helicopter on yacht

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Super High: The Ultimate Guide to Yacht Helicopters

The perfect way to soar your yacht to new heights.

Wide-open waters? Check. Great company? Check. Your sparkly new superyacht? Double-check. There can only be one thing missing in this picture: an impressive helicopter for the ultimate grand entrance.

When you’ve already invested so much into the yacht of your dreams, there’s got to be a little extra room (literally) for a special delivery—you. Read on to discover all of our tips and tricks for your very own tantalizing yacht helicopter.

1. Easier Access

Your yacht is the most lavish way to travel in style, right? So why bother adding one more mode of transportation to your already fully capable vessel, you may be asking yourself. The answer is in the air! Having a helicopter on your superyacht allows you to get to places you never thought possible. While there may not always be a place to dock your yacht in certain luxurious locations, having a helicopter onboard allows you access to even the most exclusive spots. You’ll be able to visit so many more destinations on your well-earned journeys—the sky’s the limit.

Navigate to hard-to-reach locales with this yacht charter: OCTOPUS | 414′ Lurssen

2. Destination: Transportation

Having a helipad onboard your superyacht isn’t just about reaching the most beautiful destinations in the world, although that’s reason enough. It also serves a seemingly obvious need: arriving at your megayacht to begin with. Have a meeting in the city but the yacht is docked at the bay? Hop into your helicopter for a straight shot flight to your weekend getaway, with zero hassles along the way. Having the added transport option makes everything seamless from beginning to end, no matter where you’re coming from or where you’re going.

Transport yourself with ease with this superyacht: BOLD | 279’ SilverYachts

3. Glorified Grandeur

Your megayacht is your pride and joy, as it should be. It was no easy feat to attain such a vessel, and having a helicopter aboard only drives that point home. With an aircraft aboard your yacht, the luxury reaches new heights. The upscale feel, exclusive usability, and added ease all bring your adventures to a caliber of their own. There is nothing like a personal helicopter aboard a superyacht to up the wow factor.

Cruise in style with this yacht charter: PLANET NINE | 240′ Admiral Yachts

4. A Whole New View

While endless views of the open water can be a sight for sore eyes, having a helicopter onboard brings on a whole new perspective. Enjoy the best of both worlds with views from both the sea and sky. A perfect vacation has a little of everything, and you’re getting just that with the limitless aerial views in the finest destinations around the globe. Sightseeing will take on a whole other level when your altitude rises!

See the sights with new eyes with this yacht charter: SURI | 208′ Halter Marine

5. Taking Sports to the Extreme

No matter what your sport of choice, a helicopter aboard your mega yacht will only add to the fun and adventure. Big on scuba diving? Get to your dive site with the ease of your helicopter. Love photography? The aerial shots from above will be unmatched. Thrilled by cliff diving? Reach cliff tops with a quick flight. Interested in whale watching? Soaring the skies will give you an eagle eye’s view to spot all sorts of marine life. Even piloting can become a reality and your newest hobby. Every interest can truly be appeased with an aircraft at bay.

Get your game on with this superyacht: TIME OFF | 182′ Support Yacht Damen Yachting

6. Time Is on Your Side

We all know that time is money. With fully packed schedules, every minute is precious. Having a helipad on your superyacht saves so much time that would otherwise be wasted—be it in traffic, at the airport, or getting to your destination. With the ease and flexibility of helicopters, you and your guests can promptly reach your yacht’s location at an unimaginable speed. If flying directly from a city, time that would have been spent in endless traffic is spared. If picking you or your guests up from a nearby airport, the comfort and speediness are unparalleled. Transit times are severely reduced, allowing more time to sit back and relax.

Maximize your time with this yacht charter: SUNRAYS | 280′ Oceanco

7. Safety First

One of the biggest and most important benefits of having a helicopter easily available aboard your superyacht is for safety reasons. With very clear FAA safety regulations for helicopters, this mode of transportation proves to be one of the safest options for getting to and from your vessel. In addition, having a helicopter available in the event of an injury or a passenger getting sick is a critical benefit. Being able to evacuate a guest in an emergency may even be the difference between life and death. Even on vacation, accidents can happen. With the safety of travelers at the top of mind, these advantages are of the utmost importance and can ensure a safe and pleasant trip.

Travel with peace of mind with this yacht charter: AIR | 265′ Feadship

8. Specialized Design

Helipads add a sense of wonder and aesthetic to your superyacht. However, it doesn’t stop at good looks. Shipbuilders work together with aviation pros and designers to find the ideal location to place a helipad. Teams work by the Commercial Yacht Code of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to meet all necessary standards during construction. With a large amount of space needed to place a helicopter landing deck on a superyacht, attention to detail and impeccable design are paramount. You’ll know you’ve got the best of the best.

Transform big dreams into reality with this yacht: PROJECT METAVERSE | 207’ Delta

No matter how you look at it, having a helicopter on your superyacht changes the game. A helicopter ups the ante in all arenas, from fun to design to safety. Make sure your yacht includes this high-class feature. Contact a Denison yacht broker to upgrade your yacht and you’ll be flying high, too.

