Private helicopter charters are a great way to travel in style and luxury while bypassing all of the traffic on the ground. If you need to get to a wedding or conference venue, you need an airport transfer or private transportation, or just want to go on a scenic tour, then there's nothing like a high quality helicopter charter. That said, you might not know how to charter a helicopter, which is exactly what we are here to help with.
Here are the basic steps to hire private helicopter charters:
- Identify the Purpose of the Helicopter Charter
- Choose the Type of Private Helicopter
- Finding a Charter Company for Helicopter Hire
- Request a Quote
- Understanding Pricing for Private Helicopter Charters
- Confirm Details and Book
- What to Expect on the Day of the Flight
1. Identify the Purpose of the Helicopter Charter
When booking a private helicopter charter in Australia, the first thing you need to do is identify the purpose of the flight. When you identify the purpose of the flight, it helps you determine the proper departure point, aircraft, and pricing.
Helicopter charters are ideal for a variety of purposes, including scenic tours, winery lunches, private charters for corporate or wedding events, and airport transfers alike. Let's take a look at the various purposes that a private helicopter charter could serve.
Corporate Charters
As mentioned above, Australia is home to some of the world's most prestigious conference venues, and if you're flying for business, traveling by private helicopter is extremely efficient. Whether you have to visit a remote location, transport executives to a conference, or just make a memorable trip for a potential client, corporate charters always leave a lasting impression.
Weddings and Other Special Events
Another purpose that a private helicopter could serve is to take you to and from weddings and other special events, particularly around Sydney and Hunter Valley, as well as Melbourne and the Yarra Valley.
With their countryside estates, amazing vineyards, luxury lodges, wineries, and world class restaurants, many of these locations serve as both concert and wedding venues, with many also having conference rooms for business purposes.
Whatever the case may be, arriving at your destination by helicopter adds a certain something to the mix.
Day Tours
One of the most common purposes for a private helicopter charter is to go on a day tour. If you want an unforgettable aerial experience, and you want to see all of Australia's best natural landmarks from the sky, a helicopter flight is really the only way to go. Day tours often involve landing at scenic locations, restaurants, wineries, and more - giving you the chance to explore from both the ground and sky.
For instance, if you're in Sydney, a helicopter day tour to the Blue Mountains with their famous eucalyptus mist is always worth seeing, and there's always the option to land on the ground and take a private 4WD tour as well.
If you're in Melbourne, a helicopter tour along the Great Ocean Road and to the Twelve Apostles rock formation really can't be beat, and again, there's always the option to land at a winery for a gourmet lunch and wine-tasting. Of course, the Sunshine Coast is another fantastic location to take a helicopter day tour to, particularly if you're in Brisbane, as there are various tours to take advantage of.
Winery Flights
Australia is home to some of the best wine regions found in the world, with Hunter Valley and Yarra Valley being two of the most famous. A helicopter charter is a great way to fly directly to dozens of wineries around Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
A private helicopter charter can fly you directly to luxurious vineyards such as Bimbadgen Estate and Leogate Estate, both of which are known for their amazing wines and gourmet food. It's about getting to these wineries and other scenic locations in a matter of minutes instead of hours.
2. Choose the Type of Private Helicopter
Once you’ve decided on your purpose, the next step is choosing the right helicopter. Different helicopters suit different needs, whether you’re booking a quick transfer, a scenic tour or a luxury charter for a wedding or corporate event. Below are the main categories of helicopters available for charter in Australia, along with their best uses.
Light Single-Engine Helicopters
Light helicopters like the Robinson R44 and Robinson R66 are perfect for short scenic flights, quick transfers, or small group charters. Seating up to 4 or 5 people, these aircraft are cost effective and offer great visibility, making them ideal for sightseeing tours over cities or coastlines. The R66 with its turbine engine and extra seating offers a bit more range and performance for mid-range charters.
- Best for: Scenic flights, winery lunches, aerial photography, and private transfers for 2 to 4 people.
Utility Turbine Helicopters
Models like the Airbus AS350 (also known as the H125) fall into this category. These aircraft are reliable, powerful, and versatile, with space for 6 or more people and plenty of luggage capacity. The AS350 is perfect for regional charters, longer winery flights, and scenic tours where extra range and comfort is required.
