 16-May-11
A helipad alongside Panaji’s Mandovi bridge and five more across the state, including at Colva and Old Goa, are set to launch helicopter tourism in Goa.
Maverick Helicopters wins Best Tour Company award
Source: Maverick Helicopters, 30-Mar-11
Maverick Helicopters has been named 2011 SNHCA Choice Award winner for Best Tour Company in Las Vegas by the Southern Nevada Hotel Concierge Association (SNHCA). SNHCA, which was established in 1990, is an association of professional hotel concierge dedicated to providing the highest level of service to Las Vegas visitors. The association is honoring Maverick [...]
Senator Ron Wyden proposes ban on helicopter tours over Crater Lake
Source: Senator Ron Wyden, 21-Feb-11
Friday, February 18, 2011 Washington, D.C. – With the Senate passage of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill late last night, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced several provisions that will benefit Oregon, including improved commercial air service between western states and Washington, D.C., protecting Crater Lake from air tour flyovers, increasing testing sites for [...]
US Helicopter Tour eGuide Launched
Source: GHT, 17-Feb-11
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA February 17, 2011 The Guide to Helicopter Tours in the U.S. (GHT) has recently launched an exciting, comprehensive eGuide which specifically promotes helicopter tourism in the US. Some of the most awe inspiring scenic helicopter tours in America can now be accessed in one convenient location on the web. “Landing [...]
Grand Canyon operators say noise-reduction proposals could hurt business
Source: Las Vegas Review Journal, 06-Feb-11
“The Park Service has done the unthinkable but not the unexpected; it has broken its public promise to the air tour community to not propose measures designed to drive the industry, along with many jobs, out of existence in Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona — which this will do,” Steve Bassett, president of the United [...]
National Park Service releases draft aircraft overflight EIS for comment
Source: National Park Service, 04-Feb-11
The National Park Service has developed a draft plan to address the impacts of aircraft noise on park resources and visitor experience. Released by the park on Tuesday, the plan is formally called a “Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Special Flight Rules Area in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park.” The document will be [...]
Network of helicopter services launched in Himachal Pradesh
Source: HeliHub.com, 30-Jan-11
Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has this weekend launched the much-awaited helicopter services to cater for high-end tourists. He ceremonially sent off the first helicopter flight for Kullu from Annandale helipad on Saturday, operated by an MD600N from the Simm-Samm Company. Two other operators Shiva Heli Services and Mesco Airlines are also involved. The [...]
HAI president discusses issues and concerns with Hawaiian operators
Source: HAI, 27-Jan-11
The tour operators Paradise Helicopters and Sunshine Helicopters discussed initiatives to support and enhance the air tour business with HAI President Matt Zuccaro during his recent visit to Hawaii. Zuccaro met with Cal Dorn of Paradise and Sunshine’s Paul Morris to discuss a number of HAI initiatives to support air tours, including its ongoing discussions [...]
Maverick launches new all-in-one Grand Canyon West Rim Experience
Source: Maverick Helicopters, 27-Jan-11
The latest sightseeing excursion from Maverick Aviation Group will give explorers a multi-perspective view of Grand Canyon West Rim. Passengers will witness the beauty of the Grand Canyon and all it has to offer while traveling via plane, helicopter and by foot on the new Tribal Spirit excursion. The company’s latest expedition will depart daily [...]
Tomlinson Aviation plans Daytona Beach to Orlando service
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal, 05-Jan-11
Before he can get this charter service up and running, Neal Tomlinson of Tomlinson Aviation says he needs a beachfront location for landings and departures.
New helicopter tour company at Sarasota’s Bradenton Airport
Source: Longboat Key News, 21-Nov-10
Alpha Helicopters specializes in scenic beach and city tours of Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island
Salt Air adds floating helipad barge for tourism ops
Source: Salt Air, 02-Nov-10
An innovative new tourism product for the Bay of Islands has just been launched by Salt Air which includes a barge, a helicopter, a boat and stunning island beaches. Salt Air have purpose built a floating heli pad barge that will be anchored out amongst the islands from Paihia. Visitors to the Bay of Islands [...]
