| What happens if the weather is bad? |
On a flight day our pilot assesses the Met Office aviation weather forecast for the conditions at 2,000 feet, for the whole day and over a 50 mile radius from the venue, to determine whether the flights can proceed.
It is sometimes the case that the weather at the venue is very different to your (or the helicopter's!) starting location . Please ring the checkline to make sure even if the weather seems bad, as if you do not turn up for a scheduled flight your voucher will become invalid. Flights are postponed in the interest of passenger safety/enjoyment. There may also, very rarely, be unforeseen circumstances (e.g. an emergency for which the helicopter has to be prioritised) which would lead to the cancellation of a flight day.
To save yourself an unnecessary journey, ring our checkline (01457 820152) after 9.30am on the flight day, to hear the recorded message which confirms whether your flight is going ahead. Please DO NOT PHONE THE PUB. |
| Do I lose my seat if the flights are cancelled due to the weather? |
| No - you simply need to contact our office to reschedule for an alternative date (click HERE for an up to date list of forthcoming dates and venues). Your ticket becomes valid for a further 12 months from any date of cancellation by ourselves. Your voucher will only become void if a 12 month period elapses without the ticket being booked in. |
| What should I wear? |
| Sensible footwear is advised as the majority of our locations are field sites. Your clothing should be appropriate for the weather conditions. The interior of the helicopter is as warm as the inside of a car. |
| What time should I arrive? |
| Please report to our mobile booking office (which will be clearly visible from the car parking facilities at the flight venue) 15 minutes before your scheduled flight time. Our ground crew will take details of your postcode and weight. In the interests of security, frisking may take place and no hand luggage will be allowed with the exception of cameras. |
| Can I just turn up? |
| It is necessary to book all flights to be taken within 12 months of the start day. We can sometimes accommodate seats on the day but to avoid disappointment and waiting, it is advisable to pre-book. |
What happens if I need to cancel my seat?
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| Seats may be cancelled within 72 hours of the flight, allowing the company to re-allocate. Passengers not turning up for a flight or arriving late, will invalidate their voucher. |
| Will I be sharing the helicopter with other people? |
| The helicopter is a 6 passenger machine (which reflects the class of helicopter we use for the flights). The seating arrangement comprises of the co-pilot seat plus up to 5 passengers in the passenger cabin. This does not mean there will be 6 passengers per flight, there may be as few as 2 or 3 passengers on the helicopter but the trip would still go ahead. We often do not know the capacity of a flight until just before take-off. |
| Can I take photos? |
| Certainly. The helicopter offers outstanding visibility for all passengers, so you should be able to take some memorable souvenir shots/video footage! |
| Can I take a mobile phone? |
| Phones need to be switched off prior to embarking the helicopter. |
| Is there any age limit? |
| No. The youngest passenger flown by Pennine was 3 months and the eldest 103. If the passenger is game, we are! |
| Is there a size limit? |
| In the interests of passenger comfort we have an individual seat limit of 18 stone. Passengers over this weight are required to purchase a 'double seat'. |
Do you accommodate disabled people? |
| Yes, we have ground crew who are accustomed to dealing with disabled passengers. However, we need to know the nature of the disability, e.g. if they are wheelchair bound, if they can weight bear and, if not, we need to know their approximate weight (if assistance is required for embarkation). For disabled passengers who have a carer for day-to-day tasks, the carer would be required to accompany the passenger - please telephone to discuss. |
| Do I speak to the pilot? |
| Unfortunately, the pilot is too busy to talk to all passengers. He does, however, have contact with the passenger occupying the co-pilot seat. The ground crew will chat, give a safety briefing and inform passengers of the proposed flight path (subject to air traffic restrictions/turbulence on the day). |
| What regulations cover the flights? |
| The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are in charge of public safety for aviation. They monitor companies who hold an AOC (Air Operator's Certificate). This allows a company to fly members of the public. The flights are subject to, as appropriate, Regulation (EC) No. 889/2002. This means that you are covered by the same insurance with our company as if you were flying with a major plane operator such as British Airways, Virgin etc. |
| What if I have been bought a voucher but don't want to fly? |
| Our pilot and office staff are happy to discuss any concerns or fears you may have about flying. If we still can't reassure you, your voucher can be transferred to another individual to use. |
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01457 877833