Helicopter tours on Maui and Kauai

LisaRex · Oct 8, 2015

I get terrible motion sickness but wonder if this would be doable after taking Bonine or Dramamine. Anyone have an experience with this?

Hawaii does have some fierce winds, so I can see why flying in a helicopter could be more hair raising than, say, the Grand Canyon. However, I'm not worried about the danger at this point in my life. The kids are nearly grown and would be fine without us. I want to live while I'm alive. I had a different perspective 10 years ago.

taterhed · Oct 8, 2015

This thread is killing me. From my informal research.

Since 1997, there have been about 17 helicopter accidents/22 fatalities involving Hawaiian Helicopter tour operators. This from operations that span 5 islands, 8-10 hours a day, up to 365 days a year.

One of the major helicopter operators currently fly's around 40,000 hours per year. One operator--40,000 hours (at an average of around 1.0 hours per flight.) There are around 80-100 traffic fatalities per year in HI, 50 fire deaths and around 25 murders. You figure the odds...

I was going to say you're more likely to be struck by lighting, but there are no reported lighting strikes/deaths in HI from what I can find.

Fly with a major operator. Fly the EC130, Hughes 500/MD500/MD900 or Bell 204/206/407/427 etc... Avoid the R44/22 (my opinion). Go early(er) in the day, avoid flying on days with strong winds, thunderstorms, heavy rain or dense fog (obvious stuff I guess). Speak with the operator (pilot or chief pilot or ???). Explain your concerns and specifically ask for a less aggressive/dramatic flight if you feel it's warranted.

You should be more worried about the crappy rental car you are stuffed into while driving in the Waimea canyon IMHO.

taterhed · Oct 8, 2015

LisaRex said:
I get terrible motion sickness but wonder if this would be doable after taking Bonine or Dramamine. Anyone have an experience with this?

Hawaii does have some fierce winds, so I can see why flying in a helicopter could be more hair raising than, say, the Grand Canyon. However, I'm not worried about the danger at this point in my life. The kids are nearly grown and would be fine without us. I want to live while I'm alive. I had a different perspective 10 years ago.

If you get 'terrible' motion sickness, you might have issues. But, if you decide to do it (with Dramamine etc..):

riding forward (not backward) is usually better
riding in the front (window seat) and looking outside is better
looking inside, looking down/at phone/at camera is usually worse.
avoid big/rapid head movements
talk to the operator and request a 'more quiet' flight (morning, good weather etc...). Get a sickness bag...just in case. Being prepared and acknowledging that 'just because I get sick, it won't ruin the flight" is a huge step.
Consider a flight in the EC130; quiet cool and roomy with good windows. Pay a bit more and get a dedicated window seat.
fly with earphones and good background music--many find the music is calming and keeps your mind distracted (pilot may be talking in headset too....so maybe one ear?)

Just some thoughts. It really is a once in a lifetime experience and totally worth it from my experience. Others may disagree.
ps: We flew on a relatively 'less calm' day and didn't find the ride to be uncomfortable. That was in a smaller helicopter (md900).
Avoid the R44 flights. MO

1Kflyerguy · Oct 8, 2015

We are heading to Kauai and doing a doors off flight Monday afternoon...

Guess if my posts suddenly stop, you will all know it went horribly wrong...

taterhed · Oct 8, 2015

1Kflyerguy said:
We are heading to Kauai and doing a doors off flight Monday afternoon...

Guess if my posts suddenly stop, you will all know it went horribly wrong...

Ha!

We did the doors-off tour last year (MD900). It was wonderful. Really. I've got a bunch of time in helos and still loved every minute. It was a very safe and professional operation.
A few tips for the doors-off flight:

it's windy and cold--you need something on your arms or you'll be cold over the mtn's. Slightly sunburnt daughter in sleeveless dress and windbreaker was shivering, but happy!
Anything loose on your body will blow around--a lot. Jewelry, glasses, loose flappy collars/scarves etc... headset keeps glasses on, but just barely if you lean out for photos!
Straps needed for ANYTHING you put out into the slipstream. Tailrotors don't like FOD.

PamMo · Oct 8, 2015

1Kflyerguy said:
We are heading to Kauai and doing a doors off flight Monday afternoon...

Guess if my posts suddenly stop, you will all know it went horribly wrong...

I'm betting you will love it!

taffy19 · Oct 8, 2015

taterhed said:
Ha!

