Helicopters and Superyachts
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Unfortunately, specific information on helicopter ops will be few and far between. The superyachting world, particularly the high end, involves a lot of privicy and confidentiality agreements. A lot of pilots and employees will be afraid to post for fear of losing their job.
In the last few years I've seen almost 10 people involved in this sector fired for postings on face-book.
It's also an area where pilots can be pressured into operating in situations which are unsafe and illegal. 'I wouldn't do that', I hear you cry, well some do and the others go home quickly. Sad but true.
As for hours, some operations have pilots who work ashore and rotate for periods of 4-6 weeks onboard, and are encouraged to fly a few hours a week whilst onboard.
In the last few years I've seen almost 10 people involved in this sector fired for postings on face-book.
It's also an area where pilots can be pressured into operating in situations which are unsafe and illegal. 'I wouldn't do that', I hear you cry, well some do and the others go home quickly. Sad but true.
As for hours, some operations have pilots who work ashore and rotate for periods of 4-6 weeks onboard, and are encouraged to fly a few hours a week whilst onboard.
Thread Starter
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Matari, your recommendations are sound but, for the reasons you provided, it is unlikely that many yacht-borne helicopters are exposed to all of this treatment - save perhaps the daily wash down. Maybe aboard Paul Allen's craft the MY Octopus (see post #1) with its spacious helideck replete with hangar but, on many of the smaller yachts, I doubt it. Some may of course retreat to shore in order to perform these tasks.
Well, if it wasn't a spray then it was something to do with either or both the exhaust and air inlets. Perhaps the covers were impregnated with something which was supposed to protect the engine from corrosion? [This is me trying to remember the details of an ad I read in the US c. 1980!].
The thing with PPRuNe is that they can sign up as 'Joe Bloggs' and are not obliged to divulge specific details. What we are interested in is general information (preferably based on experience) relating to yacht-borne helicopter operations.
There may also be some flyers whose past experience includes such ops.
Matari, your recommendations are sound but, for the reasons you provided, it is unlikely that many yacht-borne helicopters are exposed to all of this treatment - save perhaps the daily wash down. Maybe aboard Paul Allen's craft the MY Octopus (see post #1) with its spacious helideck replete with hangar but, on many of the smaller yachts, I doubt it. Some may of course retreat to shore in order to perform these tasks.
Oh, and I've never heard of spraying anything into the exhaust stack of a C20...would be interested to hear what that was about.
Unfortunately, specific information on helicopter ops will be few and far between. The superyachting world, particularly the high end, involves a lot of privicy and confidentiality agreements.
There may also be some flyers whose past experience includes such ops.
Thread Starter
Superyachts sailing to London Olympics
Superyachts sail to London Olympics
Indeed, although unlikely that permissions will be given to fly off the yachts (certainly not those within the restricted zone).
A dream? Yes. To be honest who would want to loiter in London when the likes of the Riviera, Amalfi Coast and a hundred similarly alluring destinations beckon further south! (No offense to Londoners of course). 
AS spectacles go, it will be hard to match. When the 2012 Olympics gets under way, London will witness some magnificent world-beaters. There might even be a few record-breakers within their ranks. And the good news? You don't need a ticket.
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's 126m Octopus will reportedly book the biggest berth when the superyachts take over the Thames for the Olympics in July
While the average punter might consider themselves lucky to get a ticket to the badminton preliminaries, and wonder whether the Tube will get them to Stratford without breaking down, the international super-rich will be making their way to the capital aboard some of the largest, most glamorous pleasure vessels the world has seen.
The Thames, normally populated with tugs and tourist boats, will for a few weeks be turned into London's answer to Monaco as superyachts up to 120m long arrive.This will be the finest bling: the sort where three decks is a minimum and no self-respecting superyacht comes without a helipad. Some have submarines.
From Canary Wharf to the Royal Docks and beyond, anywhere that could berth a superyacht has been earnestly engaged in marketing themselves to the world's billionaires. British Waterways, which manages West India and Millwall Docks, has secured deals with the owners of eight superyachts, and is preparing Wood Wharf, adjacent to Canary Wharf, to provide space for another 20.
"The interest has been excellent," said Gareth Stephens, the harbour and waterspace manager. "It has been from all over. We have had a number of American enquiries and a couple from Australia. The docks are going to be a fantastic place next year."
Its largest booking so far is for a vessel about 120m long. He is bound by a confidentiality agreement not to say who it is, but there is speculation that it is the 126m Octopus, owned by the Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen.
Mark Upton, who runs MGMT, a superyacht advisory service, said: "I am told he is a big fan of the Olympics." His company is involved in re-selling berths and is marketing packages that include tickets for the top Olympic events. It also offers a concierge service for superyacht owners, with everything from tailors and hairdressers to sommeliers.
