Something for the Weekend...?

Do you want to experience the ultimate boys (or girls for that matter) weekend, including private jet flights, helicopters, aerial dogfighting, super cars and access to the best venues in Las Vegas?

Now you can with Execflyer's ultimate long weekend consisting of a jam packed itinerary showcasing the best of Vegas. 

Itinerary:

Thursday: Board direct private jet charter flight to Las Vegas. Arrive and check into private villa at the Bellagio followed by your first night out on the strip. 

Friday - Aerial dog fighting. Ever dreamed of being a fighter pilot? Take controls of a high performance Extra 300 aerobatic aircraft and dog fight with your friends using on board lasers to give a true dog fight experience, followed by aerobatics with ex military fighter pilots. In the evening take in the world famous casinos on the strip from the MGM Grand to the Luxor and Wynn. 

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Saturday - Relax at the most exclusive pool in Vegas - Wet Republic. From your private bungalow watch live music acts at one of the smartest venues in Vegas with private bar service, your own fridge, private jacuzzi and HDTV.

Sunday - The ultimate way to finish off your weekend - the super car experience at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. You will drive 9 different supercars including the McLaren MP4-12C, Ferrari 430, Lamborghini Aventador, Aston Martin Vantage S, and the Porsche 997 Turbo S. The ultimate super car experience with tuition from expert instructors. 

For your last night in Vegas, hit the casinos and the rides atop the Stratosphere tower and take in the views with a helicopter ride over the strip at night. 

Monday - Board your private jet for a relaxing flight home, with fine catering and champagne to end an epic weekend. 

If this sounds like your perfect weekend or luxury stag do, then call us on +44 (0)1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com

This package includes all private jet flights, accomodation, VIP bungalow at Wet Republic, aerial dogfighting and aerobatics in the Extra 300 aircraft, the supercar experience plus a helicopter flight over the strip at night. Private jet charter flight based on a departure from London. 

Prices start at $45,000 per person based on 8 guests. Pacakages are customisable to your own preferences. Meals and drinks not included. Wet Republic has a minimum spend policy of $6000 which is included in this package. Anything above this is additional. Subject to availability and time of booking and group numbers. 

Learjet 85 Cabin Preview

Bombardier Aerospace, manufacturers of the new Learjet 85 have release images of the new jets interior. The 85 is the largest Learjet ever built and is set to take to the skies in 2013. It features carbon composite walls and wings to reduce weight and maintenance and has increased range over previous models. Predicted to be a favourite in the private jet charter market, owners and operators will be keen to take delivery, of which the first should take place in late 2013. For further information and images of the aircraft, please click here. 

McLaren Spyder Preview Evening

Thanks to McLaren Birmingham for a great evening to preview the new MP4-12 Spyder. We never complain at spending an evening looking at a beautiful topless model!

The Spyder with its top off!

The Coupe

For further information on the McLaren Spyder, please contact Birmingham McLaren.

For any private jet charters or helicopter charters please call us on +44(0) 1926 840057 or email jamie@execflyer.com

Empty Legs News Letter

Want to charter a private jet at up to 75% less than the normal price? Subscribe to our empty legs newsletter for all of the latest private jet empty leg updates delivered to you every Wednesday afternoon.

Click here to subscribe. For any information private jet charter or helicopter charter please email fly@execflyer.com or call +44 (0)1926 840057

New York to London Calling.....

We have last minute availability of an empty leg from New York to London on a Global Express Large Cabin Jet. The flight will be departing any time between the 23rd and 25th of August, and can seat up to 12 passengers. Please email fly@execflyer.com or call +44 (0) 1926 840057 for further info on this or for any other private jet charter flights.

Ground Handling.......Gaga wheeled to private jet on baggage trolley!

Lady Gaga is known for being a little bit of a diva, however her latest video really reinforces the point! Footage has been released by the singer of her being pushed to her private jet on a baggage trolley! We would have at least thrown in a car to the steps! The singer had to charter a private jet for her latest tour around Europe, and has been using a Legacy 600 large cabin jet! For the full storey and video, please click here! 

