Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can we have a helicopter flight with a snow landing?

Yes, however it does depend what time of year it is and what the snow conditions are at the time of travel, so this cannot always be guaranteed.

2. Does the glacial flight go to Fox and Franz glaciers?

No, this trip takes you a on 45mins journey to the local glaciers at the head of the Rakaia River. We can of course take you to see the Fox and Franz Glaciers on the West Coast. Please call us for a quote.

3. On the glacial flight, will we land and walk about on the glacier?

We are unable to land on the glacier due to conservation and safety. There are big crevasses in the glaciers which cause a safety issue. However, we can land at a secluded glacial lake which has amazing views of the glaciers. A picnic lunch can also be organised for this trip.

4. How long is the heli-picnic flight?

Please allow approx 2 hours for this experience. The scenic flight time is approx 20mins, but you will have some time at the picnic site to enjoy the food and have a walk about. The helicopter will then come back to get you.

5. On a heli-ski trip can you jump out of the helicopter with ski's or board strapped on?

NO! All skis and boards are carried in the pod which is fitted to the side of the helicopter. The helicopter is landed and the group will clip on etc at the start of the run. All our heli-ski/board trips are guided by a professional mountain guide and kept in small groups for maximum safety.

6. Can anyone heli-ski?

If you can do a blue run or better, then you can heli-ski. We offer 1 and 3 run packages on terrain suitable for all abilities of skiers and riders. The North Peak run is a great way if experiencing the thrill of heli-skiing and heli-boarding at an affordable price.

7. Is there a child rate for helicopter flights?

Any child 4 and under can be lapped and travel for free if there is a full paying load. Any child over 4 has to legally have their own seat and therefore is full paying.

8. How many people does the helicopter seat?

We can seat 4 plus the pilot

9. What type of helicopter will we fly in?

We operate an MD520 Notar which was purchased in June 2008. It is a low hour, 1992 model aircraft. The helicopter has the latest no tail rotor system which eliminates tail rotor blades by using air ducting. It works by an additional fan, based at the start of the tail boom, to suck air down to a rotating nozzle at the end of the tail boom. The MD 520N is a minimum 50% quieter than comparable helicopters.