Leonardo AW139
8 seats · VIP flagshipOur VIP flagship, with the largest cabin in our fleet.
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The short answer
Helicopter charter means hiring a whole helicopter, with its crew, for your own journey. Charter-A Helicopter arranges it anywhere in the UK: you give us the start point, destination, date, times and passenger weights, and we arrange an approved aircraft. Birmingham to London typically takes about 40 to 50 minutes, against around 2 hours 25 by road.
Key facts
- Who we are
- Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd (company 7668809)
- Coverage
- Across the UK, from airfields, heliports and private sites, and on to Europe
- Aircraft
- Twin-engine helicopters only, 5 to 8 passengers depending on type
- Flown by
- Approved air operator certificate holders with type-rated pilots, fully insured
- Phone line
- Open 24 hours
- Arrive
- 10 minutes before departure
- Weather
- If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
Who we are and what we do
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. We are a charter broker with a wide network of helicopters across the UK and Europe, which means we can usually find an aircraft already positioned near your start point. Every helicopter we use is flown by a holder of a UK CAA or EASA approved air operator certificate (AOC), with type-rated pilots and full insurance. You can read more on our about us page.
We are members of the Air Charter Association, our head office is Hangar One at London Redhill Aerodrome, and the phone line is open 24 hours. You ask for a flight; we arrange it and stay with it until you are on the ground at the other end.
What people use us for
Four things make up almost everything we fly. Each has its own page, written for the person who actually books it.
- Business. Meetings, site visits, board days and roadshows where the helicopter replaces a long day on the motorway. See business helicopter charter and same-day business trips.
- Events. Race days, football, golf, polo, motorsport and corporate hospitality, landing near the venue where permission allows. Start with our corporate days out hub.
- Shooting. Getting a party and their kit to an estate for a shoot day, lawfully and on time. See shooting by helicopter.
- Secure transport. Point-to-point movement for people looked after by a personal security team, planned around the team's own procedures. See secure helicopter transport.
We also arrange airport transfers by helicopter for travellers connecting to jets and airliners.
How booking works in three steps
- Tell us the journey. Use the quote form or call us. We need the date, the times you want to be in each place, where from and where to, how many passengers, their approximate weights and any luggage.
- We come back with the aircraft. We check which helicopters are positioned near you, which can land where you want, and the real flying time. You get one answer with the aircraft type, times and total price, not a menu of guesses. For general price guidance you can also look at the helicopter hire price guides.
- Fly. Arrive 10 minutes before departure with photo ID. We send final details beforehand and our team is on the line during the flight day.
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
How much time a helicopter saves
A helicopter flies in a straight line, between points that suit you, and does not queue. The figures below are typical block times from our own route data, set against free-flowing road time, which is a minimum: real roads are usually slower.
- Birmingham to London: about 40 to 50 minutes by helicopter, around 2 hours 25 by road.
- Manchester to London: about 60 to 75 minutes, around 4 hours 10 by road.
- Leeds to London: about 70 to 85 minutes, around 4 hours 15 by road.
- Bristol to Birmingham: about 35 to 45 minutes, around 2 hours 10 by road.
See the full list on our UK helicopter routes page, or read the wider comparison in helicopter versus car journey times.
The fleet in brief
The right helicopter depends on the party and the landing site. Our fleet is exactly five twin-engine aircraft. The Leonardo AW139 carries up to 8 passengers; the Airbus H145 D3 carries up to 8; the Agusta 109 Grand carries up to 6; the Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel carries up to 5; and for the Sikorsky S-76 seats depend on the layout, so ask us. We do not offer single-engine charter. Details are on our helicopter fleet page.
Where we fly from
We fly from licensed airports, aerodromes, heliports and, subject to landing permission and site suitability, private sites such as estates and country houses. Our library of UK sites, with hours, customs arrangements and notes, is on the UK heliports and airfields directory, and our regional guide starts at helicopter charter UK.
Popular city pages include Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle and Cardiff.
Flying in and out of central London
Central London flights use the London Heliport at Battersea, and those are run by our sister service, Battersea Helicopter. If your journey starts or ends at Battersea, go to Battersea Helicopter. If you are coming into London from another UK city, or going the other way, we arrange it here: see London helicopter transfers.
Latest guides
Our helicopter charter news section explains how helicopter charter works in the UK, how to choose an aircraft, and how landing sites and safety regulation work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I charter a helicopter in the UK?
Send us the date, times, start point, destination, passenger numbers and approximate weights through the quote form, or call us; the line is open 24 hours. We check the aircraft available near you and return with the aircraft type, times and total price.
How far ahead should I book?
As early as you can, because aircraft near you may already be committed, and big event days fill first. We do arrange short-notice flights where an aircraft and crew are available, so call us even if the date is close.
Who flies the helicopter?
Every flight is operated by a holder of a UK CAA or EASA approved air operator certificate, with type-rated pilots and full insurance. Charter-A arranges the flight and looks after you throughout.
Can the helicopter land at my office, house or venue?
Sometimes. Landing at private sites, hotels, estates and venues is subject to landing permission and site suitability, and we check both before we quote. Where it is not possible we propose the nearest suitable airfield or helipad.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Safety decisions are made by the pilot. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. We watch the forecast ahead of your flight and talk to you early if it looks marginal.
How much luggage can I bring?
It depends on the aircraft. Soft bags are best because holds are small, and we need approximate weights for people and luggage when we plan the flight.
Do you fly from London?
Flights from the London Heliport at Battersea are run by Battersea Helicopter. We arrange helicopter charter across the rest of the UK and to and from London from other cities.
