I'm afraid of helicopters but I recently rode in a Sikorsky S-76 from New York to New Jersey. It was actually a really fun and easy way to travel.
- I recently experienced my first helicopter ride during a demo flight with the private charter company HeliFlite.
- Despite my somewhat irrational fear of helicopters, I thought the Sikorsky S-76C felt safe and cozy.
I've been fascinated by airplanes since I can remember, so much so that I studied aviation in college and made an entire career out of the passion.
Now, as an aviation reporter and avid traveler, I've flown on dozens of different commercial jets and private aircraft — but I'd never been on a helicopter before.
Recently, private aviation company HeliFlite invited Insider on a demo flight to see how ultra-wealthy people like C-suite executives and celebrities travel.
This meant I'd be flying in a helicopter. Fortunately, Heliflite boasts an incredible safety record, and, despite my nerves, I found it to be a fun and cozy experience. Here's what it was like.
New Jersey-based HeliFlite operates a 13-strong fleet of dual-engine helicopters throughout South Florida and the Northeast.
Customers can choose from the Sikorsky S-76, Leonardo AW139, Bell 429, and H145 helicopters, which can seat up to nine people.
HeliFlite works like a private jet company, but with a lot more route flexibility as helicopters can land in harder-to-reach places like city centers and private golf courses.
Customers can book on-demand, or they can buy flight blocks in advance and use the hours as needed.
Those with the means can fly within a 250-mile radius of HeliFlite's bases in New York City, Miami, and Palm Beach — all of which are hotspots for leisure and business.
Think Downtown Manhattan to the Hamptons, West Palm Beach to Walt Disney World, or Teterboro Airport to Donald Trump's member-only golf course in New Jersey.
To get a better idea of how these flights work, I was invited to ride on one of the company's dual-engine Sikorsky S-76C helicopters.
According to HeliFlite, its S-76C helicopters can carry up to seven passengers across 473 miles.
My planned route was from New York’s West 30th Street VIP Heliport to HeliFlite’s base in Kearny, New Jersey, which is just across the Hudson River.
The waterfront heliport is shared but several operators, like on-demand charter service Blade.
There was a small lobby inside a somewhat hidden building overlooking the helipads. I had to knock on the door and provide my tail number to enter.
The waiting room was nice but simple with chairs, couches, and a bathroom. And, the air conditioning felt good after walking in the summer heat.
Right around the 10:30 a.m. scheduled departure time, an agent retrieved me from the lobby and escorted me onto the ramp.
From there, the pilot guided me under the rotating propellers and into the cabin, which was nothing like I expected.
Inside were six plush leather loungers complete with seat belts, cupholders, life jackets, and giant windows to enjoy the view.
It was a cozy and comfortable way to travel, and there was plenty of space to spread out.
Granted, I'm only five feet and three inches tall, so I don't need much room. But, even taller passengers shouldn't have an issue fitting in the cabin — though there still isn't enough height to fully stand up.
I particularly enjoyed the candies and champagne stored in the drawers, as well as the quietness of the cabin.
I didn't have to wear a headset during the flight, and my ears weren't deafened by noisy engines.
By the time we were ready to take off, I was feeling a lot more calm given the professionalism of the two pilots and the comfort of the cabin.
However, there were definitely some nerves there — but I have my reasons for this somewhat irrational fear of helicopters.
For background, I have a degree in aviation management and worked in the safety departments of a few US carriers between 2016 and 2020.
Given my expertise, I've always been hesitant about flying helicopters because of the lack of redundancies, particularly on one-pilot and one-engine models used.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, helicopters crash at a higher rate than aircraft, reporting a statistic of 9.84 accidents per 100,000 hours of flying.
By comparison, general aviation planes — including airliners and private jets — crash at a rate of 7.28 per 100,000 flight hours.
Most helicopter accidents are due to pilot error, like the crash of an S-76B that killed Kobe Bryant in January 2020.
Human error includes things like flying in bad weather and mishandling controls due to poor situational awareness — which is particularly more likely to happen with one pilot at the controls, as was the case on Bryant's doomed helicopter.
While Bryant's 2020 accident involved the same family of aircraft that I flew on, the S-76 series does have an overall solid safety record.
According to the NTSB, 28 accidents or incidents have involved an S-76 series helicopter since its introduction in 1991. Only eight of those were fatal.