Helicopter Charter Social Calendar

With the Olympics past and the summer well under way, a few key social events still remain on the calendar for 2012. With traffic and congestion on the roads at record levels, helicopters remain the ultimate tool to save time and arrive in style at events up and down the country. Here is a list of remaining social events for your diary, all of which can be accessed via a helicopter charter from Execflyer.

AUGUST

Cowes Week, Isle of Wight 11-18 August

V Festival - 18-19 August

The Glorious Twelfth, start of the grouse shooting season (Aug 12)

Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland (Aug 10-Sep 2)

Ebor Festival, Yorkshire (Aug 22-25)

London 2012 Paralympic Games, London (Aug 29 - Sep 09)

SEPTEMBER

Shooting season opens with the start of partridge season (Sept 1)

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Lincolnshire (30 Aug - Sept 2)

Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Sept 1)

Blenheim International Horse Trials, Woodstock, Oxfordshire (Sept 6-9)

St Leger Races,  Doncaster (Sep 12-15)

Goodwood Revival, Goodwood Motor Circuit, Sussex (Sept 14-16)

Ascot Festival Meeting, Berkshire (Sept 30)

OCTOBER

ArtLondon Chelsea, London (October 14)

Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, France (Oct 07 )

Horse Of The Year Show, NEC Birmingham (Oct 03 - 07)

For further information or pricing on helicopter charter or jet charter to any of these events please call  or 24 hour number on +44 (0) 1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com 

http://www.execflyer.com/choosing-helicopter.aspx

Brabus Tries Its Hand At Aviation

Performance car company Brabus is well known for making already fast Mercedes cars even quicker, however now the company has turned its hand to private jets. Rather than an engineering upgrade, Brabus has added some of its unique design to the interior and exterior of the Global Express Jet to create this stunning aircraft! Still in the design stages, the aircraft promises one of the most impressive liveries we have ever seen in a carbon fibre style as well as a smart interior including large televisions, leather seats and a layout unique to the aircraft. The Global Express is a long range business jet Manufactured by Canadian company bombardier, and is popular amongst private owners and air charter companies alike. For further information please click here.

Oprah Jets Off From Barbados On Her Private Jet

Chat show legend Oprah Winfrey was recently spotted flying out of Nassau on her private Global Express Long Range Private Jet. It was revealed that the TV presenter was visiting Rihanna to conduct an interview at her home in the Bahamas. The aircraft, registered N54SL is part of the Ultra Long Range Bombardier Global Express family of jets. It is capable of flying up to 12 passengers in VIP comfort over 6000nm. The aircraft is popular amongst owners and private jet charter operators for its long range and large cabin. For the full article please click here.

G650 Nears FAA Certification

Gulfstream have announced that the G650, their largest and fastest private jet  to date is closing in on FAA certification with all the required flying complete. Despite some setbacks during testing, the aircraft is set to be the ultimate long range business jet with a maximum cruise speed of  Mach .90 and a range of up to 7000 nm. The private jet will replace the previous model, the G550 popular amongst owners and air charter companies alike. For the full story on Fly Corporate please click here. 

Embraer Sees Recovery of the Business Jet Market

Brazilian Aircraft Manufacturer Embraer, manufacturer of the popular Legacy and Phenom series has started to see a recovery of the private jet market. The company has noticed an increase in sales within the US, however other markets remain slow with prospective buyers sticking to private jet charter until more positive signs of recovery are seen from the global market. For the full story on Reuters please click here.

RIM Selling Falcon 50EX Jet

Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion has announced it will be selling one of its private jets, a Falcon 50EX to cut costs, leaving the company with its one remaining Falcon 900EX jet. They will be utilising private jet charter for any trips that are not suitable for the Falcon 900. Please click here for the full story on Bloomberg.

