One happy customer...
 

Now this is an open message to a pilot at Sundance , a company operating an AS350 around the Grand Canyon...

One of my best mates has just returned from a holiday with his good lady as a fortieth birthday present and took one of your trips along the canyon. He was a bit of a heli convert anyway after a few trips with me in the R22, but now he's totaly hooked. Even more impressive is that his wife, who had previously been terrified at the thought, absolutely loved it and will be, no doubt, joining me soon on one of my perambulations around the SE of England, so well done Sundance!

Mind you, he's sent me some photos and having seen the pilot, I'm not sure that his enjoyment was limited to the flight. So, if you are the female, blonde, tanned, attractive pilot in a camouflaged vest, shorts and CAT boots, thanks on behalf of my mate and his wife. Or if you know her, please pass this on.

Now... flights to Las Vegas...

:E

Well, let the rest of us see a photo.
I'm sure one of our members will recognise the pilot and be able to pass on the thanks and compliments.

Heliport

Heliport,

That was my initial plan - then I came over all sensible and thought that the (very attractive) lady in question may not want an unsolicited photo plastered over a worldwide site. Not that pilots are ungentlemanly types, of course, just thought it would be poor form on my part... :)

In the meantime - come on folks, someone must know her...

DBChopper
:E

As you wish.
If this was Jetblast, I wouldn't have suggested it but since the comments were complimentary about the pilot's skills, including overcoming one passenger's previous fear of helicopters, and members of this forum have a sense of decorum, I thought it might help.

I've passed on your comments to the company concerned so I assume they'll get to the pilot.

Heliport

Ahhhhh, the Sundance Canyon Tour with the "Happy Ending" option......yes, excellent tour that!

www.helicoptour.com
I dont know if thats advertisement but thats the company. Its also with sadness that they lost a Pilot and six passengers a couple weeks ago in an A-star coming off the edge and into the canyon. Unknown cause as of this time. It has put a crimp in the tourism for most all the operators here in Las Vegas, mainly due to media hoopla.

Heliport - thanks for passing the comments on, however:

Have you read the "police helicopter wasting public funds" thread? ;)

Changing the subject slightly, I'd never heard of the Astar before - can I take it that's a version of the AS350? Also in the photo it appears to be set up for the pilot to sit on the left...?

:confused:

DBC

The Single and Twin Squirrel are called the Astar and TwinStar in America.

Take your point about the other thread, but it's a real exception.

DB some 350's have been built with the pilot on the left hand side. From what I've heard, it's a little safer when flying tourists around, since the throttle is moved to beside the collective, away from the hands, straps of the pax.

Cheers

I thought the point of the left hand 350 was to fit 3 seats up front therefore allowing 2 forward passengers for the tour business?

Droopy, I cant speak for everyone but at our Company www.heliusa.com We fly the AS-350 A-Star or Squirrell with a "Love Seat" up front and the Pilot sits on the right. The Love Seat is what we call STC approved by the FAA to sit two passengers next to the Pilot. So as most operators, at least here in Vega$, its four PAX in back and two up front.
Makes it interesting as summer here gets extremely hot (As in 40+ of your degrees) and at Altitudes above 5000' MSL(which is even a lot of Meters). You dont even want to hear about Density Altitude and Overweight Passengers.

left hand drive was developed by eurocopter canada to accomodate a roomier cabin for two more passengers in the front and for long line operations so that the pilot could lean into the collective for vert ref work. in addition the center console was moved vertical to provide a flat floor for the center passenger.
dr

They had the two place front seat aswell on the 350 my old employer has, but be careful your CofG can get a bit out of hand when the fuel gets low, especially with a couple of weighty pax and a little pilot in the front. I know of one chap, who wasn't the biggest bloke on earth, who almost nosed over on lift off during a pleasure flight task.
The seat we have is so constructed that the pax can't foul the throttle/ fuel cut off/ rotor brake or collective which keeps you on the right (thankfully!).