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Lap of Luxury?

By Kevin Nelson

story by Kevin W. Nelson | photos courtesy of AeroDynamiX | June 26, 2015

Published on: June 26, 2015
Estimated reading time 15 minutes, 54 seconds.

Are super yacht helicopter operations really as glamorous as they look? Vertical takes a look behind the scenes in this growing — but often secretive — sector.
An Airbus Helicopters EC130 on board a luxury “super” yacht takes in a tropical location. As the world of super yacht helicopter operations develops, the lack of standardization within that sphere presents a challenge for both operator and client.
It is tough to say there are any dull jobs in the helicopter world. From air medical operations and law enforcement missions, to offshore shuttle runs and precise agricultural flights, there are so many fun, dynamic, and exciting jobs in our industry — each with its own unique challenges. Flying off the back of a “super yacht” as it travels around the world with its wealthy owner might appear to be among the most fun and glamorous jobs in the rotary-wing world, but, believe me, it still has its dull or particularly challenging aspects. While it remains a niche sector, it is growing — and quickly — yet most people know little about it. How do you get into it? And what’s it really like?
My company evolved into the world of super yacht helicopter operations a little over four years ago, and we have been climbing the sector’s steep learning curve ever since, building experience and perfecting our service. Most people enter the segment through either client or customer demand, and we were no different. Our VVIP helicopter operations experience gave us not only an introduction by client demand, but the skillsets to adapt quite quickly to the requirements of super yacht helicopter operations — which is like VVIP operations on steroids! As the sector continues to grow, we, the helicopter industry, need to find a way to quickly, safely, and properly support the burgeoning needs of the “yachties.”
John Peters is a retired U.S. Navy pilot who has worked in super yacht helicopter operations for eight years. Today, he is the proprietor of HelicoEurope and an independent contractor for LuviAir (which provides training and support services for super yacht operations through sister company HeliRiviera). He told Vertical that it takes a certain personality type to succeed in — and enjoy — super yacht helicopter work.
Logistic acumen is hugely important when operating from a super yacht, as these vessels can visit some of the most remote locations on earth.
“The character of a successful yacht-based helicopter pilot is an amalgamation of pilot skills, diplomacy, the ability to pre-plan and, in some cases, foretell the future,” he said. “The job isn’t about you; it’s about the passengers. A yacht helicopter captain has to be able to anticipate and meet the needs of the passengers, plan for unforeseen contingencies and liaison with handlers, the yacht captain, the owner’s staff and other players in the process. Most importantly, you have to be able to tell the owner [or] passengers when it’s not a good idea to do the flight — diplomatically.”
In terms of practical requirements for new hire captains, Peters said the industry standard is a minimum of 1,500 hours on twin-turbine helicopter time as well as an instrument flight rules rating. Safety pilots or co-pilots are hired with less experience, but he said pilots with an offshore background or military experience are preferred due to their their experience and industry safety standards.
The Squadron, a global auditing, training, and consulting company founded by a couple of former Navy and U.S. Coast Guard pilots (one British and one American), has played a leading role in continuing the evolution of the super yacht helicopter segment. (Indeed, it recently became the aviation inspection body of the Republic of the Marshall Islands — a growing yacht and helicopter registry country.)
James Frean, one of the company’s founders, said the best way for pilots interested in the industry to get involved is through an established super yacht helicopter operator. “Join an operator before considering working directly for an owner — you’ll need the support,” he said. “If you are a newbie to being a pilot, I would suggest going and finding an offshore job first to build some good hours — hopefully flying some decent turbine helicopters.”
Once you score that job flying from a super yacht, Peters said a few well-placed tips can make all the difference to ensuring that VVIP experience for passengers. “It can make the difference between getting re-fueled in time and a smooth transfer from jet to helicopter, versus an impatient principal sweating it out on the tarmac while the handlers call the fuel truck you can see on the other side of the ramp for the 10th time.”
As the helicopter yacht industry develops, so does the supporting infrastructure around it. New online services will soon launch to better connect experienced operators and pilots with those managing yacht operations.
 