Air Maui opens in Grand Canyon and Las Vegas under Serenity Helicopters name
Source: Serenity Helicopters, 25-Oct-10
Serenity Helicopters has opened their doors as the newest provider of Las Vegas to Grand Canyon helicopter tours. Steve Egger, founder of Air Maui (a popular Hawaii helicopter tour provider), brings his 25+ years of experience and flawless safety record to the Las Vegas helicopter industry. Serenity takes pride in being a small company, which [...]
HeliExperiences ready to fly tours off the coast of Kangaroo Island
Source: ABC, 17-Oct-10
HeliExperiences wants to provide helicopter joy-rides off the coast of Kangaroo Island, and has released an environmental management plan for public comment.
Vietnam’s Luxury Travel to launch helicopter service to former battlefields
Source: Luxury Travel, 01-Oct-10
The company is going to launch a day trip by private charter helicopter to Ba Ria Vung Tau for interested travelers from Ho Chi Minh City. The Luxury Travel Company (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com ), Vietnam’s leading bespoke travel experience, is experienced in providing special services and unique tourism products to luxury global travelers over the years. Long [...]
New York mid-air – helicopter was flying too high
Source: New York Daily News, 15-Sep-10
The Liberty Helicopter Tour aircraft, which took off for a 12 minute sightseeing trip around the Manhattan skyline, was supposed to stop climbing when it hit 1,000 feet, the NTSB reported
New rules for Hudson River tour helicopters begin today
Source: NorthJersey.com, 16-Aug-10
Tour helicopters that want to fly higher than 1,300 feet over the Hudson River — and show off the scenic span of Manhattan island — must adhere to stricter flight patterns beginning Monday.
Horry County Planning Commission defers helicopter tour proposal
Source: The Sun News, 09-Aug-10
The company has renewed a request to build a helicopter pad for a private helicopter tour company to be placed on George Bishop Parkway. The request asks that the zoning be changed on the property from highway commercial to outdoor commercial amusements.
Pawan Hans benefits from boost in spiritual tourism
Source: Times of India, 31-Jul-10
Pawan Hans CMD R K Tyagi said his company had received very good response to the introduction of helicopter services for Amarnath with more than 40,000passengers already booked to fly between July-August.
Mi-8 from Chukotka across Bering Strait to Alaska targets new tourism options
Source: AVE, 29-Jul-10
For the first time in the history of aviation representatives of the Russian airline “Vertical-T” on the MI-8P flew from Chukotka to Alaska.
Deccan Air completes first heli-tour to Jaffna
Source: Daily Mirror, 30-Jun-10
Sri Lanka’s only private sector helicopter operator Deccan Aviation made its first helicopter transfer to Jaffna recently.
Heli-Cusco calls for new Machu Picchu flight ban to be lifted
Source: BBC, 22-Jun-10
Heli-Cusco is heavily dependant on the Peruvian tourist trade, which focuses on Maccu Picchu. Last week’s 125 sq.mile helicopter exclusion zone was created by the Cusco provincial government without prior warning or consultation
Maverick Helicopters Launches New Grand Canyon Experiences
Source: Maverick Helicopters, 31-May-10
Maverick Helicopter officials have announced the addition of two new tours to the company’s schedule, the Skywalk Odyssey and Silver Cloud Sunset excursions. Both new sightseeing expeditions depart from the company’s Las Vegas Strip location, 6075 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and both offer unique views of Southern Nevada, Arizona and the Grand Canyon. For the [...]
TourGuy.com Grand Canyon Helicopter Landing Becomes #1 Seller
Source: TourGuy.com, 28-May-10
The “Toast the Spirits of the Grand Canyon” helicopter tour has become the number one seller at TourGuy.com, a new tour and travel source for adventure and ecotourism tours launched during National Travel And Tourism Week. The Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour takes up to six passengers from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon for a [...]