Facebook Spends $700k on CEO's Jets

Business Insider has reported that Facebook spent $700,000 on private jet charter for CEO Mark Zukerman amid security and privacy fears. The trips were a mixture of business and leisure. However, this is by no means excessive when compared with other company CEO's. The full storey can be read here.  

http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-private-jet-spending-2012-8

Helicopter to V Festival

With the festival season well underway, and attention now turning towards getting to events, Execflyer is pleased to announce availability of aircraft and landing facilities for this year’s V Festival in Hylands Park and Weston Park. The unique attraction of the V Festival is the rotating artists, which all play one venue on the Saturday and then swap to the other on Sunday, ensuring fans get to see all of the best live performances. 

This year Execflyer gives you the opportunity to beat the traffic, arrive in style at either location, and take advantage of helicopter charters to the V Festival. The helipads at both sites will be operational from the 17^th of August trough to the 20^th and can cater for all aircraft from the R44 up to the Sikorsky S76 VVIP helicopter. Included in the price are VIP ground transfers from the Helipad to the main festival.

This years line up includes the following artists:

The Stone Roses                Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

The Killers                         Snow Patrol

Nicki Minaj                        David Guetta

Tinie Tempah                     Ed Sheeran

Example                           Tom Jones

Keane                               Madness

James Morrison                  Nero

Emeli Sande                      Friendly Fires

Happy Mondays

If you would like further information on helicopter charter to V Festival, or any other events please get in touch. We can also offer private aircraft charter flights from further afield if required.

Please call on +44 (0)1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com. You can also visit the website at www.execflyer.com. 

Helicopter To The British Grand Prix

With less than one week to go until the British Grand Prix, Execflyer is pleased to announce that despite record demand, we still have some limited availability remaining. As we get closer to the event, slot availability is becoming increasingly restricted and aircraft availability, especially on twin engined aircraft is at a premium.

We are advising all clients still wishing to travel by helicopter to the British Grand Prix to book as soon as possible to avoid dismantlement and missing out on preferred timings.

For further information on remaining availability and pricing please email fly@execflyer.com or call +44 (0)1926 840057.

You can also find more information on our British Grand Prix helicopter charter page by clicking here.

Seamless Travel to the London Olympics

With the London Olympics only week’s away slot availability at the major London airports is diminishing fast, with congestion, delays and high costs almost inevitable.

Execflyer is pleased to announce that we will now be able to offer, through London Oxford airport a complete end to end solution, allowing clients to avoid the issues associated with the big London airfields and make use of Jet, Helicopter and boat transfers to get to the Olympic site faster than ever – all at a reduced cost.

After landing at Oxford, clients will be whisked straight on to a helicopter and make the 22 minute flight to Battersea heliport, where a Sunseeker luxury power yacht, will take them to the Olympic stadiums boat mooring in less than 40 minutes.

This solution encompasses the best of all solutions available and critically keeps clients off the roads, which are forecast to be at gridlock for most of the games period.

Jamie Dickson, head of charter sales said “During the Olympics period we will be urging clients to avoid the major London airports, Luton, Farnborough, Biggin etc, although we will of course still be offering clients the choice of these airfields. Our helicopter and boat package really is the best way of getting from your aircraft to the stadium with a minimal chance of delays and congestion by staying off the roads.”

In anticipation of the Olympic Games, Execflyer has put in place a number of solutions for moving clients in and out of London utilising a mix of Helicopters, Fixed wing aircraft, Boats and cars to ensure no matter what event or location we have it covered. The two helicopter sites, Battersea and Damyns hall will be available with a car service and reserved parking spaces only 5 minutes from the Olympic stadium.

If you require any further information and pricing on air charter to the Olympics  or would like to discuss a flight with one of our consultants please call +44 (0)1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com. You can also visit our dedicated Olympics’ air charter page by clicking here. 