"I am confident that we will see between 30 and 50 very large yachts in London next summer," Mr Upton said. "West India Dock has a few and from what I understand the Royal Docks has taken bookings this week for three or four boats of a substantial size - in the top 15 per cent of the largest yachts in the world.
"I don't expect there to be much in the way of spaces left by the end of November. It will become something of a tourist attraction. It is something that has never been seen before in London and will probably never be seen again. It is very exciting."
Having attracted everyone's attention, not least the paparazzi, the owners of these boats and their guests will be doing their best to keep a low profile. The traditional way of keeping out of the public eye is to fly on and off the yacht by helicopter. The larger superyachts all come with their own helicopters.
Paul Ashton, the editor of SuperYacht World, said: "Even some of the smaller superyachts have touch-and-go helipads, where you are not allowed to switch off the engine. You land on deck, the passengers jump on and are whisked away."
Next summer, superyacht passengers will be more likely to make their way to the Olympics by boat. Mr Upton said he had teamed up with Water Chariots to take people to the Olympic Park via Limehouse Basin in custom-built canal boats. To berth a 25m yacht in Docklands can cost ₤2000 ($3225) a day based on a minimum three-week stay, with higher fees for larger boats.
After its brief flirtation with glamour, will the superyachts head back south? Mr Upton hopes not. He said: "London is a good base to explore the British Isles. It would be nice to persuade some of the yachts to spend their summers a little farther north. It's a nice dream."
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's 126m Octopus will reportedly book the biggest berth when the superyachts take over the Thames for the Olympics in July
While the average punter might consider themselves lucky to get a ticket to the badminton preliminaries, and wonder whether the Tube will get them to Stratford without breaking down, the international super-rich will be making their way to the capital aboard some of the largest, most glamorous pleasure vessels the world has seen.
The Thames, normally populated with tugs and tourist boats, will for a few weeks be turned into London's answer to Monaco as superyachts up to 120m long arrive.This will be the finest bling: the sort where three decks is a minimum and no self-respecting superyacht comes without a helipad. Some have submarines.
From Canary Wharf to the Royal Docks and beyond, anywhere that could berth a superyacht has been earnestly engaged in marketing themselves to the world's billionaires. British Waterways, which manages West India and Millwall Docks, has secured deals with the owners of eight superyachts, and is preparing Wood Wharf, adjacent to Canary Wharf, to provide space for another 20.
"The interest has been excellent," said Gareth Stephens, the harbour and waterspace manager. "It has been from all over. We have had a number of American enquiries and a couple from Australia. The docks are going to be a fantastic place next year."
Its largest booking so far is for a vessel about 120m long. He is bound by a confidentiality agreement not to say who it is, but there is speculation that it is the 126m Octopus, owned by the Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen.
Mark Upton, who runs MGMT, a superyacht advisory service, said: "I am told he is a big fan of the Olympics." His company is involved in re-selling berths and is marketing packages that include tickets for the top Olympic events. It also offers a concierge service for superyacht owners, with everything from tailors and hairdressers to sommeliers.
"I am confident that we will see between 30 and 50 very large yachts in London next summer," Mr Upton said. "West India Dock has a few and from what I understand the Royal Docks has taken bookings this week for three or four boats of a substantial size - in the top 15 per cent of the largest yachts in the world.
"I don't expect there to be much in the way of spaces left by the end of November. It will become something of a tourist attraction. It is something that has never been seen before in London and will probably never be seen again. It is very exciting."
Having attracted everyone's attention, not least the paparazzi, the owners of these boats and their guests will be doing their best to keep a low profile. The traditional way of keeping out of the public eye is to fly on and off the yacht by helicopter. The larger superyachts all come with their own helicopters.
Paul Ashton, the editor of SuperYacht World, said: "Even some of the smaller superyachts have touch-and-go helipads, where you are not allowed to switch off the engine. You land on deck, the passengers jump on and are whisked away."
Next summer, superyacht passengers will be more likely to make their way to the Olympics by boat. Mr Upton said he had teamed up with Water Chariots to take people to the Olympic Park via Limehouse Basin in custom-built canal boats. To berth a 25m yacht in Docklands can cost ₤2000 ($3225) a day based on a minimum three-week stay, with higher fees for larger boats.
After its brief flirtation with glamour, will the superyachts head back south? Mr Upton hopes not. He said: "London is a good base to explore the British Isles. It would be nice to persuade some of the yachts to spend their summers a little farther north. It's a nice dream."
The traditional way of keeping out of the public eye is to fly on and off the yacht by helicopter. The larger superyachts all come with their own helicopters.
After its brief flirtation with glamour, will the superyachts head back south? Mr Upton hopes not. He said: "London is a good base to explore the British Isles. It would be nice to persuade some of the yachts to spend their summers a little farther north. It's a nice dream."
when the likes of the Riviera, Amalfi Coast and a hundred similarly alluring destinations beckon further south!
