Can helicopters fly internationally?

Can you fly international in a helicopter? Absolutely, an around-the-world trip in a helicopter is possible, but it's no small feat. In fact, it's a gargantuan task that has been achieved a few times. The key factor is the helicopter's range which is typically much less than airplanes, meaning more stops for refueling.



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In 1967, two HH-3E helicopters made the first non-stop helicopter flight across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to the 27th Paris Air Show. Igor Sikorsky (right) and his son, Sergei, welcomed the U.S. Air Force crew.

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So yes, a helicopter can fly from the USA to Europe. With just him on board, he had a large extra fuel tank inside the cabin, but still had to land and refuel on the way quite a few times.

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Helicopter rides are significantly riskier than commercial airline flights, but not as dangerous as a trip on a personal plane. And some trips — like personal or private helicopter rides — are far more likely than others to end in a fatal accident.

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It's probably embarrassing to admit it, but if you're like most other pilots, the answer is “Yes.” According to Chaytor Mason, a retired professor of aviation psychology at the University of Southern California, the rate of acrophobia is upwards of 90% in some of the pilot groups he's encountered.

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According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), helicopters crash at a higher rate than airplanes. The crash rate for general aircraft is 7.28 crashes per 100,000 hours of flight time. For helicopters, that number is 9.84 per 100,000 hours.

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Hawaii has strict safety regulations making the state one of the safest places to go on a helicopter tour. Pilots and mechanics are fully certified in their respective fields and well trained. Helicopter tours are popular in Hawaii so many companies work together to keep everyone as safe as possible.

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