Safety of Helicopter Tours
Helicopters have maintained a relatively strong safety record thanks to experienced operators and well-maintained aircraft. Passengers can minimize risks by only flying with reputable companies, obeying instructions, and avoiding unnecessary stunts or low flying. Overall, helicopter tours are safe.
Transparency in Safety Standards
Helicopter companies should be transparent about their safety standards. For instance, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters touts on its homepage that the company exceeds even FAA safety regulations.
Comparative Safety Analysis
- Helicopters are less prone to turbulence than planes. Planes typically fly at higher, calmer altitudes while helicopters often fly lower, where turbulence is more common.
- Riding in a helicopter is less safe than flying commercially but safer than driving. According to the FAA, there were 106 helicopter crashes in 2016, with 17 fatalities from air tours.
- Helicopter crashes tend to be deadlier because helicopters are harder to safely land in emergencies. Multiple factors influence helicopter and airplane safety statistics, including flight duration, pilot training, and regulation.
Risk Factors and Comparison
- Risk of Flying in a Helicopter: Helicopters are more dangerous, with a fatal accident rate of 0.72 per 100,000 flight hours in 2018. They are more prone to obstacles on land due to flying at lower altitudes.
- Comparison with Airline Travel: Helicopters crash about 35 percent more often per hour in the air than your average aircraft.
- Mode of Transportation Safety: Helicopter travel is considerably more dangerous than airline travel but far safer than riding in a car.
Challenges and Hazards
- Difficulties in Flying: Helicopters are complex machines that make frequent takeoffs and landings, creating instability exacerbated by adverse conditions.
- Unique Characteristics: Unlike fixed-wing aircraft like planes, helicopters can take off and land vertically and hover in place, making them more complex to fly.
Need for Improved Safety Measures
While travelers shouldn’t be afraid to fly in a helicopter, more can be done to make this sector of the aviation industry safer. The NTSB has called for greater federal oversight of the helicopter tour industry following recent accidents.