Closest Airports To The London Olympics

Closest airports to the London Olympics

With the London Olympic games just around the corner, record numbers of people are forecast to pass through London airports. As Heathrow will not be accepting any private jets, this task will fall to other airports in the vicinity. In order to help clients make a decision, Execflyer has compiled a list of the 10 closest alternate airports to the London Olympics capable of receiving private aircraft. We will be offering flights to all of these airfields close to the London Olympics and can also offer helicopter transfers to the Olympics should this be required.

1. London City Airport

2. Biggin Hill Airport

3. RAF Northolt

4. Farnborough

5. Southend (24 hours)

6. Fairoaks (turboprops only)

7. Blackbush (turboprops and light jets only)

8. Luton (24 hours)

9. Stansted (24 hours)

10. Gatwick (24 Hours)

All of the above airports are subject to slots for the duration of the Olympic period and as such we advise all clients to book as far in advance as possible to secure these.

For further information on flights during the Olympic period or to book your private jet to the London Olympics please call +44(0) 1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com for further information. You can also visit our dedicated Olympic Air charter page.  

Helicopter to the British Grand Prix

With the spectacular Monaco Grand Prix over for another year, thoughts now turn to the British Grand Prix as competition heats up for the 2012 title. With record numbers forecast for 2012, helicopter charter to the British Grand Prix remains the fastest and most convenient way to arrive at the circuit. Race day this year takes place on Sunday the 8th of July, making this the busiest day in the helicopter calendar as Silverstone overtakes Heathrow in terms of aircraft movements! As usual landing slots are at a premium and are issued on a first come first serve basis so booking in advance is well advised. This applies even more to clients wishing to arrive or depart from London Battersea heliport which also experienced vast increases in traffic on race day.

If you would like further information or would like to book a helicopter to the British Grand Prix, please call +44(0) 1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com You can also visit the website at www.execflyer.com

Private Jet to the Heineken Cup Final

The 19th of May is a bumper day for sports fans, with both the Champions League Football Final and Heineken Cup Rugby final taking place. Thousands of Ulster fans will be making the journey over from Northern Ireland, and with commercial flights at capacity Execflyer is pleased to announce excellent availability on private jet flights to the Heineken Cup Final.
An air charter to the Heineken cup final allows fans the ultimate flexibility in departure time and airport as well as cutting down journey times and allowing passengers to travel in comfort.
With flight times of around 50 minutes to London from Belfast City, and a range of aircraft available from 4 seat air taxi aircraft up to large cabin private jets and airliner options for large groups Execflyer can cater for all of your air charter needs. In addition, we have access to an exclusive, private helipad only a 5 minute drive from the stadium allowing you to beat the traffic and fly directly to Twickenham from any other UK location.
 The final kicks of at 1700 local on the 19th of May at Twickenham, with Ulster taking on Leinster

For further information or pricing, please contact +44  (0)1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com

Alternatively you can visit the website at http://www.execflyer.com

Private Jet to Champions League Final

Private Jet to the Champions League Final

Following Chelsea’s success against Barcelona on the 24^th of April, thoughts are now turning to the Champions League Final on the 19^th of May in Munich.

Thousands of fans are expected to make the journey to back the blues in Munich, and airlines are already predicting capacity shortages on flights from the UK.

Using a private air charter to the champions league final is the fastest and most convenient way to travel to Munich, and allows passengers the ability to return the same day if preferred. Execflyer is pleased to announce good availability for the dates surrounding the final on all manner of aircraft from light jets and turbo props up to large cabin aircraft and airliners.

Prices start at just £1100 per passenger based on 10 sharing an aircraft out of London. In addition we can also arrange helicopter transfers to and from the airport and car transfers to the stadium in Munich.

For fans travelling to the game, Munich International Airport is the closest to the stadium, but with high levels of traffic expected, aircraft slots will be at a premium. We are advising all clients to book as far ahead as possible to ensure they are not disappointed. The final takes place at the Allianz Fußball Arena München on the 19^th of May 2012, with kickoff scheduled for 2045 CET (1945 GMT).