And, helicopters are statically much safer than cars — especially on Heliflite, which always staffs two pilots at the controls.
HeliFlite, in particular, has never had an accident or incident since its inception in 1998 — meaning it has operated safely for over 25 years and 55,000 flight hours.
Moreover, former US Marine Corps helicopter pilot Jack Cress told USA Today in January 2021 that the S-76 is highly respected in the industry, saying it is the "helicopter of choice" for many elites.
The royal family — including Queen Elizabeth II — has used the S-76 model since 2009, while former president Donald Trump has owned several.
With all of this considered, my nerves settled quickly after takeoff.
The helicopter was clear of the heliport in just a few moments before flying down the Hudson River, and the views along the way were incredible.
I was thrilled to get an entire view of the New York City skyline, including the One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty.
It was only about 10 minutes before we crossed into New Jersey and started descending onto the HeliFlite headquarters heliport, and we were off the aircraft five minutes after that.
The entire experience was shockingly short — but that's the point. What could have taken over 45 minutes by car in rush hour traffic only took 15 from start to finish via helicopter.
Not to mention it wasn't a rickety flight either. The helicopter's sleek interior, quietness, and comfort made it feel like a truly private experience.
The pilots were also very professional when directing us on and off the plane, making sure we were clear of any hazards, particularly the propellers.
I thought the pilots were kind, with one happy to stop and take my photo on the helicopter after the flight.
Granted, you can only go short distances, and there is no flight attendant.
But, I can't imagine anyone would need one on journeys so short — though more self-serve drink and snack options may be preferred by some customers.
Overall, I'm glad I was finally able to fly on my very first helicopter. And, HeliFlite was a great introductory experience.
The cabin was nice, and the people were professional.
Not to mention, accessing the heliports are easy thanks to the relaxed security checks and lack of gates and crowds regularly present at major international airports.
While HeliFlite is geared towards high-net-worth people, it was actually a good glimpse into what regular commercial flyers can expect when eVTOLs enter the market.
EVTOL stands for "electric vertical takeoff and landing." These aircraft typically take off and land like helicopters, but fly en route like an airplane.
Like HeliFlite helicopters, eVTOLs could allow people to hop from city centers to major airports in minutes by air rather than hours by car — and they could become a major threat to helicopters in the air taxi market.
Electric aircraft are much quieter than helicopters and might actually help reduce Manhattan's noise pollution. Moreover, they're cheaper to operate and boast zero emissions.
According to a January 2021 report from consultancy Deloitte, the firm estimates the passenger and cargo eVTOL market will reach $57 billion by 2035 — so it's growing fast.
Startup manufacturers like Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are on track to certify large eVTOLs in the next couple of years, and airlines are already placing orders.
United Airlines, for example, has ordered Archer's four-seater Midnight eVTOL with plans to fly the US' first-ever commercial eVTOL route between Downtown Manhattan and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
It has announced a similar strategy between O'Hare International Airport and downtown Chicago.
Though, like helicopters, people might have hesitancies when it comes to safety on eVTOLs. However, United Ventures president Michael Leskinen says people shouldn't worry.
"Helicopters are very expensive to operate for a number of reasons, but the biggest reason is that they have multiple points of failure, which eVTOL aircraft won't," he said, CNBC reported. "The electrification makes the aircraft safer. Safer aircraft also becomes less costly to maintain."
Also promoting eVTOL safety is Archer's new chief safety officer Billy Nolen, who is the former acting administrator of the FAA — representing a big endorsement in itself.
Archer and Joby have both told Insider the flights will be competitive with ride-share options like Lyft and Uber, meaning they'll cost much less than a private helicopter.
According to Uber's app, the current Uber Black price on a Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. from W30 Heliport to Newark is $115.
While this will slightly bridge the gap between the middle class and the ultra-wealthy, private charters will still have the luxury and privacy airline eVTOLs can't offer.
However, this means they'll cost much more than a ride-share. According to HeliFlite, its customers can expect to pay at least $4,500 for a one-way flight from Manhattan to the Hamptons.
Shorter hops from any Manhattan heliport to metropolitan airports like LaGuardia, Teterboro, and White Plains will start at $2,300.
But, the steep price comes with the convenience and flexibility of private travel without sacrificing comfort or safety — something HeliFlite believes deep-pocket customers will pay for.
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