- Best for: Groups of 4–6, winery charters, remote landings, and tours requiring extra payload capacity.
Luxury Single-Engine Helicopters
The Airbus EC130 is a premium single engine helicopter designed for quiet, smooth and spacious travel. Seating up to 7 and with panoramic windows it’s often used for high end charters and wedding arrivals. Its advanced noise reduction and climate control features provide a first class experience without stepping into twin engine territory.
- Best for: Luxury scenic tours, weddings, executive transfers, and private charters with 5 to 7 people.
Executive and Event Helicopters
Bigger aircraft like the Bell 407 offer a balance of performance and passenger capacity. Seating up to 7 with plenty of room for cargo, it’s a popular choice for conference transfers, group winery tours, or transporting guests to exclusive venues. These helicopters offer comfort, speed and practicality all in one.
- Best for: Corporate groups, event logistics, high end winery tours and scenic charters for 6–7 people.
Performance Twin-Engine Helicopters
For added safety, range, and speed, twin engine helicopters like the Bell 429 IFR are the gold standard. These aircraft are often chartered for longer distances, poor weather flying, or when two pilot operation is required. The Bell 429 can carry up to 8 people in an executive style cabin with room for luggage and gear.
Another fantastic option is the Augusta AW109 Grand, which comes complete with enough seating for eight, and that with comfortable leather seating, ample legroom, and various comfort amenities. Thanks to its comfortable design, versatile nature, and ability to travel long distances at great speeds, the Augusta AW109 Grand is a helicopter of choice for charters and VIP travel.
- Best for: Corporate travel, VIP airport transfers, long range charters, and wedding or event groups requiring the highest level of comfort and reliability.
Choosing the right helicopter means your flight will be not only comfortable but also tailored to your event or itinerary.
3. Finding a Charter Company for Helicopter Hire
When choosing a helicopter charter company, you have to ensure that you choose the right one so that your flight is memorable, comfortable, and most important of all, safe.
No matter if you're booking a scenic flight, a wedding transfer, corporate charter, or anything in between, choosing the right this makes all the difference. Here are all of the things that you need to focus on when choosing a private helicopter charter.
Safety
Perhaps the most important thing to pay attention to when choosing a private helicopter charter company is safety. The charter company must operate under a CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).
This is a mandatory requirement for all commercial helicopter operations in Australia. You want to look for a company that has a strong safety record, transparent certifications, and clearly stated maintenance practices and pilot qualifications.
You'll also want to look for operators who regularly service their fleet and employ pilots that have thousands of logged flight hours. You should also inquire whether or not the company in question conducts safety briefings before every flight.
Experience
Simply put, the more experience a helicopter charter company has, the better. This means not only being able to fly helicopters efficiently and safely, but also manage charter operations very professional manner.
A charter company should be well established with many years of flying experience to the region that you are planning on going to, and they should also understand local airspace rules, the best scenic routes, and weather patterns alike.
You should also look for charter companies that have previously worked with other major events, corporate clients, and VIP guests, as these are the companies that will have the logistical know how to handle complex itineraries without running into problems.
You definitely want to have a company that is experienced in event coordination, particularly if you're looking for winery charters or helicopter charters to conferences and weddings.
Reviews and Reputation
Yet another important factor to pay attention to when deciding on the helicopter charter company is reading some customer reviews on popular review platforms, or even on the company's own website. What you want to look for here are consistently high ratings across multiple platforms, as this is a high indicator of good service quality.
You'll want to pay especially close attention to any reviews that mention communication, professionalism, pilot skill, and how the company handles things like unexpected changes and weather cancellations.
You can also look for photos that have been shared by customers, as these can provide you with insights in terms of the quality of the experience and the condition of the helicopters. Moreover, never count out word of mouth. At the time of writing, Rotor One has 953+ five-star reviews and has flown 3927+ more than satisfied clients.
4. Request a Quote
Once you’ve chosen a helicopter charter company, the next step is to request a quote. To get an accurate and quick response, you’ll need to provide specific information about your flight. Charter companies will ask for the following:
- What’s the purpose of the flight: Scenic tour, winery visit, private transfer, wedding transport, corporate event?