For clients wishing to return to the UK on the same day, Luton airport provides 24 hour operations.

For further information and pricing on private jet charter to the champions league final please contact Execflyer on +44 (0)1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com

London 2012 Air Charter - Slot Availability

In the run up to the London Olympic Games, there has been concern by many private aviation businesses as to the potential operational challenges during this period.

Severe restrictions will be placed on aircraft over flying London between July 14 and August 15, unless they are inbound to, or outbound from any airfields with an exemption in the prohibited airspace zone. These airfields include Heathrow, London City, RAF Northolt, Denham, Fairoaks and Battersea Heliport. A reservation system will also mean that aircraft wanting to land in one of the 58 coordinated airports across the South-East of England between July 21 and August 15 will have to apply for a slot in advance. 

This could be an exciting opportunity for airports outside of the restricted zones, which will provide an overspill for traffic London airfields cannot cope with. “We envisage that many spectators will be staying outside of London to avoid the congestion and ramped up pricing, and therefore alternate airports make perfect sense. We have already been in talks with helicopter operators, and have alternate sites to London’s Battersea heliport that will provide quicker ground transfer times and reduce costs to passengers” stated Execflyer’s head of charter Jamie Dickson.

With Battersea still a 10 mile journey from the Olympic park along congested roads, Execflyer have put in place alternate solutions to minimize delays and travel times. It is expected that the majority of traffic will be inbound from the west and north of London, hence landing facilities to the east of the Olympic park should allow for quicker transfer times.

In addition, Execflyer has also teamed up with a luxury car operator which has access to parking spaces only a 5 minute walk from the stadium. The exclusive spaces allow their clients the ability to be picked up closer to the venue, and avoid the need to use public transport.

As demand will be so high, the 58 slot coordinated airports are likely to fill up fast, and so Execflyer advises all clients to give as much notice as possible. Airports such as Farnborough, Luton, Biggin Hill, London City and Northolt will be first to reach capacity and it is anticipated that airports as far north as Birmingham could be affected. Airfields such as Oxford, Cambridge, Gloucester and Birmingham are likely to absorb most of the additional private traffic and maybe even become a preferred alternative due to lower charges and parking availability.

For further information on any Olympic Air Charter flights, either fixed wing or helicopter please contact us on +44(0) 1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com.

Alternatively you can visit our London Olympics Air Charter page which has details of all venues and their nearest heliport and airport.

London 2012 - How are you getting there?

Private jet to the Olympics?

With the London 2012 Olympic Games less than 100 days away, more and more people are beginning to make travel plans for the event. With major airports and commercial flights already at bursting point for many private aviation is turning out to be the best solution. With access to many more airports not open to commercial traffic, private flights to London 2012 are the ideal way to beat congestion and delays whilst getting as close to the games as possible.

However, due to heightened security measures and the forecast for massive increases in commercial traffic, slots will be severely restricted throughout the period of the games. This coupled with limits on the number of aircraft in the prohibited zone at any one time means that time will be key in securing any flights in to London. For all private jet flights to the Olympics and any other charters during this period, Execflyer is urging its clients to book as far in advance as possible to secure aircraft and slots.

Head of Charter Sales Jamie Dickson said "As the biggest event in the 2012 calendar, we envisage London 2012 to be an incredibly busy time for us. To ensure we can offer the best solutions, we have been talking directly with the CAA and attending all Olympic airspace briefings so our consultants have a clear view of the processes and restrictions in place. We still cannot stress enough how time critical all flights will be, and would advise anyone wishing to travel to give us as much notice as possible to secure slots and aircraft".

Further to concerns around slots, Execflyer has also been in talks with a number of alternate airfields outside of the London area coupled with helicopter flights to the Olympics venues. This offers an alternate solution to our clients that may not have as much notice, and will also allow us to accommodate a larger number of flights.

