Anyone know he "best" operator to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas?

For aerial tours of the Grand Canyon? There used to be a company that flew Ford Tri-Motors, sadly they are out of business now. Last I heard there was just one operator left and they were helicopters only.

I'll do some checking.

Okay, the only one is Scenic Airlines. They operate Twin Otters and helicopters.

Grand Canyon Airplane Tours - Grand Canyon Tours from Las Vegas- Scenic Airlines (http://www.scenic.com/)

Oh, a word of advice, if you will be there in the summer time, take the morning flight, it will be much smoother.

not sure of the month yet, maybe mid November, mid December or even mid January.

Grand Canyon Airlines, Westwind Air Tours, Stars & Stripes Air Tours, Vision Air, and Scenic Airlines still operate in the ditch, among others.

Are you wanting an air tour only? Do you want to land at the canyon? A west-end tour with a visit to Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai reservation is the shortest and least expensive, but you can also do straight shots to South Rim and visit the Canyon on the ground there. There's no way to see most of the canyon but by air unless you take a long raft trip or spend an inordinate amount of time hiking...so air is a good way to start. However, there's no way to truly appreciate the canyon save for standing on the edge and taking it in. I recommend an air tour and a ground visit, and you can do that either at GCW on the reservation, or at the South Rim.

I flew the ditch for two years, met my first wife there, married there, and spent a lot of time in and around the canyon. I really love that area. (I just came back from camping there, actually). Great place.

No matter the time of year, take a jacket. Weather can go from hot blazing summer to snow and ice in minutes...I've had it happen to me many times...and figured out why people said to bring a jacket, the hard way. The terrain creates weather...and it has multiple climate zones layered vertically through the canyon...it can be extremely hot at the bottom and snowing at the top, at times...but most of the tourist season it's beautiful at the top, and very hot at the bottom (except certain points along the river).

Scenic's airplanes are designed with big windows and a running tour commentary on headphones, and are probably the most comfortable, and safest rides out there.

If you have any love for helicopters at all, the helicopters are great...though one should always remember, at least on some level, that the pilots flying those tours are largely low-timers gaining experience...it's often their first real job after leaving flight instruction. Then again, the same can be said for a lot of the folks flying the fixed wing airplanes, too.

I wouldn't let that deter you from having a good time. It's a beautiful place to visit, and not to be missed.

Guppy, who operated the Ford Tri-Motors, was it Scenic? Its been years since I have seen them flying out of LAS, but I can't remember when they stopped.

I'm very sorry I never took a flight on one of them when I had the chance years ago.

Last Time I did a Canyon Tour I rented a C206 and instructor (cheaper to take than doing a check out and he knew the area) out of Henderson. Not only did I get a good view I got to log time and fly. Plus you are not restricted to the tour rules. That was a few years ago and maybe the rules about canyon overflights have changed. It was also cheaper than the tours, there were three of us and the cost for two hours was only $450.

Plus you are not restricted to the tour rules.


Actually, you're more restricted if you're not operating the canyon on a waiver, such as a charter/tour operator. Without that waiver, you're stuck at higher altitudes, restricted from some areas, etc.

The Trimotor was operated by Scenic Airways (different than Scenic Airlines), and briefly by Grand Canyon Airlines. There's one at San Diego Air Museum that was operated by both. At Valle airport south of South Rim, there is a Trimotors that belonged to Grand Canyon Airlines, but isn't used for the tours...also museum a piece with occasional publicity or film work). Both were formerly used for tour work at one time. The airplane in San Diego was damaged and is strictly for the museum, while the one at Valley still flies. Scenic Airlines, started by the owner of Grand Canyon Airlines, also at one time operated a Trimotor, I believe.

Thanks Guppy. :ok:

Flew on these guys recently (helicopter), very professional. I haven't tried anybody else so I don't know if they're the best, but I have absolutely no complaints and would highly recommend them. A good friend also hired them for a wedding in the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Tours + Flights: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours + Sightseeing Flights by Heli USA (http://www.heliusa.com/)