Helicopter Association International (HAI) member, Helicopter
Seychelles Ltd (HSL) is a privately owned company. Captain
Vic Davies founded it in February 1992 with the goal of providing
helicopter services for the Seychelles tourism industry and to support the
local community. Since its inception, HSL has been involved in augmenting the
marketing of the Seychelles Islands as a tourist destination. The company
operates charter flights, conducts aerial photography and filming, and
facilitates passenger and cargo transfers. In addition to operating scenic
flights, HSL is also involved in construction work, and conducts search and
rescue missions. They are routinely called on to perform medical evacuation
and provide medical transfers for clients to ensure they receive the best
care available.
This is just a short list of the services the company provides. The island
nation of Seychelles is an archipelago of 118 islands spread over 1.3 million
square kilometers in the western Indian Ocean. The Seychelles gained
independence from the UK in 1975. The 82,000 inhabitants live on the three main
islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Most of the other islands remain
uninhabited. Victoria, the capital is located on Mahé, home to nearly
71,000 Seychellois. Mahé is the most developed island and Victoria is the
political and commercial center of the archipelago. The government is a
multi-party democratic Republic. The islands take their name from Vicomte
Moreau de Sechelles, Controller General of Finance in the reign of Louis
XV of France.
St. Anne Island, National Marine Park
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HSL employs the versatility of the helicopter to its maximum potential. Daily
operations involve island hopping to and from the many islands located
in the Seychelles. The company offers shuttle services between Mahé, Praslin,
La Digue and Silhouette on a request basis. Private charters are also available
for clients wishing to have an exclusive service and may be tailored to meet
their every requirement.
Flight over plantation
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Flexibility is a key ingredient in flying helicopter charters in the Seychelles.
The customer may be a corporate executive traveling to a business meeting, a
critically ill patient in need of emergency medical care, or a family enroute
to a leisure travel destination, enjoying day trip excursions such as picnics
and lunch, or taking in a close-up birds-eye-view of one of the many
breathtaking landmarks or points of interest. From time to time, HSL is called
upon to assist with runaway fires and put their bambi bucket to good use in
assisting ground crews in containing and extinguishing occasional fires.
HSL's inter-island flights are their core business and they service all the
granitic islands. The furthest being Bird Island, which is located 60 nm
from the main island, Mahé. One of HSL's most popular services is the scenic flight,
which enables visitors and locals to discover, and take home memories of the
natural unspoiled beauty of the islands.
Petite Anse, North Island
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Scheduled airlines travel on their own schedule, crisscrossing along
hub-and-spoke routes to connect to points of transfer. Scheduled
airline service is often marked by long delays and generally includes the
customary long drive to and from airports. Given the geography and terrain of
the Seychelles, this mode of transport is limited and unrealistic. Flying
by helicopter charter, on the other hand, involves flying where the customer
wants to go. This is a much better fit for an island nation that is spread out
over a wide area of the Indian Ocean.
The Seychellois people are a wonderful cultural and international mix of
African, Arab, Indian, European, and Chinese origins. They speak a common
Creole language. Most people are fluent in English and French. The language of
the judiciary and business is English. Fishing and tourism is the mainstay of
the economy. The currency in use is the Seychelles Rupee SR. The approximate
rate of exchange is five Rupee SR to one U.S. dollar. The islands welcome
those in search of sun and sea, honeymooners, and those who seek pristine
beaches and nature at its unspoiled best. The crystal clear turquoise waters,
powdery beaches, coral reefs, and lush green rainforests, make these islands a
romantic destination. Be advised. The weather is hot all year long. Visitors
should expect to wear liberal amounts of sunscreen, and hats are a necessity
rather than a fashion statement.
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A member since 2004, HSL supports HAI's Platinum Safety Program, which helps to
ensure that they meet the highest standards of safety in their operations.
HSL is proud of its stellar safety record. Flight safety training for HSL
aircrews is a continual process with CRM, flight safety, dunking and survival
courses being held annually. HSL operates as a daylight Visual Flight Rules
helicopter service. Safety is their highest priority. The captain of the
helicopter can elect at anytime to cancel a flight due to safety concerns. All
flights are subject to weather and light conditions at the captain's discretion.
The company reports no accidents since it was founded in 1992. They have a fleet
of four Bell 206 B3 helicopters, which are fully off shore equipped and
maintained by their dynamic engineering team to ensure the safety of their
flight operations. Four highly experienced pilots, ground hostesses, and
helicopter attendants round out their staff.
Frigate birds viewpoint, Aride Island
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There are four Helipads on Mahé and one on St. Anne Island (National Marine
Park). All are linked by helicopter flights in order to facilitate hotel
transfers and to provide a spectacular view of paradise. Tourists explore the
coastline, sample a lunch excursion, tour the picturesque mountains and valleys,
take in the stunning island views, or enjoy a challenging round of heli-golf.
HSL charters can be arranged to suit specific requirements. Shuttle transfers
are offered from Mahé to Praslin or from Praslin to Mahé, from various points
of departure on both Praslin and Mahé.
Helicopter Seychelles Ltd is a small company, which has slowly expanded from
its early beginnings with a staff of four and only one helicopter. HSL
currently employs a staff of 44 and plans to continue expanding its fleet and
services throughout the Seychelles. The company has been an active member of
HAI since 2004 and says it has benefited enormously from the dedicated training
programs as well as the support given by HAI. Captain Rick Dooley,
Managing Director, says, “It is always good to know that experienced operators
are only a call away!” Then Dooley adds, “The aim of the company is to provide
a safe and effective helicopter service to all our clients, while promoting not
only helicopter services but also the country as a whole. We currently support
the Seychelles, Tourism Board in promoting the Seychelles, which involves us
in a number of interesting activities including aerial photography, film support
services, modeling shoots to coverage of Sailing Cups etc.”
Taking in a birds-eye-view of one of the
many breathtaking islands
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Dooley explains, “The Seychelles has a strong environmental policy, the
results of which are evident in the pristine islands to be found throughout the
Seychelles and we have been fortunate enough to be tasked with a number of
conservation flights, which have involved transferring
‘white eye’ birds in order to establish additional
colonies, transfer environmental workers as well as projects involving
spreader bucket work for the eradication of rats.”
As you can see, HSL provides many important services to the residents, visitors,
and to the Seychelles. The company has truly carved out its place in paradise.
It connects the archipelago's many islands, showcasing the young nation's
unspoiled beauty, and assisting the government's efforts to promote strong
environmental policies to protect this pristine and fragile chain of islands
for future generations.
Ground transfer to flight.
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Dooley has a message for HAI members and ROTOR readers, “We would like to
take this opportunity to invite all ROTOR readers to visit our shores, and
sincerely hope that you will allow us to wish you Bon Voyage for an
unforgettable scenic flight to your destination!!”
Martin J. Pociask is Director of
Communications for HAI.
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