For further information on air charter to the Olympics or pricing please contact us on +44 (0)1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com

Alternatively you can visit our Olympics web page at http://www.execflyer.com/air-charter-london-2012.aspx

Execflyer announces Asia Pacific Launch

Execflyer Air Charter is pleased to announce the launch of its new Asia Pacific division, headed up by the highly experienced Karen Muzeen. As demand increases in the region Execflyer have come to understand the importance of having a local presence in key air charter markets such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Australia.

Execflyer Director, Steven Moth commented that “I am delighted to welcome Karen to the team. Having worked with Karen previously I know her dedication and attention to detail is second to none. She is highly knowledgeable and over the past 12 months has undertaken extensive research to map out the opportunities in this geographic area. The business aviation situation in Asia Pac remains dynamic and we can see from the number of aircraft sold into the region that appetite is increasing.”

With substantial growth forecast for 2012, we have seen the opening of China’s first full service FBO, and a number of aircraft manufacturers such as Embraer, Gulfstream and Cessna opening sales offices.

Speaking from Execflyer’s Australian office, Karen added that: “For me Execflyer’s approach was perfect timing. I had taken time out of the aviation business though still followed the market. I began to see opportunities and teaming up with Execflyer allows me the infrastructure to exploit those opportunities. The team at Execflyer are people I have worked with before and so there is good synergy in the way we work. We have already made excellent in roads and I am relishing the challenge ahead.”

For more information on the Execflyer Asia Pacific division, or for pricing please call +61 (0)478 005678, email asiapac@execflyer.com or visit http://www.execflyer.com

Execflyer Partners with Cheltenham race Course

Execflyer Air Charter are pleased to announce that they have partnered with Cheltenham Racecourse in order to ensure smooth air charter transition for race-goers attending the 2012 Cheltenham Festival. The festival is one of the most prestigious events on the National Hunt calendar and racing fans from all over the world attend the event. For many years Execflyer have flown a wide cross section of clients both on fixed wing aircraft and helicopters into the landing facility at the course and the nearby airports at Gloucester, Bristol and Birmingham.

Execflyer are able to arrange a door to door service utilising a combination of aircraft, helicopters and executive cars.

Commenting on the partnership Jamie Laidlaw Dickson, Head of Charter Sales at Execflyer stated “We extend our sincerest gratitude to the senior management at Cheltenham racecourse for formally recognising the value we can add to their clients overall experience of the Festival. Traffic congestion can be significant on Festival days, and we are pleased to offer an easy , highly secure solution to arrive and depart the Cheltenham Festival. We are able to provide a wide cross section of aircraft from small single engine helicopters, through to large 16 seat VIP helicopters, air taxis and VIP business jets. For passengers coming from further afield we are able to fly into Gloucester, Bristol or Birmingham and transfer to a shuttle helicopter straight into the course.”

The 2012 Cheltenham Festival kicks off with Champion Day on the 13^th March 2012, with Ladies Day on the 14^th March, St Patricks Thursday on the 15^th and the infamous Gold Cup day on the 16^th March. Tickets and hospitality are available online at www.cheltenham.co.uk

For more information on air charter to the Cheltenham Festival call +44 (0)1926 840057, visit Helicopter to Cheltenham or email fly@execflyer.com

BREAKING NEWS! Reuben Brothers Aquire London Heliport

Reuben Brothers has announced the acquisition from Andrew Davis of the London Heliport in Battersea. The acquisition, made by Reuben Brothers investment vehicle Aldersgate Investments Limited, extends the group's existing aviation interests, including the ownership of London Oxford Airport which was acquired in 2007. Following substantial investment, London Oxford Airport was voted the 'Best British Business Aviation Airport' in 2009.  

One of the Heliport's most significant customers is the PremiAir Aviation group of companies, which are also held by Davis.  PremiAir and the London Heliport will continue to work together on a number of initiatives.