- Departure and destination locations: Exact pickup and drop off points or areas of interest.
- Preferred date and time: Flexibility can sometimes get you a better rate, especially outside peak times.
- Number of passengers: This determines the type of helicopter you’ll need and the cost.
- Special requirements: Multiple stops, extra luggage, accessibility needs, special onboard services? Note these upfront.
When you provide this info, you’ll get a detailed quote with flight time, total cost, aircraft type, inclusions (refreshments or ground transfers), and any cancellation or weather delay terms.
Some operators also offer package pricing for popular tours. A good charter company will be transparent about all costs and happy to answer follow up questions to make sure your flight is planned just right.
If you'd like to request a quote for a helicopter charter for Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, please visit the respective pages and fill out a simple form to request a quote. Rotor One will get back to you shortly with the best price available.
5. Understanding Pricing for Private Helicopter Charters
The next thing that you need to be aware of when booking a helicopter charter is that pricing can vary, and that there are different pricing structures as well.
Helicopter flights can be billed per hour, per flight, or as fixed price helicopter charter packages, particularly if there are specific occasions or destinations involved.
With that being said, private helicopter charter pricing in Australia also varies depending on flight duration, distance traveled, aircraft type, and the nature of your booking.
Hourly Rates
Many helicopter trucking companies in Australia charge hourly rates, including Rotor One, which offers private VIP charters starting at $1500 per hour.
This is a great pricing structure for people who want to go on custom tours, quick transfers between private properties, airports, and events, or for those who just want to have a flexible itinerary.
Something to keep in mind however is that the cost of the flight time will include both the journey to and from the departure point, even if you're only taking a one way trip.
Fixed Packages
Next, helicopter charter companies are also available for hire in terms of fixed packages. There are many fixed package experiences available in Australia, such as scenic flights, winery tours, and more.
For example, Rotor One offers a half day charter to the Bimbadgen Winery in Hunter Valley, which includes wine tasting, gourmet food, and time to explore, along with both departure and return flight. This particular package goes for just over $1,400 per person, just to provide you with a rough example of what a typical package might look like.
6. Confirm Details and Book
Once you have your quote, chosen your helicopter, and selected your flight package, it’s time to book. Most charter companies will require a deposit or full payment to secure your booking. Availability is first come first served especially, on weekends or during peak periods like public holidays, wedding season, or major events.
At this stage, double check all flight details. Confirm the departure location, flight time, number of passengers and any special requests like photo stops, extended waiting time at a destination or onboard amenities. For scenic and winery flights, some operators will also coordinate with the venue to ensure smooth landings and timed arrivals.
Helicopter charters are weather dependent. For instance, operators like Rotor One have a strict safety policy and will cancel or reschedule flights in poor weather conditions like high winds, low visibility, or thunderstorms. If weather becomes a factor, most charter companies will offer an alternative flight time or a full refund.
Also worth confirming are minimum passenger numbers (for shared flights) or weight limitations, especially for smaller helicopters. Final confirmation will include a booking email with check in instructions, pilot contact details, and a summary of what to expect on the day.
7. What to Expect on the Day of the Flight
On the day of your flight, you'll want to arrive early, at least half an hour before your scheduled departure time. The vast majority of charter flights have a dedicated helipad or airport terminal that they depart from, with some even offering free parking for your vehicle.
Once you arrive, you'll check in with the ground staff and provide your basic information to ensure that you are who you say you are.
Before you board the aircraft, you will go through a mandatory safety briefing period you'll get instructions on headset use, seat belts, emergency exits, aircraft entry and exit procedures, and emergency procedures.
Keep in mind that safety standards are extremely high and incidents are very rare, but knowing what to do in the event of an emergency is important.
Once the safety briefing is done, you'll be taken to the helicopter, helped on board, and assigned a seat, which is usually done by weight distribution. You'll also get your headset so you can communicate with the other passengers and the pilot. Once everything is good to go, you'll take off and head to your destination of choice.
Rotor One offers private helicopter charter services in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, ideal for private travel, airport transfers, corporate groups, scenic flights, and winery tours alike.