Speak with a Superyacht Specialist:

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Superyacht Helipads on Charter: What You Need to Know

By Editorial Team |   Last Updated 4 November 2021

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A helipad is the ultimate luxury convenience for anyone in a hurry to start their dream yacht charter vacation, yet although it seems these days every self-respecting superyacht boasts a helipad - or two - few are actually commercially certified for helicopter landings. So, the question remains: is a non-certified helipad just a waste of space on a yacht charter?

To clear things up, we have compiled our guide on everything you need to know about superyacht helipads, as well as some of the best charter yachts already equipped with fully-certified helicopter platforms for those wishing to kick off their luxury yacht charter in style.

In this article:

A commercially-certified helipad is a must

Can you use a non-certified helipad on a yacht charter, private helipads, ‘touch and go’ helipad, charter guest benefits, 6 stand-out superyachts with a fully-certified helipad, 1. la datcha, 2. cloudbreak, 3. madsummer, 5. flying fox, interested in booking a luxury yacht charter.

For this classification, a superyacht helipad must be constructed and operated in line with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY3) Annex 6, which is basically the technical standards for helicopter landing areas, or helipads. 

This code sets out the basic rules governing the design, construction and operation of a helipad, which includes important factors such as a yacht’s load bearing capacity, obstacle clearance, consideration of airflow, safe access points, lighting, permanent deck markings and relevant crew training on helicopter operations. 

The responsibility for the survey and certification process for a helipad intended for commercial use is shared between the yacht’s registered flag state, the classification society and an aviation inspection body, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ). 

All in all, it doesn’t leave much wiggle room for winging it.  

In a nutshell, no. 

Helicopters are not permitted to touch down on a non-certified helipad onboard a yacht that is being used commercially, i.e. for charter, unless for a medical emergency such as the evacuation of sick or injured passengers.

A helipad or helideck is considered a commercial operation if used to either;

• Receive commercial charter helicopters, or
• Transport charter guests 

Therefore, even a yacht being used privately by its owner cannot receive a commercial charter helicopter if the helideck is not certified.

The ICAO have also weighed in on this point, stipulating that “all commercial air transport helicopters should land on certified helipads which must be built according to certain standards”. 

Private helipads onboard a yacht adhere to less stringent rules and therefore do not have to meet the commercial standards for certification. 

We find many owners are keen to incorporate a helideck, so long as it doesn't compromise the overall aesthetic of the yacht

That's not to say that non-certified helipads aren’t safe, as for the most part they will have been designed with the regulations in mind. However, more often a yacht’s visual appeal is advocated over the practicalities of helipad design. Chris Wood, a helidecks operations manager with Safeguard Helidecks Certification agrees: “We find many owner's are keen to incorporate a helideck, so long as it doesn't compromise the overall aethestic of the yacht."

This snazzy term has become synonymous with luxury superyachts, although it technically has no meaning. For clarity's sake, unless specified ‘touch and go’ helipads are not certified and therefore cannot be used for commercial operations i.e. yacht charters, with the exception of medical emergencies. 

This can cause some confusion, especially as these types of helipads are often highlighted as a stand-out feature when marketing a yacht for charter.

A certified helipad onboard a yacht is a major bonus for yacht charterers wishing to expedite their travel time and arrive in style. Other advantages include;

• Quick and easy access to and from the yacht 
• Avoids wasting time in heavy traffic
• Avoids lengthy tender rides to yachts out on anchor
• Provides an opportunity for guests to explore their surroundings further
• Ideal jumping off point for extreme sports such as heli skiing
• Useful for corporate charter events
• Safe and comfortable transportation option

We are seeing huge demand from yacht owners wanting to get their private helipads commercially certified for yacht charters

As for non-commercial helipads, it can also be used for medical emergencies.

In conclusion, a fully operational helideck is an increasingly desirable feature onboard a charter yacht, which has led to a growing demand for helipad certification. Chris Woods at Safeguard Helidecks Certification confirms this is one of their biggest growth areas: "We are seeing huge demand from yacht owners wanting to get their private helipads commercially certified for yacht charters". 

So, although there are currently only a handful of charter yachts offering certified helipads right now, the future looks bright.

We have hand-picked a selection of top-rated superyachts equipped with a commerical landing platform for the ultimate luxury yacht charter.

Launched in 2020 to much acclaim, this stellar 77-metre explorer yacht is perfectly tailor-made for unique yacht vacations in far-flung destinations across the globe.

Located on her main deck aft, La Datcha’s helipad provides the perfect launching base for her two commercially-registered B3 Squirrel helicopters, designed by her adrenaline junkie owner with heli-skiing adventures and heli-ops in mind.

As well as an autonomous capability of up to 40 days at sea, she also boasts a raft of technology-rich gadgets, extensive wellness area, luxurious interiors and a toy chest overflowing with water-based and onshore exploration gear, including 2 snow scooters and a 3-person submarine.