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beautiful photos
Hi Savoia
Amazing and beautiful photos. Could you please tell us where this one ( pic. called “Anyone for Patagonian crab? “ in post # 18 ) were taken. I love this one
Thanks and please continue posting
Amazing and beautiful photos. Could you please tell us where this one ( pic. called “Anyone for Patagonian crab? “ in post # 18 ) were taken. I love this one
Thanks and please continue posting
I would love to be a fly on the wall at the CAA office when the Legal Beagles working for Paul Allen et al.....appear to get the approval for flight ops off their Mega Yacht helidecks!
This won't be like one of the unwashed among us regular ol' helicopter folks showing up asking for blessing for something. I am sure the meeting will be preceeded by multiple phone calls and hand shakes well ahead of the time and not with the Clerks doing the paperwork. There may very well be some phone calls and individual tasking of the clerks by those well up the greasy pole of management but it won't be those seeking the approvals doing it!
Anyone care to take a wager on the outcome of this? I say there shall be approvals granted.
This won't be like one of the unwashed among us regular ol' helicopter folks showing up asking for blessing for something. I am sure the meeting will be preceeded by multiple phone calls and hand shakes well ahead of the time and not with the Clerks doing the paperwork. There may very well be some phone calls and individual tasking of the clerks by those well up the greasy pole of management but it won't be those seeking the approvals doing it!
Anyone care to take a wager on the outcome of this? I say there shall be approvals granted.
Thread Starter
Boats from the Royal Marines together with Royal Navy helicopters have been carrying out drills on the River Thames in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games
Video
Yes, if only all terrorists would hold their craft that steady while being boarded by special forces. But .. a most enjoyable turn by the Navy Lynx over the vessel in question!
Elite British security teams took to the River Thames as part of a massive security rehearsal to foil terror disaster at the Olympics.
The Metropolitan Police's Marine Policing Unit took to the water in rigid inflatables and fast response boats whilst military personnel flew above in a Lynx Navy helicopter.
Armed officers dressed in black were seen racing up to a Thames cruise vessel in their inflatable boats, before storming it and climbing onto its roof.
A helicopter circled close above the boats during the practice operation.
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, head of the force's security operation for the Games, said: "All of our planning is designed to mitigate against potential risks during the summer of 2012, and this is an example of where we will be using specialist military capability to support us.
"This exercise is not in response to any specific threat, but is part of our planning to pre-deploy certain specialist assets to bolster our operation."
The Metropolitan Police's Marine Policing Unit took to the water in rigid inflatables and fast response boats whilst military personnel flew above in a Lynx Navy helicopter.
Armed officers dressed in black were seen racing up to a Thames cruise vessel in their inflatable boats, before storming it and climbing onto its roof.
A helicopter circled close above the boats during the practice operation.
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, head of the force's security operation for the Games, said: "All of our planning is designed to mitigate against potential risks during the summer of 2012, and this is an example of where we will be using specialist military capability to support us.
"This exercise is not in response to any specific threat, but is part of our planning to pre-deploy certain specialist assets to bolster our operation."
Yes, if only all terrorists would hold their craft that steady while being boarded by special forces. But .. a most enjoyable turn by the Navy Lynx over the vessel in question!
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Yatchs and blades
Since it is related ..
Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky plummets down a steep water-slide just hours after announcing pregnancy | Mail Online
A few pics of a nice craft .. somewhere in the background ..
Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky plummets down a steep water-slide just hours after announcing pregnancy | Mail Online
A few pics of a nice craft .. somewhere in the background ..
Thread Starter
Ecureilx: This is the motor yacht "Plan B" (known more commonly as PB) a former Australian Navy survey ship launched in 1973 and decommissioned in 1998. She was converted into a luxury expedition yacht and now spends most of her time in New Zealand waters (although she sometimes ventures Stateside and elsewhere). In 2007 she went through a refit.
She is 160ft long, of steel construction, powered by two Paxman diesels producing a combined 3360hp, can cruise at 14kts and has a range of 5000 statute miles.
Both the vessel and her on-board helicopter are registered in the Caymans.
Plan B was initially equipped with a Bell 407 but, as you can see, now sports an EC145. Both aircraft carried/carry the same registration (permissible under Cayman rules) VP-CPB.
Plan B in the days when she carried a 407
Plan B's initial helicopter tender seen here in Mesa, Arizona in 2006 (Up until last year this craft was sitting around in Switzerland [for almost a year I think] awaiting a new owner!)
Plan B's current helicopter tender an EC145 seen here in Miami last year (2011)
She is 160ft long, of steel construction, powered by two Paxman diesels producing a combined 3360hp, can cruise at 14kts and has a range of 5000 statute miles.