We did the doors-off tour last year (MD900). It was wonderful. Really. I've got a bunch of time in helos and still loved every minute. It was a very safe and professional operation.
A few tips for the doors-off flight:

it's windy and cold--you need something on your arms or you'll be cold over the mtn's. Slightly sunburnt daughter in sleeveless dress and windbreaker was shivering, but happy!

Anything loose on your body will blow around--a lot. Jewelry, glasses, loose flappy collars/scarves etc... headset keeps glasses on, but just barely if you lean out for photos!

Straps needed for ANYTHING you put out into the slipstream. Tailrotors don't like FOD.

They warn you not to stick out your arm or you may break it. They also recommend a strap for the camera or it will fly away. They let me lend a strap for my iPhone and one time I reached out a little too far and the strap saved my iPhone. My new iPhone doesn't have a case that you can put a strap on so you may have to bring a real camera or buy a cheap case that has a hole somewhere to put the strap through. You really need it.

A light jacket or windbreaker is a good idea and put it on before you go in the helicopter because you are double strapped in if you sit next to the open door so you can't put it on during the flight.

1Kflyerguy said:
We are heading to Kauai and doing a doors off flight Monday afternoon...

Guess if my posts suddenly stop, you will all know it went horribly wrong...

Let us know how it went and share a movie clip or picture, please. You will love it. I don't remember if they gave us or we had to buy a DVD of a similar flight so you have a memory, if you don't take pictures yourself. You may be going with a different company as you didn't say.

JIMinNC · Oct 13, 2015

taterhed said:
This thread is killing me. From my informal research.

Since 1997, there have been about 17 helicopter accidents/22 fatalities involving Hawaiian Helicopter tour operators. This from operations that span 5 islands, 8-10 hours a day, up to 365 days a year.

One of the major helicopter operators currently fly's around 40,000 hours per year. One operator--40,000 hours (at an average of around 1.0 hours per flight.) There are around 80-100 traffic fatalities per year in HI, 50 fire deaths and around 25 murders. You figure the odds...

I was going to say you're more likely to be struck by lighting, but there are no reported lighting strikes/deaths in HI from what I can find.

Fly with a major operator. Fly the EC130, Hughes 500/MD500/MD900 or Bell 204/206/407/427 etc... Avoid the R44/22 (my opinion). Go early(er) in the day, avoid flying on days with strong winds, thunderstorms, heavy rain or dense fog (obvious stuff I guess). Speak with the operator (pilot or chief pilot or ???). Explain your concerns and specifically ask for a less aggressive/dramatic flight if you feel it's warranted.

You should be more worried about the crappy rental car you are stuffed into while driving in the Waimea canyon IMHO.

I agree with this 110%.

It drives me nuts when people are quick to say don't take helicopter tours because they read there was a crash. But then they don't advise not to rent a car because of the fatal head-on collisions that seem to happen every year on the narrow roads - particularly the road between Kahului and Lahaina on Maui.

1Kflyerguy · Oct 13, 2015

For the record, i survived the trip.. :wave:

It was great way to see different parts of the island in a short amount of time.

I would definitely do it again.. The biggest issue is probably the cost.

JIMinNC · Oct 13, 2015

Here are some photos from a "doors off" helicopter ride on Kauai about 10 years ago. Flew out of Port Allen on the west side:

Napali Coast

I think this is Ke'e Beach, but not sure. But it sure is scenic...

The waterfall used in the opening of Jurassic Park

JIMinNC · Oct 13, 2015

Here are a few from a fixed wing flight on Maui in 2008. I'm a private pilot so we rented a Cessna 172 at Kahului Airport and did our own tour. I took along a local instructor to avoid the necessity of paying for the required check-out flight to take the plane solo. He was also able to take the controls when I wanted to take a picture since I was writing about and photographing the flight for an aviation magazine article.

First, Kahakuloa Head on northwest coast of Maui

Next, near Nakalele Point, northwest Maui

Next, Molokai sea cliffs

Lahaina and the West Maui mountains

We did a brief air-to-air formation flight with another Cessna for the magazine piece. This is along the Hana Highway

On final approach to Hana airport

taterhed · Oct 13, 2015

Very nice pics. Thanks for sharing!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Greg G · Oct 13, 2015

Great pics.

Greg

1Kflyerguy · Oct 14, 2015

Fantastic pics, thanks for sharing

zsn · Nov 12, 2015

Fantastic pics!! Well, if the weather is going to be that great, we think we'll do the doors-off flight! Will let you all know how it went.

