This is why we don't do helicopter tours

[DeniseM]

Booking A Helicopter Tour In Hawaii? What This FAA Report Means For You

A new federal report has reignited outrage over helicopter safety in Hawaii. The FAA revealed that the pilot in a deadly 2019 crash was improperly certified. This troubling finding is further compounded by the FAA's proposal to lower flight altitudes for Kauai helicopter tours, raising new...

beatofhawaii.com

 

[Luanne]

Did one on Maui. That was enough for me. I spent the first half feeling like I was going to be sick so I couldn't enjoy it much.

 

[klpca]

We did one on the Big Island and I was expecting something a bit less sedate. It was a low and slow flight. But we survived and I probably won't spend the money to do another one. On the other hand, we did a hot air balloon ride and that was a lot scarier to me. Our pilot looked like he had just finished high school and our "landing" was quite sporty. We landed on some vacant lots that had been graded for houses and we bounced along for a couple of lots, and really bounced with we hit the berms. We almost landed on our side, but somehow the basket straightened itself out at the end. One and done for me.

 

[DeniseM]

On the same topic - a sightseeing helicopter just crashed in the Hudson with a family & children aboard.

 

[Luanne]

We did one on the Big Island and I was expecting something a bit less sedate. It was a low and slow flight. But we survived and I probably won't spend the money to do another one. On the other hand, we did a hot air balloon ride and that was a lot scarier to me. Our pilot looked like he had just finished high school and our "landing" was quite sporty. We landed on some vacant lots that had been graded for houses and we bounced along for a couple of lots, and really bounced with we hit the berms. We almost landed on our side, but somehow the basket straightened itself out at the end. One and done for me.

Hot air balloon is another one and one for me. I'm not crazy about heights, but I was doing okay at long at I looked outward and not down. It was the landing that did me in. We bumped down a few times and then dragged for awhile. My mother in law was kind of bruised up. My sister in law, who had planned the ride and gone with this company several times before wasn't phased at all. This was in Colorado.

 

[x3 skier]

Flew a Helo once on a test hop. That was sufficient experience for the rest of my flying career. Stuck with fixed wing aircraft both land and sea since 1970.

 

[DeniseM]

Six Dead After Helicopter Crashes Into Hudson River Near NYC: Live Updates

The pilot and a family believed to be from Spain were all killed in the crash, according to officials briefed on the rescue efforts. Three children were among the dead.

www.nytimes.com

 

[davidvel]

Booking A Helicopter Tour In Hawaii? What This FAA Report Means For You

A new federal report has reignited outrage over helicopter safety in Hawaii. The FAA revealed that the pilot in a deadly 2019 crash was improperly certified. This troubling finding is further compounded by the FAA's proposal to lower flight altitudes for Kauai helicopter tours, raising new...

beatofhawaii.com

Who knew that a helicopter's blades can impact the front of the cabin if flown incorrectly? I truly thought this was impossible, but apparently not.

 

[slip]

I'm afraid of heights so no helicopter or hot air balloons for me. I did take a plane ride over Kauai years ago. That was nice.

 

[JohnnyO]

We have absolutely loved every helicopter tour we have taken in Hawaii. Breathtaking. And it opens up a world where those who are disadvantaged by physical challenges or sickness who would not have seen or experienced such a life loving experience. Yes GovCo is inefficient and has conflicting motivations ... it's a bureaucracy more worried about its own existence than its alleged role. This is proven not just in helicopters but all forms of aviation. Just look at Boeing.

And whatever you do, don't go out into the scary world where you may be hurt or killed. Look at all the highway death and destruction.

 

[klpca]

We have absolutely loved every helicopter tour we have taken in Hawaii. Breathtaking. And it opens up a world where those who are disadvantaged by physical challenges or sickness who would not have seen or experienced such a life loving experience. Yes GovCo is inefficient and has conflicting motivations ... it's a bureaucracy more worried about its own existence than its alleged role. This is proven not just in helicopters but all forms of aviation. Just look at Boeing.

And whatever you do, don't go out into the scary world where you may be hurt or killed. Look at all the highway death and destruction.

You bring up a good point about physical challenges. We are hikers and seeing things that you see on a helicopter flight is part of the reason that we hike. But if you can't hike, it's one of the only alternatives that you have.

 

[JIMinNC]

Scary stories about risks of flying in airplanes/helicopters/balloons/whatever get clicks and eyeballs. Fear sells. Aviation also seems risky to most people because it involves an activity they can't do themselves. These same folks willingly accept the risk of driving on a highway at 50-70 mph just a few feet from opposing traffic coming at them at the same speed. They do that every day, so they are comfortable with that risk. They can't fly a plane or helicopter, or pilot a balloon, so that seems scarier.

All forms of flying are very safe. Are the risks zero? Of course not. But the odds are heavily in your favor. I'm 68 and have been a pilot since I was 16. I fly fixed wing, but have also flown in many helicopters, as well as a balloon. I've also flown aerobatics and ridden in the back seat of a vintage military jet in a four-jet formation, flying aerobatics with only about 3-4 feet of separation between the four jets. It's all about what you understand and the risk you accept.

 

[VacationForever]

I did one at Big Island many years ago and it flew over the lava flow. I also did one in New Zealand as part of a land tour that I did, where we were flown up to the top of Mt Cook. Those 2 helicopter rides last me a lifetime. Never again.

 

[Pennytx]

My only thought was how very sad for the families
They went on what was supposedly a lovely sight seeing trip and the worst situation happend
Bless their souls

 

[TolmiePeak]

I don't feel in control when I have people doing 70+ mph on the freeway while staring at their phones.

