Airbus Helicopters make tourists’ dreams come true, offering aerial viewpoints for some of Earth’s natural and man-made wonders – including the U.S. Hawaiian Islands and Grand Canyon; at national parks and reserves around the globe; and over such cities as Paris, New York and Las Vegas.
The single-engine Ecureuil/AStar family has been the go-to rotorcraft for professional tour operations since the 1980s, favored due to its smooth ride for optimum comfort of five-to-six passengers who enjoy low external noise and vibration levels.
Building on its experience with tour operators, Airbus Helicopters developed the H130, which set a new benchmark by providing an open cabin design and more than 65 square feet of glass that affords a 180-degree sweeping view. The H130 offers significantly greater personal space for its seven passengers, enabling individual first class-type seating. Earning its “Eco-Star” nickname, the H130’s environmentally-friendly low noise signature is further improved by the use of Airbus Helicopters’ Fenestron® shrouded tail rotor system.
Tour companies with Airbus Helicopters-built fleets include two U.S. operators of reference: Blue Hawaiian (flying the AS350
and H130) in the Hawaiian Islands, and Sundance Helicopters, based in Las Vegas, Nevada (operating H130s); as well as Réunion Island’s Corail Hélicoptères (with H130s) and Nepal’s Shree Airlines (AS350s and H130s).
