Helicopter passenger weight and luggage explained

Key points

• Every helicopter has a maximum take-off weight. Passengers, bags, crew and fuel together must stay under it.
• Weight also has to be positioned correctly, which is known as balance, or centre of gravity.
• More weight on board means less fuel for the same limit, so less range or less margin.
• We ask for actual weights; guessing low can force a change of aircraft or a fuel stop on the day.
• Weights are treated as private. They are used for planning and nothing else.

Why do you need to know my weight?

Helicopter passenger weight matters because a helicopter can only lift a fixed load, and the pilot must be able to show the aircraft is within it before departure. The same is true of every aircraft. An airline works with average figures spread across a hundred passengers; with a party of four to eight the average hides too much, so we use actual numbers.

It is a safety and planning matter, in the same way that a car has a maximum load. Telling us a realistic figure is the most helpful thing you can do. We never comment on or share it, and the pilot works with a total rather than a list of names where possible.

What is weight and balance?

Weight and balance are two checks. The first is the total: take-off weight must not exceed the aircraft's limit. The second is where the weight sits. Every helicopter has a permitted range for its centre of gravity, and a very front-heavy or tail-heavy load can leave the pilot with less control.

The pilot calculates both before flight, using the aircraft's own data. That is why seating matters: the pilot may ask passengers to sit in particular seats to balance the load, and the baggage compartment may be loaded in a set order. This is routine, and it is the reason a heavy hard case may be refused while two soft bags are fine.

How does weight affect range and fuel?

Fuel is weight too. For a given take-off limit, extra passengers or luggage leave less room for fuel, and less fuel means shorter range or smaller reserves. Pilots must always carry enough fuel for the journey plus legal reserves, so the answer to "can we add one more bag?" can be no on a long leg and yes on a short one.

This is also why the route matters. A 30-minute hop between two airfields leaves plenty of fuel margin. A long leg such as London to Edinburgh, at roughly two hours and a half, may need a stop or a larger aircraft if the party is heavy. The routes index shows typical times, and our guide on choosing the right helicopter explains how seats and range interact.

How much luggage can I take?

It depends on the aircraft, the weight of the passengers and the length of the flight. As a guide, the larger twin-engine helicopters, such as the Leonardo AW139 and the Airbus H145 D3, carry the most; the AS355 Twin Squirrel has good room for bags relative to its five seats.

Soft bags matter more than the number of them. A helicopter hold is a fixed shape, and a soft bag can be squeezed into it where a rigid suitcase cannot. If you plan to bring golf clubs, a gun slip for shooting, camera equipment or a pet carrier, tell us when you request a quote. Shooting trips follow their own rules, which our shooting by helicopter page explains.

The aircraft differ in cabin and hold, so see our five aircraft compared to match the load to the helicopter.

How should I pack for a helicopter?

• Use soft bags or holdalls and avoid rigid suitcases with wheels.
• Weigh your bags at home so the figure you give us is right.
• Keep valuables, a laptop and paperwork in a small bag you can hold.
• Do not pack anything you would not be allowed to carry on a normal flight; we will tell you if there are limits.
• Tell us about sports kit, instruments and oversize items in advance.

If you are travelling on a day when you may need to change plans, such as a car if the weather prevents flying, our sister service Executive Global Travel can carry bags that a helicopter could not.

Shooting parties carry heavier and more regulated kit than most, so see our shooting season by helicopter planning guide for what we need to know in advance.

Do children and pets count?

Yes. Everyone on board counts toward the total, including children, infants who sit on a lap where permitted, and pets travelling in the cabin. Give us each child's weight, and for a pet the weight of the animal plus its carrier. If you are bringing a dog, our sister site Pet Friendly Flights explains the practicalities, and our article on flying with pets by helicopter covers the helicopter side.

Crew weight is added by us, so you never need to include the pilot. If you plan to carry heavy items such as sports equipment, say how much it weighs rather than how big it is.

What happens if the weights change?

If a passenger changes, or the luggage grows, tell us as early as you can. Small changes usually cost nothing. Bigger changes may need a larger helicopter or a revised fuel plan, which we confirm before the day. Our quote checklist lists the eight details we need, and weights are on it.