Papillon starts new Hoover Dam air tour
Source: Old West New West, 25-May-10
Departing daily from either their Las Vegas or Boulder City terminals, the tour flies at low level over the Hoover Dam in a Eurocopter EC130
India’s Government of Sikkim approves three tourism helipads, considers two more
Source: Olala, 08-May-10
Detailed project reports for constructing three helipads, submitted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Sikkim, have been recently sanctioned, while two more proposals are under consideration.
Horry County helicopter tour plans face mixed reactions
Source: The Sun News, 07-May-10
The Horry County Council is considering a zoning change that would allow a helicopter company to open up a tourist attraction across the street from the rollercoaster at Freestyle Music Park. The proposal has met with mixed reactions
Ventura Harbor rejects helicopter sightseeing tours
Source: Ventura County Star, 21-Apr-10
Channel Island Helicopters, which currently operates out of the Oxnard Airport, wanted to lease harbor land near Anchors Way to offer tours one weekend a month and raise its profile, but “it wasn’t the right fit,” Harbormaster Scott Miller said Tuesday.
New York: Tourist heliport move generates noise complaints in Brooklyn
Source: New York Post, 11-Apr-10
The fact that there’s now a single site in Manhattan for tourist-helicopter flights is a big part of why a bad problem is a whole lot worse,” said state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn), who said his staff arrived at work Monday to find 50 e-mail complaints about chopper noise.
Bill would give Crater Lake National Park say over helicopters
Source: Washington Examiner, 26-Mar-10
The National Park Service would get special authority to decide if Leading Edge Aviation can fly tours over Crater Lake under legislation passed by the U.S. Senate on Monday.
Papillon Airways’ New Grand Canyon Tour Options
Source: BizBash, 20-Jan-10
Papillon Airways recently eliminated all of its existing packages in favor of simplified and lower-priced group booking by helicopter, airplane, or bus.
Pawan Hans Helicopters to partner with Bihar State on tourism ops
Source: Hindustan Times, 10-Jan-10
The helicopter with the capacity to accommodate six to eight persons will display the logo of Bihar Tourism and the highlights of its tourist sites of Vaishali, Kesaria, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Patna.
Low time pilot launches NZ operator Heli Tours with AS350
Source: Mountain Scene, 04-Jan-10
A low-time private pilot who has recently achieved his commercial licence was awarded an operating certificate on 24th December and has launched Heli Tours in New Zealand with an AS350. See also http://www.helitours.co.nz
Forbes Traveler nominates Nimmo Bay as top helicopter tour destination
Source: Canada.com, 20-Nov-09
New York-based Forbes Traveler ranks B.C.’s Nimmo Bay Resort as No. 1 in the world for helicopter tours into relatively inaccessible but visually stunning places.
Safari Helicopters tour funds Hawaii environmental work
Source: Kauai World, 10-Sep-09
The plan allows Safari Helicopters to land on a ridge above Olokele Canyon, allow visitors to stroll through an endangered-plant reserve, and use a portion of the proceeds to fund soil-erosion and the endangered-species work.
Indian Government unveils guidelines for Heliport Tourism
Source: Hospitality Biz India, 10-Sep-09
With a view to promote tourist destinations in hilly and remote areas of the country, MoT has also issued guidelines to extend financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for construction of heliports under the scheme of product/ infrastructure development for destinations and circuits.
Helicopter service to boost tourism in Tripura
Source: PTI, 04-Sep-09
Tripura Government has decided to launch helicopter service to 20 small towns in the state to promote tourism and develop connectivity, official sources said today.
Acrimonious row erupts over rainforest sightseeing flights in Zimbabwe
Source: Sunday News, 27-Aug-09
A showdown is looming between the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Victoria Falls Town Council after the local authority allocated land for helipads to seven potential helicopter operators to venture into providing flights over the rainforest.
Helicopter service for Sikkim tourist destinations
Source: http://www.ptinews.com/news/230034_Helicopter-service-for-Sikkim-tourist-destinations, 20-Aug-09
With a view to cater to high-end tourists, Sikkim government has decided to launch commercial chopper services to five most frequented destinations in the state, a tourism official said.
New helicopter service starts from Hanoi to UNESCO World Heritage site at Halong Bay
Source: PR.com, 22-Jul-09