Delivered out from the eminent German shipyard Abeking and Rasmussen in 2016, this voluminous 75-metre explorer yacht has a large dedicated aft commercial helideck for her custom Bell 429 Global Ranger, whilst still leaving ample deck areas for charter guests to exclusively enjoy. 

CLOUDBREAK offers an array of superlative amenities from her glass-enclosed winter garden to her fantastic alfresco cinema which converts into a nightclub, complete with DJ booth, lighting and state-of-the-art sound system! She also boasts a vast wellness centre with sauna, plunge pool, gym and massage area, as well as a qualified onboard beautician and personal trainer for the ultimate onboard luxury experience.

Launched in 2019, this award-winning 95-metre luxury yacht boasts all the hallmarks of meticulous craftsmanship we’ve come to expect from a Lurssen yacht.

MADSUMMER has a large helipad platform on her foredeck, fully-certified for helicopter operations and bunkering. She also houses a fully-equipped hangar in her bow for helicopter storage. On top of this, guests keen to explore their destination can do so on the yacht's very own Husky seaplane and 11-meter limo tender.

With exquisite Laura Sessa interiors showcasing a colour palette of primary hues, vast alfresco social areas, dedicated cinema suite and extensive wellness facilities, this spectacular charter yacht is an eternal crowd pleaser.

Delivered by Spanish yard Freire to her owner in 2011, This custom expedition yacht has made clever use of her wide foredeck helipad, which converts to a vast sundeck area with an array of sumptuous loungers when not being used as a landing platform for helicopters.

NAIA is uniquely both a luxury yacht and a state-of-the-art research vessel, boasting a submarine hangar for deep exploration, high-tech research facilities and an onboard laboratory.

For those looking for a little indulgence, she also offers a fully-equipped glass-panelled gym and swimming pool, huge penthouse-style Owner’s deck offering sensational views, main salon that converts to a cinema suite and an impressive array of toys, including a 5-person submarine capable of depths of up to 525 feet.

This impressive Lurssen yacht boasts not just one but two certified helipads, located on her top deck and bow, and both intentionally left clear so that charter guests can come and go as they please.

At 136 meters (446 ft) FLYING FOX is also the largest superyacht available for charter, and the most expensive!

Her stand-out features are endless; a stunning mezzanine-style salon, 12-meter swimming pool, lavish cinema suite, 400 m2 multi-level wellness spa – featuring a cryo-sauna, extensive Owner’s deck and observation lounge, to name a few of her onboard highlights.

Another award-winning turn from the German shipyard Lurssen, KISMET has two certified helipads; one on her bridge deck, which can be converted into a sumptuous alfresco lounging area, and another located on her foredeck, which is also marked out for a half-court basketball game!

This sleek 95m/312ft luxury yacht is assuredly masculine, both outside and in. From the sculpted jaguar on her bow to her luxuriant Art Deco-inspired black and gold interiors – based on a brief of ‘champagne and caviar’, she exudes glamour and style everywhere you turn.

Stand-out features include a stunning mosaic-tiled swimming pool with an adjacent elevated Jacuzzi offering sweeping vistas, aft deck fire pit with an integrated waterfall feature, double-height main salon and sports bar with full-height video walls so there’s no need to miss the game, plus innovative green features for environmentally-conscious charterers.

Choosing a yacht with a fully-certified helipad gives you a world of itinerary options that would otherwise not be achievable, allowing you and your broker to prepare some amazing and memorable experiences for the perfect yacht charter vacation.

With the list of charter yachts featuring commercial helipads growing each year, with many being retrospectively certified, be sure to check back. In the meantime, browse the current selection of  yachts equipped with a commercial helideck .

If you’d like to learn more about any of the yachts mentioned, or interested in booking a luxury yacht charter , please contact your yacht charter broker .

In short it depends.

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FEATURED SUPERYACHTS IN THIS ARTICLE

136m Lurssen 2019

95m Lurssen 2019

95m Lurssen 2014

77m Damen Yachting 2020

75m Abeking & Rasmussen 2016

74m Freire Shipyard 2011 / 2014

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Flying Luxury: Four Helicopters Ready to Serve Your Superyacht

It’s only a superyacht if it has its own chopper.

Owners of magnificent, explorer class superyachts know a helicopter is their ship’s lifeline. They provide that crucial connection to the mainland when your ship is navigating the open seas and, at any given time, can serve as a workhorse or a flying Range Rover P530.

For VIPs, business meetings or private gatherings can take place while at sea, far from the long lenses of paparazzi. Guests can arrive and depart as desired, using your helicopter. At other times, the aircraft can be used to resupply the ship or, in an emergency, become an ambulance.

And let’s be real, the best experiences, like champagne with your beloved, or surf and turf with friends, are always made better with turquoise seas as a backdrop. Flight gives superyacht owners the freedom to conduct business on the mainland before ferrying guests back to the vessel for an unforgettable Mediterranean sunset.

