All in a Day

1. What is the background of helidubai?

In line with the vision of Dubai government to establish a centre of excellence for this unique branch of aviation, helidubai has seen remarkable growth since inception. Established in 2005 to provide aerial support to the customers of the Burj Al Arab, helidubai has expanded into inter Emirates transfers to (and not limited to) the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, and also into the ever growing cinema industry.

2. What does a general working day involve for you?

I currently wear two hats in the company – chief pilot and crew training. As a training manager I ensure that all training activities can be carried out in accordance with civil aviation best practice. As the chief pilot, that is where things start to get different. Not one day is the same and with every new day comes a new challenge. We are a small company with eight pilots, all experienced and professional. When presented with extraordinary situations, I would ask my colleagues for their opinions. Usually more than one solution comes to surface and that’s when the fun part comes in; the best plan. I think that synergy is very important in any company, especially small ones.

3. What is your training background?

It all started with a dream. Wanting to become a pilot, after high school, I joined the Canadian Armed Forces, where I received a diploma in administration from the College Military Royale in Saint-Jean, Quebec. I then flew helicopters for the next 20 years. Throughout my military career, I was fortunate to attended and graduate from many flying courses, including instructional and evaluations.

4. How is the company fleet made up?

Helidubai operates a fleet of five helicopters. We have two Agusta VIP standards A109e for public transport and three Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters in support of tourism flights and also filming and photography.

5.  Who are your customers?

Jumeirah Group has appointed helidubai as its primary helicopter service provider for all its hotels. The guest at the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel can book directly through the concierge. Working in conjunction with travel industry partners, our customer base includes the many visitors to the Emirates as well as dignitaries, government officials, members of royalty, international celebrities and VIPs. We also provide tourism flights over the city of Dubai from the Atlantis at The Palm, located on the crescent of the Palm Jumeirah.

6. What are the future plans of helidubai?

Tourism being one of Dubai’s economic pillar, we are looking at expanding our scenic flights capability. There is an increase in the number of cruise liners visiting Dubai. We are in the process of establishing a heliport at Port Rashid to capitalise on this niche. In our other area of expertise, helidubai was involved in an aerial shoot for the latest instalment of Mission Impossible 4 with Tom Cruise. More and more film producers are choosing Dubai as a prime location, further enhancing the city’s growing reputation as the number one location for movie making. Surely, helidubai will be there for the challenge.