Top 10 Advantages of Owning a Private Helicopter
If you’ll forgive the undeniably apt pun, the events of the past 12 months have really driven home the benefits of private helicopter ownership. Commercial aviation pretty much ground to a halt at home and abroad, making private flights the only flights available for some time.
But even before the chaos of Covid hit home soil in the UK, the prospect of luxury helicopterownership had undeniable appeal. Appeal which in many instances transcends that of picking up your own private jet, or justifies switching your plane for your own cutting-edge chopper.
Here’s how owning a personal helicopter can be no less than life-changing…and all in the best possible way.
Personal Helicopter – Advantages of Owning One
1.Timeliness
First up, what’s the one thing every Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti and limousine has in common? The answer - its susceptibility to traffic jams, diversions and chaos on the roads. By cutting road travel out of the equation entirely, you can always get where you need to be in a prompt and timely manner - however hideous the conditions below may be.
2. Speed
Luxury helicopter travel can also be the fastest way to travel, depending on where you’re heading and when. A quick hop from Paris to London takes about 90 minutes door to door - much faster than private jet travel, when factoring in the inevitable airport transfers.
3. Easier Departures and Arrivals
On that note, one of the biggest benefits of luxury helicopter ownership is the way in which you don’t need to rely on major airports or commercial landing strips. You don’t even need a purpose built helicopter - more or less any patch of suitable ground (or even an empty car park) will do!
4. Remote Area Access
There are so many places you can head by private helicopter that would be completely inaccessible for a private jet. Ski trips to mountain resorts, idyllic stays on remote private islands - all within easy reach for the helicopter owner. And again, without having to worry about airport transfers…or sharing crowded departure lounges with the masses.
5. Total Privacy
If you value your privacy, traveling by way of commercial jet (or even booking a seat on a charter flight) is a recipe for a chaotic, claustrophobic and quite unpleasant journey. Once you’ve experienced the complete privacy of private helicopter travel, there really is no going back.
6. Simplified Storage
If the exterior of your home is large enough to store a handful of cars, it’s also probably large enough to safely store your helicopter. This means never having to fork out for storage at a nearby airport, or worry about organising transfers to and from your aircraft when you want to use it.
7. A Way to Make an Entrance
There’s more to private air travel than showing off, but turning up in your own luxury helicopter is just about the best way of all to make a memorable entrance. Forget the McLarens and Maseratis in the car park - all eyes will be on you and only you.
8. The Prospect of Pleasure Flights
Realistically, there’s no reason to hop aboard a private jet and take to the skies without a specific journey in mind. With your own helicopter, the whole world suddenly becomes one big aerial playground to explore. Pleasure flights by helicopter are an experience unlike anything else, enabling the most incredible sights to be taken in from a completely unique and privileged vantage point.
9. A Reduced Carbon Footprint
Of course, it’s no secret that private air travel isn’t quite as environmentally friendly as commercial airline travel. Nevertheless, the most sophisticated helicopters on the market have been designed to be far more eco-friendly than a comparable private jet. Ideal for anyone looking to travel in style, while reducing their carbon footprint in the process.
10. On-Demand Executive Travel
Last but not least, private jet ownership isn’t quite as easy as simply hitting the airstrip at the drop of a hat and heading wherever takes your fancy. Procedures on protocol must be followed - prepping your plane, booking a departure slot, making sure there’s somewhere suitable to land and so on. With a private helicopter like the upcoming HX50 from Hill Helicopters, up to five passengers can enjoy true on-demand executive travel, taking in panoramic views and lapping up the luxury as you glide pretty much anywhere you feel like!
