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5 reasons to travel by helicopter

Helicopters are wonderfully versatile flying machines offering some unique benefits when it comes to travel and quickly gaining popularity worldwide. Here are 5 reasons why you should charter a private helicopter at least once: 1. Get there faster The average flying speed of a helicopter varies between 95 and 145 mph – that’s a lot faster than you could ever legally drive on US roads, unless you’re a professional racecar driver… It also means that travel time is reduced to about 1/3 of what it would take to get to your destination by ground transportation. For example: if you’re staying in a Manhattan hotel and have a flight to catch from JFK Airport, the average travel time by taxi, bus or subway would be 30 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. The same distance is covered in less than 10 minutes by helicopter. AS350 in flight 2. Get the VIP treatment The beauty of private aviation is that is revolves around you, not the other way around. When you charter a private jet or helicopter, you will automatically avoid the long security lines associated with taking commercial flights and be assisted by your own luggage handlers. Private flights use private FBOs (fixed base operators) that are usually situated far away from the crowded commercial airline terminals and offer luxurious amenities such as complimentary snacks, a bar or a private concierge. 3. Get to more places The vertical flight capability of helicopters may be their greatest advantage over airplanes. Not needing a runway makes is possible to land in secluded, remote locations, mountaintops, backyards, parking lots, even yachts. Many high-end hotels, stadiums and other entertainment venues have their own helipads for VIP guests. Now there’s a way to make an entrance! Helicopter in backyard 4. Get your sightseeing done while you’re at it Most types of civilian-use helicopters have large windows allowing passengers to enjoy the views from above. It is literally the best seat in the house! Start your vacation early or prepare yourself mentally for a presentation by taking in magnificent aerial views of the landscape below while heading towards your destination. In addition to panorama windows passengers receive their own headsets for in-flight communication with one another and the pilot. 5. Get there in style Contrary to popular belief, helicopters are no longer reserved for the rich and famous. More and more operators are opening up to the everyday traveler by offering individual seats on flights that would otherwise be beyond their budgets. So the next time you’re planning a night out on the town, look up a nearby helicopter operator! Chances are, you’ll be able to score a great deal by sharing a helicopter with people who are heading the same way on a Saturday night. Helicopter travel Anna Macsai is Director of Finance and Marketing at Wings Air Helicopters.

Anna Macsai

I was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary and moved to the US after high school. My career started in hospitality then moved into aviation which is a longtime passion of mine. I am currently General Manager at Wings Air, a New York-based commercial helicopter operator providing air charter, sightseeing, flight instruction, aerial photography services and more.

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11 Comments

  1. Indeed helicopter travel ensures a panoramic sight seeing of the city from above. It also helps to save a lot of time traveling from one destination to another.

  2. It’s also just plain exciting! Helicopters are cool and feel very adventurous. Love that you can see so much and also zoom in on things so to speak.

  3. You did not mention that flying a chopper is more dangerous than a fixed wing plane…..it crashes very quickly with the any mechanical mishap !

  4. I can definitely see how a business would benefit from these helicopters, especially if they need to impress their client or potential partner. After all, I know I would feel pretty special if I was being shown around in a helicopter above town. Plus, I imagine you would be able to get so much more done by flying to your destination. After all, 95 mph is nothing to sneeze at!

  5. My husband and I have been thinking of sightseeing from a helicopter this summer, so I am glad that I found this article. I like that you say the large windows allow passengers to enjoy the views as well as getting headsets for in-flight communication. Also, I agree that private aviation definitely gets you the VIP treatment because you are not in a crowd and they take care of you individually. I will share these benefits with my husband!

  6. Something that would be really nice is riding in a helicopter with large windows so that I could take a view from above. If I were to go to Las Vegas then I would love to take a helicopter ride over the city. Something I have heard is that Las Vegas is very beautiful from above.

  7. I found it interesting how you mentioned how helicopter travel can be a great way to get to where you need to be fast while also sightseeing at the same time. My wife and I are in the process of planning our 40th-anniversary vacation and we want to make sure that we are freely able to get to where we need to go without driving in unfamiliar traffic. I will keep this in mind as we search for helicopter charters in our vacation destination!

  8. I was surprised when you said that that the average helicopter can go as fast as 145 mph without a problem. In my opinion, it would also be nice to slow things down and go on a sightseeing tour in a helicopter so we have plenty of time to take in the scenery. It was fun to read you article and learn more about the benefits of helicopter travel, so thanks for sharing!

  9. The best part of your blog for me is when you said that riding a helicopter could offer reduced travel time since it can fly between 95 and 145 mph. This is something that I will share with my husband so he can consider purchasing an aircraft on his own. He loves visiting his parents and friends every second Sunday of the month. They are all living in different states. To make sure that he will be offered the right deal, I will ask him to hire an aircraft desktop appraising service.

  10. Hey there! I have to check out this article because I have this crazy plan to take my wife n a special tour in Alaska this winter. I love the fact that helicopter rides are much quicker and allow us to reach some of the more remote locations. That’s it, I’m gonna make a reservation with the right tour company as soon as possible.

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