Fortunately, industry leading aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus , Bell  and Sikorsky , have helicopters ready to serve on the world’s premier superyachts. They know the right aircraft allows these vessels to reach their full potential.

Here are four state-of-the-art choppers ready to ensure their superyachts provide an unrivaled adventure for its owner and guests.

Airbus ACH145

Making our list are two helicopters from Airbus, including the ACH 145, a helicopter ready to operate on today’s largest and most luxurious superyachts. The ACH 145 is a highly customizable aircraft with eight unique layouts , including a version with fine leather and wood finishes designed in collaboration with Mercedes Benz . The cabins in these aircraft also feature wide, panoramic windows, ensuring passengers can take in all the sights from 10,000 feet.

In terms of aircraft performance, these aircraft are capable of transporting as many as nine passengers at a range of up to 420 miles, according to Airbus . And with a maximum cruise speed of about 157 miles per hour, the ACH145 is the ideal transport if you’re looking to fly in friends and family for that sunset. However, if you’re a VIP with more intimate tastes, this chopper can be designed around four passengers with full amenities and space to spare.

Airbus H160

Airbus’ second helicopter on this list represents a leap forward for aircraft operating from superyachts. With a maximum speed of roughly 172 miles per hour, this medium helicopter is more environmentally friendly with reduced fuel consumption and an impressive operating range of 546 miles. And, like its sister aircraft the ACH145, this helicopter comes equipped with some impressive tech. Both the Airbus H160 and its sister the Airbus ACH145 feature advanced avionics and technology such the Helionix™ flight deck with its “intuitive software, synthetic vision system and four-axis automatic pilot with complete envelope protection,” resulting in class leading “precision and control” for its pilot, explains Airbus.

These features along with its reduced noise signature from its Blue Edge™ rotor blades make the H160 a class leading medium helicopter ready for service on a superyacht.

BELL FCX-001

Bell Flight’s FCX-001 seems to come straight out of science fiction in both its design and function. Anticipating automated flight of the future, Bell is equipping its aircraft with forward-looking design changes such as a single seat cockpit and a pilot guided by artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality.

The Bell FCX-001 is currently designed to hold up to 12 passengers in floating luxury and an interior that looks like it was taken out of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 : A Space Odyssey. But instead of docking with a space station, these aircraft are primed to be the perfect companion for the superyachts of the future.

Sikorsky S-76D

Last, and certainly not least, the Sikorsky S-7D, from the legendary aircraft manufacturer. Known for its military aircraft such as the Blackhawk helicopter and Marine One, the personal helicopter of the President of the United States, the S-7D is the Lockheed-owned Sikorsky’s latest commercial offering for VIP transport and superyacht operations.

As does the Airbus Ach145, the S-7D offers a range of customizations for its cabins, with the manufacturer ready to work with clients to guarantee the aircraft fits the needs and preferences of its owners, according to the company.

Buyers and their designers can pick from a selection of exquisite “fabrics, leathers, colors and amenities and features” to ensure the flight experience is a reflection of the exclusive experience you want for yourself and the guests ready to share in your superyacht’s journey.

Sikorsky’s executive chopper is also built around a noise- and vibration-resilient flight experience thanks to its Quiet Zone™ transmission technology. This makes for a smoother ride when traversing difficult, marine weather.

Fitting upwards to eight passengers in the cabin configuration that works best for its owner, the S-7D has a maximum cruising speed of about 178 miles per hour. But what makes this chopper standout the most is its military roots. According to Sikorsky, the helicopter’s main rotor hub is drawn from the rotor hub of the UH-60 Black Hawk, a chopper that has served extensively in the United States’ military.

In designing this latest version of its VIP helicopter, Sikorsky touts its extensive record deploying helicopters on military and high performance commercial missions like support on oil rigs. With superyachts deploying in all types of climates and weather conditions, including arctic seas , the Sikorsky is surely a top contender for any owner or superyacht chartering company.

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This 252-Foot Explorer Yacht Carries Not One, but Two Helicopters for Extreme Sports

La datcha's owner plans to heli-ski in the antarctic, which requires both choppers. this ultimate explorer also has a certified emergency room, state-of-the-art scuba center and three-person submersible., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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“ La Datcha is a luxury vessel designed for serious exploration,” says owner’s representative Stefano Feltrin. By serious , he means ends-of-the-earth exploration, and not just a trip around the Caribbean. The just-delivered 252-foot superyacht, the first SeaXplorer from Damen Yachting, will be proving its pedigree in the next few months, with extreme-sports trips planned to Kamchatka, a remote Russian peninsula on the Pacific, and afterwards to Antarctica.

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While the owner will love this unique shakedown cruise, La Datcha is also armed with a raft of custom features geared towards making it one of the most advanced charter yachts to ever hit water.