The London Heliport has been in continuous operation since 1959, providing essential service to the business community and emergency services, such as the Air Ambulance (HEMS) and Police Air Support units. The Heliport has an established client base and a newly developed terminal and VIP lounge offering luxurious facilities to passengers. It also benefits from an exemption to the no-fly zone during the Olympics, meaning a large number of dignitaries and other VIPs will be able to use the London Heliport as an easy access route to the 2012 Games.

Count Down to Cheltenham 2012...

With less than 1 month till the Cheltenham Festival helicopter slots are filling up fast. With this year set to be one of the best attended yet, record numbers are taking to the air in a bid to beat the traffic and arrive refreshed and ready to enjoy the days racing.
Execflyers Jamie Dickson said "Helicopter charter to the Cheltenham festival is proving to be more popular than ever in 2012, and as such we have a record number of bookings. Slots are getting very tight, and the deparutre slots before sunset are starting to fill up with single engine aircraft requireing to depart before darkness on gold cup day. Despite this, execflyer still has a nuimber of aircraft available for flights to the gold cup, and will be oh hand for any last minute bookings".
This years festival runs from the 13th to the 16th of March, with helicopter flights to Cheltenham available for all dates, including the popular gold cup day.
For further information and pricing, or to book your helicopter to Cheltenham call 01926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com
You can also visit our helicopter charter to cheltenham festival web page by clicking here.

London 2012 Airspace – Helicopter Charter Implications

A number of concerns have been raised regarding airspace regulations and rules surrounding the London 2012 Olympic Games. Helicopter movements in particular will be restricted more than any other form of air transport due to their relatively small size and ability to land almost anywhere. Having spoken to numerous commercial helicopter operators it seems that there is widespread confusion around what can and can’t be done.

To clear up this confusion, Execflyer spoke directly with the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) who are responsible for enforcing these airspace restrictions along with NATS (National Air Traffic Services), in order to get a clear view of what to expect during the games.

As for any large event, security in the areas surrounding the Olympic venues is paramount given the current terrorism threats. To maintain security in the air, two separate zones have been set up in London’s Airspace. These are known as the Prohibited Zone and the Restricted zone. (see diagram below).

The Prohibited Zone encompasses most of the City of London, and also covers airfields such as Heathrow, London City, Denham, Fairoaks and Battersea Heliport. Within this area, pick ups via helicopter are not allowed except for airfields and landing sites that have been granted exemptions (all above have exemptions).  Additionally, all flights to be conducted within this zone must have filed a flight plan and submitted all passenger details to the relevant authorities for checking before departure.

Helicopter traffic through this prohibited zone will utilise a combination of new routes and existing heli lanes with twin engine helicopters being able to fly direct. London Battersea Heliport is the closest official landing site to the games, however the nearby Vanguard heliport on the Isle of Dogs has applied for an exemption, the result of which is expected soon.

The Restricted Zone covers a much larger area and includes airfields such as Gatwick, Luton and Stansted. Within this zone, pickups will be permitted outside of designated airfields (hotels, private residences etc) and flight will in general be much less restricted. If picking up and flying in to the Prohibited zone to drop off, then flight plans must be filed in advance and passenger details submitted. Given anticipated air traffic volumes the more notice helicopter passengers can give the better.

From a fixed wing perspective, it will be business as usual for most operators, with the only major change being mandatory full screening of passengers who will be arriving at either London City or London Heathrow airports (Both airports are in the prohibited zone). Traffic is predicted to be at record levels, and so slot availability at both airports is likely to be restricted. London City slots are now available for those looking to book air charter to the Olympic Games.  London Heathrow will downgrade its capacity during the games as every flight is expected to be full, thus putting increased pressure on the airport infrastructure.

The full AIP supplement for the Olympic airspace is due to be published on the 23^rd of February. This will outline all of the above in more detail. For further information you can visit www.Airspacesafety.com/olympics

For any helicopter or fixed wing charter enquiries to the London 2012 Olympics, please call +44(0) 1926 840057 or email fly@execflyer.com. You can also submit charter requests through our website at www.execflyer.com