An Eye for Detail
Yes, it is fun. You do get the opportunity for a tan. You get to eat unique foods and see amazing places that are fodder for the travel magazines that land on swanky FBO coffee tables. You meet and work with many interesting, smart, and capable people from different cultures and a vast array of backgrounds. It is often some of the most scenic flying one can encounter. But yacht deck landings can provide a challenge, while servicing and maintaining the helicopter can make for long hours, too.
Like many remote site flight operations, the helicopter crews are often alone and bear the sole responsibility for the successful outcome of the missions. There is no dispatcher to handle the aircraft’s coming and going; no hangar rat to wipe the seats down and clean the sand out of the cracks; no line crew to take the covers off or wash the aircraft (which must be done at least once a day) — the responsibility for all of this rests with you (and if you’re lucky, a mechanic). Add to that the paramount task of ensuring the safety and happiness of the principal and other guests. Everything one can imagine in flight operations — and more!
If you’ve ever thought about joining this unique field —flying around the world in exotic and faraway places with unparalleled beauty and great temperatures — take note: the logistics are everything. By logistics, I mean the sum total of the coordinating steps required to have the helicopter, pilot, yacht, passengers and engineers all in place and ready to fly on the schedule demanded by the principal (the “boss”). This includes making sure that everything is legal or complies with local regulations, flight plans have been filed, equipment readied, and as many contingency plans made as possible in case the principal changes his or her mind pre (or mid) flight — all while delivering a seemingly effortless and smooth experience to the customer.
The helicopter’s crew is often alone and bears sole responsibility for the aircraft throughout its voyage. Teamwork in this environment is crucial.
Without being adept at getting those hidden details right, you can’t ensure the customer receives the service they’re expecting. (It can be a difficult conversation explaining why a helicopter is suddenly AOG when it hasn’t flown for a week.) The fun flights with great aircraft over pristine places that few will ever see will only happen if you have done your logistics job well. (And even then, while you are flying that awe-inspiring flight, a new plan or idea may well be sprouting in someone’s mind that will require you to put your magical logistical mastery to the test once again.)
In my company’s work with super yachts, we find that logistical planning and changes occupy the vast majority of our time and resources. Throw in the barriers of different cultures, languages, remoteness of operation, and the different personalities at play, and you know each day that this is where your successes or failures lie.
Rotortech Services, Inc., located at Palm Beach International Airport, is a major provider of logistical support and maintenance services to super yacht helicopter operators (south Florida is a significant harboring point for many super yachts). Rob Lee, who served as the company’s director of maintenance for many years, said that like all maintenance and flight operations, the real emphasis in super yacht helicopter work should be on teamwork — not individualism.
“The behind-the-scenes activities can get intense,” he said. “There are numerous persons involved, and it all has to happen quickly — ordering parts, packing tooling and supplies, shipment/transportation of [these] materials/supplies, purchasing flight tickets, making hotel reservations, obtaining work permits, [and] visas — and any of these tasks can change at any minute, dependent on [the] current location or pending location of the yacht.”
According to John Peters, owner of HelicoEurope, the general industry standard for new hire pilots is a minimum of 1,500 flight hours.
The Challenges of Growth
As the industry develops, The Squadron’s founders, Dan Deutermann and James Frean, are concerned about cheaper “budget pilots” leaking into the industry without proper training —arriving with a “can do” attitude that whets the appetite of less-than-practical yacht owners, establishing dangerous safety cultures.
“The pressures on the pilots are ever increasing, especially as exposure to the industry grows,” said Frean. “[A customers might say] ‘So-and-so went and flew their jet skis to a mountain lake — I want you to do that, too.’ In the past, principals would only have selected the crusty old pilots who probably had nothing left to prove, and would probably either get a job done through luck and experience, or would just say ‘no’ — which the boss would accept.
“Nowadays, the principal may not be as involved in the pilot selection, leaving it to managers who need to show their worth by managing budgets. Once the cheaper pilots are out there ‘saving money,’ it is hard to get back to finding quality pilots that can operate in the autonomous nature that the job requires.”
Frean said that not every yacht, and every yacht owner, should have a helicopter. “This is the danger with this developing market — everyone wants one and too many people are saying they can have one,” he said. “I’m seeing some good changes — in attitudes, standards and practices — in this very niche industry, but I know it has a long way to go still. I think we have made a positive impact overall, and that is what keeps me interested in it. I also continue to see archaic attitudes from some — but they will slowly either change or go the way of the dinosaurs.”
Part diplomat, part logistical wizard, part pilot; those who wish to join the ranks of helicopter super yacht pilots need skills beyond those required to simply fly the aircraft.
Peters also highlighted the challenges presented by the lack of industry standardization or governance. “In the absence of that, it is important that the industry self-regulates,” he said. “I’m not saying it is the Wild West out here, but since the operations fall under the local guidelines for private operations, operators can pretty much do as they like. I don’t believe that operators should restrict themselves to operations that only meet commercial standards — but they should endeavor to work to that level when appropriate.”
There are, however, resources that are available for training yacht and helicopter crews — as well as to perform safety and operational audits of independent yacht helicopter operations — and Peters suggested taking advantage of these to elevate the level of safety within an operation. For his own part, he is developing a new web-based service that serves to connect vetted yacht-experienced helicopter pilots with yacht owners and captains on a freelance basis. “My colleagues and I get quite a bit of freelance requests throughout the year, and we are not always available,” he said. It’s also a great example of the mentality of mutual assistance that exists among operators in the industry.
Peters is not alone in attempting to develop some form of infrastructure around the super yacht helicopter industry. Jetnet, a database company of aircraft owners for multiple purpose use, has just launched a beta test version of a yacht owner data base that we are testing at my company. It will be used just like — and in concert with — those wanting to access plane and helicopter owners.
Summarizing the sentiments of many in super yacht helicopter operations, Frean said that he and Deutermann think that being part of an industry early in its development is an exciting place to be. “What’s more, we feel that we are genuinely helping to shape the industry and make it better from an all-around perspective,” he said. “Helicopters are such an awesome addition to a yacht — if they are integrated in a sensible fashion.”

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1 Comment

  1. Oh what what a life I’d like to just have a week home luxury I love helicopters hello big boat I’m trying to move to Hawaii buy a boat deliver but you guys got it made God bless

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