Rise above it all - travel in a helicopter

The helicopter market for a long period was underused and not well understood in the UAE, but it has grown phenomenally in recent years, according to Robert Asker, Dubai operations manager for Abu-Dhabi based Falcon Aviation Services.

As recently as five years ago, charter companies were booking just a few hours a month of helicopter travel, but now the country is emerging as one the fastest growing markets in the world.

A lot of the growth is being driven by the need to ferry executives, owners, and potential investors to the Palm and World islands. 'The individuals who are coming here are high net worth individuals and the developments they need to get to increasingly are off-shore,' he said.

A helicopter is often the preferred means of transportation to meet the needs of this demanding clientele who are used to travelling in style and comfort. 'The developers of these islands are looking for ways to move people back and forth in ways befitting the occasion. Boats are not as quick and convenient, especially during the hot summer months,' he noted.

Another factor contributing to helicopter use is the worsening traffic congestion in the UAE. As developments spread further into the desert, helicopters keep travellers high above busy roads which are prone to lengthy back ups. 'There are many new projects being developed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and our helicopters can fly an executive between the two cities in just 30 minutes,' Asker said.

Price tag is not for everyone

Although helicopter use is on the rise, the price for booking the service typically keeps it out of reach for most people except for the well-heeled. At the high end of the scale is a service like the one offered by the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, which charges Dhs10,000 ($2,724) for helicopter service from Dubai Airport to the hotel.

For travellers who don't have that kind of cash, FAS offers a relative bargain price of Dhs776 for a half hour flight from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, as long as the executive does not mind travelling with other customers, the six-passenger helicopter is full, and a return journey on the helicopter is already booked. If the executive insists on travelling alone, the price for the half-hour journey jumps significantly (Dhs4,600) and the fee can double if a return trip on the aircraft has not been booked.

FAS takes off

Falcon Aviation Services is a relative newcomer to the Dubai market, but it now has a fleet of five helicopters that are used specifically for ferrying tourists and executives. The fleet operates about 12-14 flights a day, but Asker says determining exactly how many of those trips are corporate flights is hard to estimate because the person booking the flight is not required to disclose the nature of the travel.

Asker says one unfortunate aspect of the growth of the helicopter market in Dubai is the high number of these types of aircraft in the sky at any given moment. 'It is not unusual for there to be five to six helicopters at about 1,500 feet throughout Dubai at the same time.'

The amount of traffic in the air is a problem because it makes it more difficult to keep a safe amount of separation between the aircraft. He says all of the operators are aware of the issue and are working together with Dubai's air traffic control to find solutions to boost safety in the air. 'The operators know how devastating an accident would be for the industry - everyone is on the same page,' Asker said.

The lack of heliports in Dubai is also a problem, but this is being rectified as more are added. Meanwhile, consumers of helicopter services can expect higher prices as oil prices continue to skyrocket. 'Oil prices are definitely having an effect on our costs,' Asker said. 'Until now we have kept prices the same, but we are looking at raising them.'

See also:
Regional business jet market ready for takeoff
How to fast track through airports
Dubai Helishow 2008 - make an impact in the Middle East