The Polar Code-compliant boat is capable of being autonomous at sea for up to 40 days. It is also the first yacht to carry two commercially certified helicopters in separate garages. When one helicopter has taken off from the heli-deck aft, the second is maneuvered into position on a custom-built trolley. “It takes only a few minutes to transit the helicopters from parking, to the helideck and then to flight,” Feltrin told Robb Report .

La Datcha has an internal trolley system so its two helicopters can be removed from their separate garages and placed on the helipad for quick takeoff.  Courtesy Damen

The significance of a two-heli setup comes into its own, once the yacht reaches the extremely remote waters of Kamchatka in March. Rarely visited by superyachts, it is a diverse cruising ground rich in wolverines, geysers, volcanoes and, for the owner, heli-skiing.

“The area’s extreme-sport offering is limited by the types of helicopters available, so we’ll be using the boat as a floating helipad and exploring some of the never-before-skied slopes,” says Feltrin.

The owner plans to stay in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands for summer 2021, before heading to Antarctica in November, and then exploring Chile and Patagonia. Safety regulations for heli-skiing in these areas mandate a strict two-helicopter minimum rule. Typically, guests work around this requirement by chartering two boats, which means La Datcha ’s setup gives the boat a real edge as a charter proposition.

The yacht will journey to remote regions like Antarctica, so participants can engage in extreme sports like heli-skiing and nitrox diving.  Courtesy Damen

“The SeaXplorer is a moving platform on which to do outdoor activities,” says Feltrin, CEO of the La Datcha Tinkoff Collection, which also includes a number of shoreside properties. “We’ve taken great care to create a number of redundancy systems on board so that we can operate at all longitudes with proper connections.”

These include a fully certified hospital emergency room, with remote connection to a 24/7 doctor on call and crew with medical training. A three-passenger submarine for diving the waters of French Polynesia and Papua New Guinea. A state-of-the-art scuba diving center equipped with an onboard decompression chamber and enough compressed air and Nitrox to allow all 12 guests to dive together for as long as they choose.

“We can actually be on the water for seven days, never go on land and still manage a full day of diving, every day, for all the guests,” says Feltrin.

Along with a glass observation lounge and other refined interior spaces, La Datcha has a certified hospital emergency room, three-passenger submersible, and state-of-the-art scuba center. It can stay on the water autonomously for 40 days.  Damen

A glass observation lounge is a key feature of the SeaXplorer series, but La Datcha ’s lounge, with its open terrace on the bow and sculpture by Italian artist Gio Pomodoro, is larger than was originally planned.

The exterior is a collaboration between Damen and Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture, while the interior is by Vasiliy Shprits. La Datcha is Shprits’ debut yacht, but the style is consistent with the contemporary and warm interiors he has designed for the owner’s property portfolio.

Key areas on board include a guest staircase with backlit rubber walls that gradually change color throughout the day, and a dual master suite layout designed to accommodate friends and families to charter together while also enjoying the equal-sized master and VIP cabins.

The yacht is the first of Damen’s SeaXplorer series, though modifications were made to enhance the owner’s love of extreme sports.  Courtesy Damen

“The owner was heavily involved in the design of the yacht,” Shprits told Robb Report . “He gave his input for all of the important styling decisions and so feels a real connection to the vessel.”

La Datcha may have been conceived as a charter yacht with an ambitious itinerary, but the owner intends to spend as much time as possible on board with his family in each destination. “We plan to go to Tuscany and spend a week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on the way down to Antarctica,” says Feltrin. “So, for those areas, we’ll drop anchor right in front of the owner’s La Datcha homes.”

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The Hottest Helicopter Decks on Private Yachts

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Written by Rebecca Pascoe

A Helicopter deck on a private yacht can be a thing of beauty. The best designers incorporate them integrally into the yacht’s theme. Additionally, many of them have a dual purpose or even more than two uses. Some double as a disco dance floor and others become a golf tee, outside movie theater or an alfresco dining area. Lets have a look at some of them.

Amels Helipad

As the old saying goes, time is money. One of the quickest ways to board a superyacht is surely by helicopter. For many prestigious luxury yacht owners, their very own helicopter deck is an important feature to have. Helicopter decks make it so much easier to board and exit a superyacht, what’s more it makes an impressive sight for onlookers and fellow superyacht enthusiasts. Here are six hot luxury yachts that have helicopter decks.

Image Gallery of SuperYacht Helicopter Pads

Stella Maris VSY -2012

1. Stella Maris – yacht designer Espen Øino redefined the typically utilitarian helicopter deck on VSY’s revolutionary 72 m superyacht Stella Maris. He envisaged a superyacht helipad that was a focal point. Rather than trying to disguise the helicopter deck it defines the exterior on the Stella Maris by jutting out on the upper aft deck. When not welcoming helicopters, the huge deck is put to good use as space for sunbathing and socializing.

Lady Christine Helicopter Landing

2. Lady Christine – there are a myriad of superyacht helicopter pad solutions, from touch-and-go, helipads, to full decks and hangars. The helipad on the 68 m Feadship motor yacht, Lady Christine, was specially designed for full helicopter operations. It also has the capacity of helicopter refueling onboard – now that’s what you call forward planning!

