Helicopter hire across the UK, at one clear price.

Helicopter hire: the questions we are asked most

How much does it cost to hire a helicopter in the UK?

UK helicopter hire prices are built from the aircraft's hourly rate plus positioning, fuel, landing fees, crew time and VAT. As a guide, the Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel runs from around £2,800 per hour, the Agusta A109 Grand SP around £3,600 per hour, and the Airbus H145 around £4,500. A typical day-return charter to a race meeting from London for six passengers lands in the £14,000–£17,000 range all-in. Full 2026 pricing with worked examples is in our helicopter hire prices guide at /blog/helicopter-hire-prices-uk-2026.

How many passengers can a private helicopter carry?

It depends on the aircraft. The Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel carries five passengers and a pilot. The Agusta A109 Power carries five; the A109 Grand SP carries six. The Airbus H145 carries up to eight. Charter is priced by the aircraft, not the seat, so picking the right type for the party size has a direct effect on the per-person cost.

Can a helicopter land at a private site or country estate?

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. Under the Air Navigation Order 2016, helicopters operating commercially can land at private sites with the landowner's permission, subject to the pilot's site assessment. Open ground with a firm surface, a clear approach and departure path, and space away from people and animals is usually enough. Landings inside congested urban areas are restricted — Battersea Heliport handles those.

How far in advance do I need to book a helicopter charter?

Twenty-four to forty-eight hours is enough for most routine UK transfers. Same-day charter is regularly possible if an aircraft of the right type is positioned nearby. Peak-event windows — Grand Prix weekend, Royal Ascot week, Cheltenham Festival — are the exception: shuttle slots and landing permissions sell out weeks ahead, so we recommend booking those at least three to four weeks in advance.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my flight?

Weather is the single most common reason a charter slips. We monitor the forecast continuously from 48 hours out, and the operator's flight ops will make a go/no-go call based on visibility, cloud base and wind. Twin-engine IFR aircraft like the Agusta A109 Grand SP and Airbus H145 can complete flights in conditions that ground single-engine VFR helicopters. If a flight is cancelled for weather, no charter cost is incurred.

How fast and how far can a charter helicopter fly?

A modern executive twin like the Agusta A109 Grand SP cruises at around 154 knots — roughly 285 km/h — and has a maximum range of about 460 nautical miles with standard tanks. In real terms that puts Battersea-to-Silverstone, Battersea-to-Goodwood and Manchester-to-London all inside the hour. For longer routes within Great Britain we plan a fuel stop or use a longer-range type such as the H145.

Why does Helicopter Hire Prices operate twin-engine only?

A twin-engine helicopter has two independent power sources, which means a single engine failure does not end the flight. Twins are required for IFR work — flight in cloud and lower-visibility conditions — and are the default for executive charter, over-water routes and night operations. Single-engine helicopters are simpler and cheaper but are slower in marginal weather and not certified for night IFR. We charter twin-engine only — AS355, A109 and H145 — because the executive brief almost always justifies it.

Can I bring luggage on a private helicopter charter?

Yes, within the aircraft's payload limits. Most executive twins comfortably carry soft cabin bags for each passenger plus a small amount of additional baggage in the rear compartment. Rigid suitcases of the kind checked onto airliners can be more difficult — we ask for a rough idea of bag count and size at quote stage so we can confirm it works for the aircraft selected.

Do you operate from London Battersea Heliport?

Yes — Battersea Heliport (EGLW) is one of our most-used London bases and the only CAA-licensed heliport in central London. We move VIP transfers and event shuttles through Battersea most days of the season, with the Agusta A109 and Airbus H145 as our default aircraft for the route. Battersea-to-Chelsea is a three-minute car transfer; Battersea-to-Mayfair around six.

What aircraft types do you charter?

Our twin-engine UK fleet covers the Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel (5 seats), the Agusta A109 Power and A109 Grand SP (5–6 seats), and the Airbus H145 (up to 8 seats). Every aircraft we charter holds a valid CAA Air Operator Certificate. Documentation is available on request before any flight.