Both the vessel and her on-board helicopter are registered in the Caymans.
Plan B was initially equipped with a Bell 407 but, as you can see, now sports an EC145. Both aircraft carried/carry the same registration (permissible under Cayman rules) VP-CPB.
Plan B in the days when she carried a 407
Plan B's initial helicopter tender seen here in Mesa, Arizona in 2006 (Up until last year this craft was sitting around in Switzerland [for almost a year I think] awaiting a new owner!)
Plan B's current helicopter tender an EC145 seen here in Miami last year (2011)
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superyachts
I saw on page 2 that it was a UK registered helicopter G-REEM on a yacht.
one thing has been nagging me quite a bit. so here are some questions
I did not think it was allowed in JAA registered aircraft to land on a helideck with a performance class 3 helicopter. How do they work around this ?
and are N registered allowed because they are FAA ? even if the fly in JAA land ?
one thing has been nagging me quite a bit. so here are some questions
I did not think it was allowed in JAA registered aircraft to land on a helideck with a performance class 3 helicopter. How do they work around this ?
and are N registered allowed because they are FAA ? even if the fly in JAA land ?
Thread Starter
Spinner: This is an ideal question for RVDT and or JimL.
In the meantime what I can say is that REEM is one of the few British registered helicopters engaged in yacht-borne operations. Most are registered outside of Europe. You can read more about REEM and her vessel, Kingdom 5-KR (used in the James Bond film 'Never Say Never Again'), one page 1.
One wonders what distinction EASA makes between private and commercial operations to and from private yachts?
In the meantime what I can say is that REEM is one of the few British registered helicopters engaged in yacht-borne operations. Most are registered outside of Europe. You can read more about REEM and her vessel, Kingdom 5-KR (used in the James Bond film 'Never Say Never Again'), one page 1.
One wonders what distinction EASA makes between private and commercial operations to and from private yachts?
spinner79,
This is not a helideck but a ship operation - mostly conducted as private operations (or corporate - a type of private operation). As such there are few regulations world-wide that would prohibit operations with singles (or twins operating in PC3).
In any case in 2005, and in deference to operations in the GOM, the ban on PC3 operations to helidecks was removed from ICAO Annex 6 Part III, Sections 2 and 3, and JAR-OPS 3. These operations would, of course, be conducted with exposure to an engine failure during take-off and landing.
For CAT (not these of course) there remains a restriction for operations over a hostile environment to be conducted in PC1 or 2.
So, no ban.
Jim
This is not a helideck but a ship operation - mostly conducted as private operations (or corporate - a type of private operation). As such there are few regulations world-wide that would prohibit operations with singles (or twins operating in PC3).
In any case in 2005, and in deference to operations in the GOM, the ban on PC3 operations to helidecks was removed from ICAO Annex 6 Part III, Sections 2 and 3, and JAR-OPS 3. These operations would, of course, be conducted with exposure to an engine failure during take-off and landing.
For CAT (not these of course) there remains a restriction for operations over a hostile environment to be conducted in PC1 or 2.
So, no ban.
Jim
Thread Starter
This is an appendage to post #1 in which we looked at this vessel:
Paul Allen's MY Octopus complete with S76 as seen in the waters off Reykjavik on 4th August 2010 (Photo: TCC)
Paul Allen's MY Octopus complete with S76 as seen in the waters off Reykjavik on 4th August 2010 (Photo: TCC)
Thread Starter
G-BZVZ, the McAlpine supplied TwinEcureuil, went onto the Cayman register along with the MY Ilona a good number of years ago now:
AS355N VP-CLF, the helicopter tender attached to the MY Ilona, as seen over Naples on 30th June 2006 (Photo: Guido Riccio)
AS355N VP-CLF, the helicopter tender attached to the MY Ilona, as seen over Naples on 30th June 2006 (Photo: Guido Riccio)
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Landing on
I have had the photographer's permission to show these two clips. Thought you might like to see them.
Mark OConnell Photography | Helicopter landing on Prtincess Mariana
Mark OConnell Photography | Helicopter landing on Prtincess Mariana 2
Mark OConnell Photography | Helicopter landing on Prtincess Mariana
Mark OConnell Photography | Helicopter landing on Prtincess Mariana 2
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Olympics Yachts Bah.
The main game is a beautiful mare Black Caviar, when she gets to Royal Ascot in a couple of months.
Around the stables they call her 'Old Nellie'.
The main game is a beautiful mare Black Caviar, when she gets to Royal Ascot in a couple of months.
Around the stables they call her 'Old Nellie'.
Thread Starter
As a lover of horses and flat racing you will have no argument from me TET although I love yachts too!
BC is an exceptionally fine mare and I would love to see her run. I would, without hesitation, place a wager on her.
BC is an exceptionally fine mare and I would love to see her run. I would, without hesitation, place a wager on her.