 

[DeniseM]

Everyone has to decide what they are comfortable with, but for us, the Stats speak for themselves:

Hawaii experiences a relatively high number of helicopter crashes, particularly in the air tour industry. Since 1984, there have been 54 commercial helicopter crashes in the islands, averaging about one to two per year. Fifteen of these crashes were fatal, resulting in 57 deaths

 

[easyrider]

We do the helicopter tours in Hawaii. Keeping things in perspective, a person is more likely to drown or go missing on a hike than fall out of the sky in a helicopter.

Bill

Survive Hawaii

So many DEATHS on Hawaii's Hiking Trails: A Roll Call of FATALITIES on each island

survivehawaii.wordpress.com

Hiking and swimming in Hawaii take an alarming toll on life. On average, one visitor a week drowns in Hawaiian waters. But it’s not just death by drowning. While the vast majority of tourists who perish in paradise do so by drowning (90% of all drownings), an appalling number of local residents and visitors also die while hiking.

 

[linsj]

I did a helicopter tour on Kauai years ago and loved it. The only thing that's stopped me from taking more tours is the cost. I also did a balloon ride a few years ago and loved that too. Probably not relevant, but I also love roller coasters--the higher, the faster, the better.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

Here in Central Florida, we have both helicopter tours and hot-air balloon rides. I can only think of one, maybe 2, hot-air balloon crashes in the last 25 years, but ZERO helicopter crashes. And no, MCO has not had any severe airline crashes, more often it's two jets bumping into each other, a flat tire, or an unruly passenger. So, you are far more likely to be injured in a collision on I-4 between the Ronald Reagan (aka Florida) Turnpike and US-27 than crashing in either airborne rides.

TS

 

[JIMinNC]

Everyone has to decide what they are comfortable with, but for us, the Stats speak for themselves:

Hawaii experiences a relatively high number of helicopter crashes, particularly in the air tour industry. Since 1984, there have been 54 commercial helicopter crashes in the islands, averaging about one to two per year. Fifteen of these crashes were fatal, resulting in 57 deaths

Certainly risk level is an individual choice, but I also think to make that choice, you need to have an accurate assessment of the real risk.

Looking at the limited info available online, it looks like there are somewhere around 100,000 tour flights every year in Hawaii. So, that "relatively high" 1-2 crashes per year means there is, around a 0.002% chance your flight will end in a crash. That's a safe flight completion rate of 99.998%.

The 99,998 safe flights don't make news. The two accidents are blasted around the world online and in the broadcast media. For the average person who doesn't understand how statistically safe all of aviation is, those headlines can be really scary.

Last week, a mother and her four young children died in a fiery car crash on Interstate 95 south of Savannah while on the way to Orlando. I doubt very many people will resolve never to drive on an interstate highway because of that crash. But sadly, since aviation is much more foreign to most people, I'm sure the video and headlines of the tragic helicopter crash in New York City will cause some people to assume that flying on helicopters is much more risky than it really is.

As an aside, for the last 20 years, I've worked as an aviation journalist covering what probably is statistically the riskiest part of aviation - the airshow and air racing community. Over the last two decades, I've unfortunately lost quite a few friends and acquaintances in airshow/air race accidents. But even in our little niche of aviation, due to effective FAA regulations and professionalism, almost all practice flights and performances result in safe landings. Just doing some back-of-the envelope math, I'm pretty sure airshow performances and practices have a safe completion rate of well over 99% as well.

Aviation can kill you. Driving on the interstate can kill you. You can die snorkeling or hiking. Only engage in the activities you are comfortable with, but don't let sensationalist screaming headlines dissuade you from activities that are really very safe.

 

[DeniseM]

We have this debate every time a helicopter crashes in Hawaii:

- With swimming, snorkeling & hiking each individual makes their own decisions regarding what/when/where/how, so I can choose the safest options.

- With a helicopter flight, the pilot is in charge.

I realize that some people just have a higher risk tolerance than I do and that's great. Just not my cup of tea. YMMV

 

[dioxide45]

- With a helicopter flight, the pilot is in charge.

Perhaps you would rather fly the helicopter yourself

 

[davidvel]

Everyone has to decide what they are comfortable with, but for us, the Stats speak for themselves:

They speak but what do they say? 15 fatal crashes in 40 years. Per Jim's numbers there were 4 million tour flights in that time. What do those stats say? Risky or not? As an educator, what do you think?

How many fatal car crashes in Hawaii in the last 40 years? Are you comfortable riding in a car in Hawaii, or anywhere else?

 

[davidvel]

We have this debate every time a helicopter crashes in Hawaii:

- With swimming, snorkeling & hiking each individual makes their own decisions regarding what/when/where/how, so I can choose the safest options.

- With a helicopter flight, the pilot is in charge.

I realize that some people just have a higher risk tolerance than I do and that's great. Just not my cup of tea. YMMV

Do you ever let anyone else drive you? What is your tolerance of being in a car? What is the relevant risk of being in a car vs. a helicopter tour? Do you know? If not, how do you know if it is tea in your cup or not?

 

[JIMinNC]

- With a helicopter flight, the pilot is in charge.

But so are the pilots who fly you to Hawaii in an airliner.

Yes, airline aviation is statistically safer than smaller planes and helicopters. But the point of my previous post was that all of modern aviation is incredibly safe. The relatively greater safety of airliners over helicopters is measured in the 1/1000ths of a percentage point.

Don’t let sensationalist news paint a picture that doesn’t match reality.