Eclipse Helipad

3. Eclipse – as the second largest luxury superyacht in the world, the amazing 162.5 m Blohm & Voss Eclipse has plenty of room for a helicopter to land. Helicopter touch-down can be carried out on the helideck located on the superyacht’s bow. Eclipse’s helicopter tucks away in a hangar before the foredeck in a specially designed heli-garage – how awesome!

4. Akula – a converted 59 m former Dutch navy vessel, the Akula was designed specifically for her helicopter pilot owner. Later a superyacht helicopter deck and hangar were added. Akula’s helicopter is put to good use when luxury charter yacht clients enjoy extensive heli-cruising around the Canadian Arctic region. Just what superyacht charter clients need, a quick entry and exit point.

NORTHERN STAR Helipad

5. Northern Star – the stylish Northern Star has an exterior designed by Espen Øino with an aft upper deck superyacht helipad arrangement. One thing’s for sure, being helicopter-capable compliments the Northern Star’s other world-roaming assets. These include an ice-classed hull and massive 7,000 nautical mile range, ideal for exploring the ocean.

6. Umbra – in a recent refit in 2014, the Damen-built sea axe vessel, the Umbra, gained a removable helicopter deck. The octagonal superyacht helipad can disappear when not in use and be deployed when needed. Hot helicopter decks on luxury yachts are big and bold on the bow or blend seamlessly with outdoor spaces on the sundeck. It’s no surprise that the Umbra’s helicopter deck is one of the vessel’s major attractions.

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "The Hottest Helicopter Decks on Private Yachts".

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Increased possibilities for helicopter storage on board superyachts

Created by tiger tugs specifically for the superyacht market, the typhoon tug has omni-directional capabilities….

Providing owners and guests with quick and easy access on and off the vessel, a helicopter is a huge asset on board any superyacht. However, a helicopter can also take up a large amount of valuable space on board, so how the helicopter is stored and handled is paramount to the superyacht ownership experience. The Typhoon tug was initially created out of necessity, when a superyacht client approached Tiger Tugs as a last resort after being unable to find a suitable solution on the market that could effectively stow and move a helicopter on board. 

“The client had built a superyacht with a hangar on board, and the only way to get the helicopter into the hangar was to pick it up, rotate it 90 degrees and drive it in sideways,” explains Steve Hill, president and CEO of Tiger Tugs. “In addition, there was only two inches of clearance at each end of the hangar door, so the vehicle had to be very precise and reliable in its movement. We had the capability to design and build a tug that could meet all of these requirements, and that’s how the Typhoon was born.” 

The Typhoon is the first helicopter tug of its kind to be designed specifically for the superyacht market. The tug is unique because of its omni-directional capability: it is able to move sideways at any angle, in any direction of the compass and pivot 360-degrees about its centre. It also comes with full wireless remote-control capability, enabling safe and single-handed operation. 

“With its ability to move in any direction, the Typhoon can utilise a space in which other vehicles aren’t able to operate.”

Making simple work of moving helicopters within tight spaces, the Typhoon has opened up a new realm of possibilities for the housing and movement helicopters on board superyachts. “Real estate on superyachts is very limited and it is important to use every bit of it wisely,” adds Hill. “With its ability to move in any direction, the Typhoon can utilise a space in which other vehicles aren’t able to operate. It can also be used to move tenders or submarines around on board.”

Many superyachts are now incorporating elevators to store helicopters below deck after landing. Once below deck, these helicopters need to be moved sideways off the elevator platform and the Typhoon is the ideal solution to do so.

Being able to move the helicopter off the landing pad and into a storage compartment on board a superyacht is also very important from a maintenance perspective. “Helicopters are an expensive investment and protecting their sensitive electronics and flight systems from the corrosive marine air is extremely important,” Hill concludes. “A lot of these storage areas for helicopters take unusual manoeuvring in order to get the helicopter inside – we offer the safest, and sometimes only, solution to accomplish that goal.”

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Sikorsky s-76 series, sikorsky aircraft, more in charter & fractional, aircraftexchange marks 5th anniversary with $60b in sales, online business aircraft brokerage sees 46,000 visitors a month.

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Simple Flying

Flexjet sikorsky s-76 helicopter attends the palm beach international boat show.

The charter company began offering Sikorsky helicopters in 2022.

• Flexjet's Sikorsky S-76 helicopters offer a luxurious and efficient way to travel throughout Florida and The Bahamas.
• Owners can utilize fractional shares to access these helicopters for airport transfers and other services.
• The super-midsize helicopters have impressive features and performance capabilities for a comfortable and convenient flying experience.

