Any recommendations for Open-door helicopter?

[MinnieSueB]

Heading to Aulani end of May for DD's HS graduation and was wondering if anyone has done an open-door helicopter ride recently that you would recommend?

 

[Paul Stupin]

Heading to Aulani end of May for DD's HS graduation and was wondering if anyone has done an open-door helicopter ride recently that you would recommend?

You might want to look into the safety of those helicopter rides. One just crashed in Kauai in Feb.

 

[MinnieSueB]

You might want to look into the safety of those helicopter rides. One just crashed in Kauai in Feb.

Yeah - I know it happens but was considering it and was wondering if anyone had a good experience recently. We did one about 6 years ago and it was great.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Yeah - I know it happens but was considering it and was wondering if anyone had a good experience recently. We did one about 6 years ago and it was great.

Not to be gloomy, but people die in those things not infrequently. “It happens” is a bit of an understatement.

 

[MinnieSueB]

We all have different levels of risk that we are willing to make. People die in car crashes every day. Heck, even one person a day dies from a slip in the shower - my husband does actuarial work and has this stat. I respect your decision. I was simply asking if anyone had any recommendations.

 

[DisneyMimiUSMC]

You might want to look into the safety of those helicopter rides. One just crashed in Kauai in F

We all have different levels of risk that we are willing to make. People die in car crashes every day. Heck, even one person a day dies from a slip in the shower - my husband does actuarial work and has this stat. I respect your decision. I was simply asking if anyone had any recommendations.

There have been 57 deaths by helicopter crash in Hawaii since 1984. One very recently. My husband is a UH1Y helicopter pilot and we won't even take a helicopter tour in Hawaii.

 

[rocketriter]

And this is how an OP's original question gets hijacked.

 

[Noodlez]

My husband did Paradise Helicopters a few years ago (https://paradisecopters.com/) and really loved it. It wasn't the doors off experience, but they do do one. Admittedly, I've told him he's never going in a helicopter again unless it's saving our lives, but they were still very good.

 

[Paul Stupin]

And this is how an OP's original question gets hijacked.

I don’t think bringing up safety concerns qualifies as hijacking a question.

 

[T00dles]

Not to threadjack here, but while we're strapped in, does anyone know of an operator daring enough to offer a doors-off Hawaiian chopper experience that also includes concurrent bungee jumping? Asking for a friend.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Not to threadjack here, but while we're strapped in, does anyone know of an operator daring enough to offer a doors-off Hawaiian chopper experience that also includes concurrent bungee jumping? Asking for a friend.

Excellent question! I think the whole family would love it, though I’m hoping to find a paragliding experience with a freefall diving option.

 

[pjacobi]

There have been 57 deaths by helicopter crash in Hawaii since 1984.

How may automobile death in Hawaii since 1984? I bet more than 57!


-Paul

 

[DisneyMimiUSMC]

How may automobile death in Hawaii since 1984? I bet more than 57!


-Paul

This logic always befuddles me. There are far more cars driving around than helicopters flying. So, of course there are more car accidents. Apples to oranges.

 

[J-Dog]

This logic always befuddles me. There are far more cars driving around than helicopters flying. So, of course there are more car accidents. Apples to oranges.

And 57 deaths in 40 years is 1.4 deaths by helicopter crash per year. Assuming that there are 5 helicopter flights per day in Hawaii (I have no idea, I'm guessing and I bet it's more than that), that's a 0.07% chance of death (assuming my math is correct).

57 deaths seems like a big number when it's taken out of context.

And the OP did mention that they were not risk averse, so this is off-topic anyway.

 

[randc]

We are at Aulani right now and just got back from doing the Magnum Helicopter doors-off tour. We felt safe the whole time and had an amazing tour. Highly recommend you looking into them if you are still interested.

 

[MinnieSueB]

We are at Aulani right now and just got back from doing the Magnum Helicopter doors-off tour. We felt safe the whole time and had an amazing tour. Highly recommend you looking into them if you are still interested.

Thank you! That's who we used several years ago and enjoyed it.

 

[Paul Stupin]

And 57 deaths in 40 years is 1.4 deaths by helicopter crash per year. Assuming that there are 5 helicopter flights per day in Hawaii (I have no idea, I'm guessing and I bet it's more than that), that's a 0.07% chance of death (assuming my math is correct).

57 deaths seems like a big number when it's taken out of context.

And the OP did mention that they were not risk averse, so this is off-topic anyway.

The thing is, if I went to a theme park, and was made aware that there were 57 deaths arising from a particular kind of ride, in that state specifically, no matter what the time frame, I think I’d want my family to just avoid the ride. Let’s assume that it’s a big theme park, and there are lots of safer rides.

And, yes, I’m aware that there are more everyday activities where there are odds for fatalities as well, which are perhaps greater, but realistically I’m not going to stop driving a car, or avoid the beach because of shark bites or rip currents or whatever, etc. etc. I’m just going to avoid a ride that has resulted in 57 deaths.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Yeah - I know it happens but was considering it and was wondering if anyone had a good experience recently. We did one about 6 years ago and it was great.

You mean like, experience with a helicopter that didn't crash?

J/K. I've never done one but it's the cost that stopped me. I would not pass up the opportunity but... I would be going without DW. She's a hard pass on a helicopter ride.

 

[Lumpy1106]

And this is how an OP's original question gets hijacked.

Using the word "hijacked" in a thread about air travel. Now that's a bold move!