Customer contact us to transport 40 people from a hotel on a small island to various drop off points within the UK.

Problem/Goal:

a)   As this would require multiple helicopters, finding a landing site close to the hotel large enough to operate multiple a would be challenging.

b)  Finding out how many passengers would be travelling to each final destination to allow us to provide the most suitable and cost effective aircraft for each trip.

c)   Due to the number of helicopters required, Fire Crew would be required on site at the hotel. Getting the fire truck and crew on to the small island would be challenging.

d)  Getting an Atlas team member on site on the island to coordinate the landings and to ensure the correct passengers and luggage went on the correct aircraft.

e)  Having a plan B should the weather be to severe for the helicopters to fly – ground transportation.

Solution:

a)   9 helicopters required, however, the landing site could only accommodate one helicopter at a time safely.  The aircraft would need to arrive one at a time. Board the passengers and luggage and depart, before the next aircraft could arrive. To ensure this was done seamlessly, all 9 aircraft positioned to a airfield within 10 minutes flight time of the Island, to be positioned to the island when needed.

b)  9 helicopters of various sizes were used. Our Airbus AS355’s were used where the passenger numbers were 4 or less, our Agusta AW109’s where there were 4-6 passengers and the EC155 was used for 6-7 passengers.

c)   Vehicles could only drive over to the Island at low tide. Low tide on this particular day was at 4am. The fire crew drove down the day prior to the flights and stayed at a hotel close by on the mainland. They drove over at 4am and we arranged for them to have a substantial breakfast at the hotel on arrival. They were also on site to assist with any weather updates which may have been needed.

d)  The 9 aircraft were coordinated so the Atlas crew member flew in on the first flight and remained on location to coordinate the aircraft and flew our on the final aircraft.

e)  14 chauffeur cars (all V Class Mercedes) were arranged to be on standby should the weather be insufficient for the helicopters to fly. This was coordinated by the London Chauffeur Company.

Results/Benefits:

Working closely with the client and the third party companies (such as the chauffeur company, Air Traffic at the nearby Airfield and the hotel on the Island) on the run up to the day and on the day, meant the day ran seamlessly and all passengers departed the Island by helicopter and all were on time. The client was ecstatic at the service provided and is a remains a regular passenger on our flights.

The hotel on the Island was impressed by the professional manner in which the flights took place and we are now a preferred supplier of theirs.