Flexjet, which is a private charter company that also offers fractional aircraft ownership , leasing, and jet card services, recently displayed one of its Sikorsky S-76 helicopters at the Palm Beach International Boat Show. The super-midsize helicopter will be on display for the entirety of the show, which will last from March 21 through March 24. The President of the Helicopter Division at Flexjet, Eli Flint, spoke about the showing, stating,

"Yachting and private aviation are a perfect duo, and the Palm Beach International Boat Show provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase our helicopters to a clientele that appreciates finely appointed cabins, dedicated crews and travel not limited by airport runways. Demand for our helicopter service in Florida and the Bahamas is surging, and this event allows us to engage with people who want to learn more about the unique capabilities we provide."

Helicopter division

Flexjet began offering the Sikorsky S-76 as a charter option in 2022. These helicopters are available for Flexjet's aircraft owners to use for airport transfers from certain areas in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Owners can use fractional shares to utilize the helicopters more than the limited number of transfers that are initially offered.

These helicopters are available for service in South Florida, New York, New England, and the UK. Flexjet has plans to continue expanding access to helipads across the world. Recently, the company acquired access to the Warren Henry Auto Group Parking Garage in North Miami. The airport can be utilized for other services beyond airport transfers. Many operators utilize the Sikorsky S-76 to connect Miami to Nassau or Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach.

Flint continued about the opportunity to display the aircraft and stated,

"We are thrilled to be at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, displaying this superior helicopter fleet and demonstrating why Flexjet is the number one choice to reach your final destination throughout Florida and The Bahamas."

The Flexjet Sikorsky S-76

As previously mentioned, Flexjet began offering the super-midsize helicopter in 2022. The company advertises its helicopters as having a maximum range of 300 nautical miles (345 miles), which amounts to a flight time of around two hours and thirty minutes. These aircraft are just over 52 feet long, 10 feet wide, and stand almost 15 feet tall. The Sikorsky S-76 can fit eight total passengers with two crew members.

Performance-wise, the S-76 can reach a maximum cruise speed of 155 knots (178 miles per hour). The service ceiling for this aircraft is also about 13,800 feet, although Flexjet flies at a cruising altitude of 4,000 feet. Additional features of the helicopter include the Honeywell EFIS and Collins Proline II avionics suite, four-axis autopilot, weather radar, radio altimeter, and Integrated Instrument Display Systems (IIDS), among other features.

Flexjet offers these helicopters in two basic interior configurations, the Bacalar and the Phantom. The Bacalar configuration is a light copperhead color and the Phantom arrangement is made of dark-gray leather.

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Flexjet Helicopter at Palm Beach Boat Show, adds Miami helipad

North Miami travelers will now have a dedicated helipad in the latest last-mile move from Flexjet Helicopter.

By Doug Gollan , March 18, 2024

Flexjet is inviting yachting fans to tour its Sikorsky S-76 super-midsize helicopter at the Palm Beach International Boat Show.

The annual superyacht event runs March 21-24, 2024.

The helicopter will be perched between Dock D and E near the Worth Avenue Yachts display.

There will be a private party for Flexjet owners.

“Yachting and private aviation are a perfect duo, and the Palm Beach International Boat Show provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase our helicopters to a clientele that appreciates finely appointed cabins, dedicated crews, and travel not limited by airport runways,” said Eli Flint, president of Flexjet’s helicopter division.

He added, “Demand for our helicopter service in Florida and the Bahamas is surging, and this event allows us to engage with people who want to learn more about our unique capabilities.”

Last-mile strategy

Flexjet helicopter is part of its last-mile strategy.

The on-demand private helicopter service is available in South Florida, New York, New England, and the U.K.

Flexjet helicopters are complimentary to fractional owners for a limited number of airport transfers within service areas.

Fractional owners can use their fractional shares at an interchange rate to fly additional helicopter trips.

Members of sister jet card seller Sentient Jet also get discounts.

The Sikorsky S-76 helicopters feature multiple redundancy measures, including two certified pilots, dual autopilots, two engines, a four-blade rotor system, and emergency floatation gear built into the helicopter.

According to a press release, “Since Flexjet owns and operates the helicopter fleet, it exercises a level of quality and control in scheduling, staffing, and maintenance that no other private jet firm can offer.”

Last year, Flexjet Helicopter added the Bahamas to its Primary Service Area.

North Bimini is just 25 minutes from Miami’s Opa Locka Executive Airport.

Flexjet North Miami helipad

Most recently, Flexjet acquired helicopter access to the Warren Henry Auto Group Parking Garage’s helipad in North Miami.

The helipad is minutes from popular destinations such as Aventura and Sunny Isles.

The helicopter’s maximum travel range is 300 nautical miles or two hours and a half minutes of flight time.

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Are helicopters safe? Aviation expert weighs in on factors behind notable crashes

John Yang John Yang

Winston Wilde Winston Wilde

Andrew Chambers Andrew Chambers

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/are-helicopters-safe-aviation-expert-weighs-in-on-factors-behind-notable-crashes

From fatal crashes during U.S. military operations to high-profile accidents like the one that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter, a string of incidents in recent years have raised questions in people’s minds about the safety of helicopters. John Goglia, a former member of the NTSB and former chair of the National Coalition for Aviation Education, joins John Yang to discuss.

