In the days leading up to your helicopter experience around New York City, it is normal to be full of excitement and questions. After all, we offer the best helicopter tour NYC has to offer, and no one wants to miss a thing. Naturally, one of the most frequent questions we receive is regarding the impact that weather has on our flights, especially since New York is known for its diverse climate and storms. From snow to sunny days, here is how you can expect the weather on the day of your tour to affect your ability to get off the ground.
What Types of Weather Could Cause Problems For a Helicopter Tour?
Every helicopter in our fleet is designed to withstand common weather occurrences such as rain and snow. However, extremely hard rain or heavy snow limits the pilot’s visibility and could require the tour to be delayed until conditions improve. Dense fog and low clouds also pose the same issue, and we find that most people prefer to wait to take a NY on air tour when they can see the city clearly. High winds, hail and lightning are a few more reasons why your tour could be delayed until the weather clears.
Can Pilots Continue to Fly If Bad Weather Hits During the Tour?
Our pilots and control staff are all trained to constantly monitor the weather and they always do a second check right before takeoff. Since our tours typically last about 15 to 20 minutes, it is rare for bad weather to hit anyone by surprise. If lightening is in the vicinity or high gust of wind did arrive out of the blue, our pilots are capable of landing safely if the situation is serious enough for them to make the judgement call to end the tour.
What Happens When a Helicopter Ride is Delayed Due to Weather?
Our goal is to always make sure that our guests have the unique opportunity to see NYC from the sky. For this reason, we try to get everything back on schedule as soon as possible. In most cases, there is only a small delay of a few hours while we wait for the storm to clear, but it could be the following day before we get everything back on track. We will always contact you if there is a problem with your scheduled flight time and we encourage you to reach out to us with any questions after a weather delay.
From flying over the Empire State Building to getting a bird’s eye view of the Statue of Liberty, you can see more of New York City from the air than you could ever see in a full day on the ground. As you plan your NYC helicopter tour, be sure to check the weather, and remember that our pilots always prioritize your safety above all so that your trip is more amazing than you ever dreamed.