The functional part of traveling hasn't always been everyone's favorite part of a holiday or weekend getaway; getting from one point of interest or accommodation to the next is often inconvenient and tiresome. This is not conducive to a relaxing start or finish to your experience. Thankfully, the luxury travel industry has found ways to make things more than bearable with various private jet companies at the travel community's beck and call. Perhaps the trip is short-haul; does private jet travel still make sense? Yes, plenty of smaller jet classes are crafted for shorter journeys, but helicopter travel is the up-and-coming choice for short-haul flights. It's dramatic, romantic, and an efficient travel solution for shorter trips that gives you a luxurious experience while getting you as close to your terminal destination as possible. Let's take a look.
Helicopters as a Luxury Short-Haul Travel Solution
Shorter Travel Time
Choosing a helicopter charter for your next short-haul trip has many advantages, the first of which is a far shorter overall travel time. Their unique and speedy liftoff and landing abilities make helicopter travel much faster than jet travel. You get the benefit of, in many cases, being able to land at your destination (many of the world's best hotels now have helipads, and many rural or more remote destinations will have airfield space available). This makes getting to the business of enjoying your holiday a lot smoother and more enjoyable with no added stress. No traffic jams, broken traffic lights, or rush hour to consider. It's an obvious choice.
Choosing helicopter travel also eliminates wasting valuable time going through an airport. Even private jet companies sometimes operate from commercial airport spaces. Still, helicopters don't use any public spaces that could cause stress, delays, and potentially even lost baggage, thanks to taking off and landing vertically. There's no need for abundant space and runways, so airports operate as they do. No taxiing means time saved, and more time to spend on your getaway.
More Direct Routes
The flight path that a helicopter takes is vastly different from that of any other kind of aircraft. Air traffic control oversees all flight paths for planes and jets (and helicopters in some cases), which means these sometimes have to embrace a slightly more circuitous route than is necessary. Helicopters are exempt from many restrictions placed on fixed-wing aircraft, primarily because they aren't operating in controlled airspaces like the ones above airports, thus making for a much more direct and faster flight. This flexibility pushes helicopter travel up to the number one spot for short-haul, luxury travel; efficiency and flexibility at their best.
Incredible Views
Helicopter passengers have an incredible advantage in the form of 360 degrees of unobstructed, stunning views. A helicopter ride goes from a way to get from A to B to a visual celebration when the craft takes off, immersing everyone inside in the landscape, whether urban or natural, around it. A much lower flight altitude enhances visibility, but that's not all for the views.
Short-haul travel means a short flight, but helicopters can hover where planes need to circle if the views are lovely enough to warrant a longer pause. For a better look at the ocean or rugged cliffs, a good helicopter pilot can get you far closer to the scenery and remain safe. If you're flying over somewhere that offers aerial views of exciting landmarks, you can customize your route to give yourself a visual treat on the way to your accommodation.
Space Requirements and Maneuverability
A helicopter charter will serve you best if reaching your destination requires superior flying skills. Consider the size of a helicopter versus the size of even the smallest jet class: a helicopter will easily make it through tight cliffs and mountainous areas, and provide those incredible views simultaneously. Challenging environments become a non-issue, thanks once again to a helicopter's ability to take off upwards rather than along a runway, making takeoff and landing a breeze. Being able to brake sharply and fly backwards makes helicopter travel safe, even over landscapes that would concern the pilots of fixed-wing crafts.
Superior Flexibility and Convenience
All of the above combine to make helicopter travel incredibly convenient and flexible. Passengers will, naturally, have the ability to set the flight schedule to best suit their needs, so in that way it's the same as other forms of private air travel. What fixed-wing aircraft can't match, however, is the ability to take in breathtaking views from a much closer vantage point, the maneuverability that makes traversing even the most potentially treacherous terrain a simple task, and the option to fly a direct route that cuts out all the unnecessary taxiing and loops.
