Helicopter charter website in the US

[DroneDog]

Is there such a thing as a central website in the USA whereby a European Multinational could look to charter occasional VIP heli's across the US.

I have a friend who handles the travel for board members and the stress of missed connecting flights is a such a pain, a heli would not be out of the question.

[helihub]

What sort of distances and are you thinking in/around cities or further out? The way you word the request makes me think that one of the subscriber fixed-wing operators may be more suitable like Netjets, WheelsUp, etc? or one of the fixed wing booking platforms like Stratajet?

[helonorth]

CharterHub.com | Turbine Helicopters Charter Listings (http://www.charterhub.com/listings/aircraft/for-charter/geographic-search/category/7/turbine-helicopters)

[mapmaker]

Not used this service, but was given an App demo by the owner
https://www.evo-lux.com/search

For NY/North East, Chicago or S. Florida, maybe consider
HeliFlite New York City and Northeast | Chicago | South Florida | Executive Helicopter Charters ? Helicopter Charter in and around NYC | Chicago | South Florida (http://www.heliflite.com)

[DroneDog]

I will have a look at those thanks

She knows nothing about helicopters, she wants something that allows her to book a decent machine for carrying one or maybe two people at short notice.
These guys fly in (first class) and if they miss a connecting flight the domino effect kicks in and entire meetings with many people have to be rescheduled.

Range wise I guess anything from 50 miles to 200miles.

She would need a very simple booking site. Just like booking a limo, a pickup and drop off point.

This week, in particular, has been a disaster with one very senior member of staff setting out at midnight as his flight was delayed to drive 150 miles to make a meeting the next morning (some of these guys like a chauffeur, some prefer to drive themselves in a luxury car).

Oh and this company already has 2 personal jets, no helicopters thou.

[helonorth]

There is no "very simple booking site". She will have to research the most common destinations and find operators in those areas. Doesn't seem too complicated and it even sounds like it's her job.

[DroneDog]

Booking travel is part of her job, she books various flights on major airlines as well as bookings regarding the two corporate jets the business owns. She handles VISA applications to places like China and India, obtaining currency etc everything that's needed for travel.

But contacting a charter group and being asked which model of helicopter, would she like a 407GXP or an AS365, that's not her thing.
She just wants a fairly straightforward means of booking a heli.

[Thracian]

She just wants a fairly straightforward means of booking a heli.
This is just as easy as making a straightforward career in flying a heli...:)

In contrast to fixed wing airlines, there's never a "this aircraft from there to there", but always, "we take the most suitable aircraft to acomplish the mission". And when there's two or more options, the customer has the choice. And this also may vary on the mission day due to weather or technical reasons...

That's one part of the fun in heli business ;-)

Thracian

[MikeNYC]

Sounds like a solid broker is needed to handle those details.

[helonorth]

If knowing the difference between a 407 and Dauphin isn't her thing, she should stick with booking tickets on Travelocity.

[Chris Pochari]

Pretty sure Blade is trying to do that with their app

[Um... lifting...]

Indeed. However, to the OP, the U.S. is about the size of Europe, and it is unusual for helicopter operators (other than EMS or oil & gas types) to have nationwide coverage.

Blade is pretty much an East Coast phenomenon, and while I've glanced at them, I seem to recall their fleet was a bit long in the tooth last I checked. I have no actual operating experience or customer experience or any association of any kind with any of the links below.

https://www.flyblade.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Blade%20Brand%20-%20General&utm_term=blade&utm_content=Blade_Exact_SKAG

Chicago is a different animal entirely, as there are very few places within the city limits to land a helicopter outside of the airports. Though this place appears fairly new.

Home - Vertiport Chicago (http://www.vertiportchicago.com)

https://www.chicagohelicopterexperience.com/charters/#charters

Your friend will probably need to cultivate contacts in those major metropolitan areas where charters may be desired, and if she has any sense, she'll talk to every operator in each city that might be suitable. The Northeast Corridor probably should start in New York, the Midwest perhaps in Chicago, Southern California in Los Angeles, Texas in DFW or Houston etc. There is not, to my knowledge, any kind of aggregator of helicopter flights for business purposes. I believe Sikorsky used to operate a subsidiary that provided transport services in the Northeast. I don't know if they still do or not. In any case, there are over 5,200 airports in the U.S. and a like number of commercial operators. I suspect she has some homework to do and address book entries to make.