Thanks again, to one and all for your valuable insights!

zsn · Nov 24, 2015

We did the doors-off tour with Jack Harter in Kauai. One of the most professional organizations I have dealt with. An amazing experience, and would gladly do it again, and as mentioned earlier, price would be the only consideration. As our kids put it "YOLO". If you think about it, on a per-minute basis, considerably cheaper than parasailing or ziplining. At no time did we feel unsafe.

Couldn't have picked a more perfect day, and it was absolutely enjoyable - definitely the highlight of our trip. Thanks again, for everyone's input!!

PamMo · Nov 24, 2015

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you've had a great belated honeymoon and birthday vacation!

tompalm · Nov 26, 2015

BocaBoy said:
My gosh, reading this thread makes it seem like half the helicopter flights go down in flames!

As for a recommended company, I have heard the best things about Blue Hawaiian. And for what it is worth, many of the best cruise lines use Blue Hawaiian for their helicopter shore excursions.

I think they are the biggest and they have newer helicopters. Some of the best scenery is flying along the north shore of Molikai. You have to take a flight out of Maui to do that. The cliffs go straight up from the ocean, lots of water falls and coves that the helicopter can fly into. But don't book more than a day in advance and make sure a have a good report for good weather.

jacknsara · Jan 19, 2016

Blue Hawaiian Helicopter makes hard landing at Kalalau

http://thegardenisland.com/news/loc...b42-b51c-56a4-be20-bfa66e758147.html?mode=jqm

Kapolei · Jan 19, 2016

tompalm said:
I think they are the biggest and they have newer helicopters. Some of the best scenery is flying along the north shore of Molikai. You have to take a flight out of Maui to do that. The cliffs go straight up from the ocean, lots of water falls and coves that the helicopter can fly into. But don't book more than a day in advance and make sure a have a good report for good weather.

A group met their death on one of those.

I would not not get into a helicopter unless I did my own review of the weather, the flight plan, and a discussion of any concerns with the pilot. Once in the air, the pilot gets to make all decisions. Before I get in the bird, I get to make the final call on whether I will be included cargo.

taterhed · Jan 20, 2016

the blades, tailboom, tailrotor all look intact. Skids spread, but that's what they're designed to do. Seems like most of them flew away without serious injury.

feel sorry for the one passenger with back injuries, but not a bad outcome really

Henry M. · Jan 20, 2016

I wonder what the traffic fatality statistics are on Kauai, and how likely it is to get hurt driving from Princeville to the airport. Or driving from home to the airport to fly to Hawaii.

It might be surprising to compare them with the probability from getting hurt in an aircraft accident.

ThreeLittleBirds · Jan 20, 2016

I'm as adventurous as they come, but I draw the line at helicopter tours in Hawaii. I have no rational defense, but I'm glad some of you all have braved it out and taken some wonderful photos.

artringwald · Jan 20, 2016

Helicopter safety is a concern, but so is traffic safety, and ocean safety. By ocean safety I don't mean sharks, I mean drowning. Too many tourists drown in Hawaii each year. Before swimming or snorkeling in the ocean, study up on all the safety tips.

Now, I'm getting off the safety soap box, and saying that I did doors on and doors off helicopter flights over Kauai. I would definitely recommend a company that does doors off. DW has a fear of heights and amazingly, she greatly enjoyed the doors off flight. For both of us, it was the thrill of a lifetime, but we probably won't do it again.

Kapolei · Jan 21, 2016

emuyshondt said:
I wonder what the traffic fatality statistics are on Kauai, and how likely it is to get hurt driving from Princeville to the airport. Or driving from home to the airport to fly to Hawaii.

It might be surprising to compare them with the probability from getting hurt in an aircraft accident.

For an accurate analysis, you need to compare probability of death for someone that just drives from the airport to probability of death of someone that drives from the airport and also participates in other hazardous activities. (Also, as the driver you get to act in a way that reduces risk. So you may have lower risk than the norm).

The experts at this are those that provide life insurance. In most cases, you will be charged more, if you fly aircraft for recreation. Now, helicopters are not the most dangerous of birds. I would say those ultralight kite things are the worst. I would not venture out in one of those while on my holiday.

Helicopter tours on Maui and Kauai

LisaRex

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taterhed

taterhed

1Kflyerguy

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taterhed

PamMo

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taffy19

JIMinNC

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1Kflyerguy

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JIMinNC

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JIMinNC

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taterhed

Greg G

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1Kflyerguy

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zsn

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zsn

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tompalm

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Kapolei

taterhed

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