Read the Full Transcript

Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Late last month, the head of a Nigerian bank, his wife, son, and three others were killed when the helicopter taking them to Las Vegas, crashed in California's Mojave Desert. Also late last month, the Army National Guard temporarily halted all its helicopter operations after fatal crashes in Utah and Mississippi, and that followed the Army's temporary grounding late last year of its Osprey aircraft which can function as a helicopter.

These incidents and recent high profile accidents like the one that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter in 2020 and 2019 tour helicopter crash in Hawaii that killed seven raise questions in people's minds about the safety of helicopters.

John Goglia is a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board and former chair of the National Coalition for Aviation Education.

John, we may be seeing a lot more helicopters as air taxis are being developed as soon as next year. Quite simply, our helicopter safe?

John Goglia, Former Member, National Transportation Safety Board:

Helicopters in the vehicle itself is very safe. What we're seeing today is a lot of issues with we have pilot issues, and maybe not monitoring their operations well enough. You know, you mentioned two accidents in Nigeria and fella who died. And Kobe Bryant. Both of those were helicopter pilots that disregarded weather cues in order to accomplish the mission.

And that self-imposed pressure that they have on themselves to get the mission done. Oftentimes, it's the driver behind the event that leads to a crash.

In those military ground as we talked about what they call stand downs. Those were to — make sure that the crews the pilots understood the operating guidelines, or were they worried about the craft themselves?

John Goglia:

Most of the time, the craft is pretty reliable. And there's been a few instances where there was a mechanical problem. But the real issue is the pilots. Usually that single pilot operations, especially in the military, let's get it done. Got a mission to do, I'm going to get it done.

Well, when you're not in a war zone, you have a lot more flexibility. But sometimes it's difficult for people to separate those two events.

Pilot error is more difficult or helicopters trickier, more difficult to fly than fixed wing aircraft?

Helicopters require a lot of concentration. In an airplane, oftentimes, with the automation that's in there that you don't have to focus as much helicopters, you have to maintain your focus from beginning to end. And so sometimes people will lose their focus and when the consequences are severe.

And is there a narrower margin of error with a helicopter than a fixed wing aircraft?

Yes, but if you're talking about the pilot, is its concentration that is has to be maintained, you know, and the helicopter industry themselves has taken a page out of the commercial aviation playbook with their safety themes, and really driving down analyzing virtually every mishap that happens, and looking at the cause, and identifying that the pilots are flying today. So, getting caught up in bad weather. That's a major contributor to helicopter accidents, fatigue on the part of the pilots, which leads to that lack of concentration, that's a major factor in accidents.

Can that problem be addressed with regulations or guidelines about training about recertification?

Helicopter industry has a very robust set of regulations, you know, if the pilots not going to follow the guidelines for whether, you know, sooner or later that's going to lead to a bad outcome. That's not a regulation issue. That's — that individual pilot issue.

So I don't know that at this point in time we need additional regulations. But we need to have a very robust training program which the industry themselves is pushing for, and audit to make sure that the pilots don't lose sight of the fact that they need to maintain their skills and their attention to accomplishing the job not just getting the mission done.

Is the pipeline for helicopter pilots with those skills that concentration, that ability to safely fly a helicopter? Is that big enough? Or is that is there a supply problem?

Is there is a bit of a supply problem, because most of them come out of the military and the military is having problems building their own pilots so that they're not letting them out so much so to speak, that providing additional bonuses to keep them in the military because training takes a lot of resources, a lot of money to train a pilot. There are commercial trainers, but they're only a fraction compared to what the military supplies.

Most people's experience with helicopters these days really is probably sightseeing tours like over Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, a tourist out there about to get on a helicopter. We're thinking about taking one of these tours, what would you say to them?

Well, I've taken them myself. So I don't think they're particularly dangerous. But there are certain pilots that like to give the people that are on that helicopter, the thrill of the adventure and I have been on some of those helicopters to an unannounced that I've had throwing rides.

And again, it's up to the individual because he's alone. He doesn't have the company's representative over his shoulder. He doesn't have the FAA looking at him until it's something bad happens.

So yes, you need to be concerned, and sometimes, you need to have a conversation if you're chattering a helicopter, that what you expect from that pilot. So if, you know, if you have it beforehand, say if the weather gets bad, I don't mind if we don't go, you know, so make sure they understand that this is a mission critical. I don't have to accomplish this, this task getting me from point A to B, that it's okay that we don't go.

John Golia, former member of the NTSB. Thank you very much.

Thank you for having me.

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John Yang is the anchor of PBS News Weekend and a correspondent for the PBS NewsHour. He covered the first year of the Trump administration and is currently reporting on major national issues from Washington, DC, and across the country.

Winston Wilde is a coordinating producer at PBS News Weekend.

Andrew Chambers is an associate producer at PBS News Weekend.

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