Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Yet another sign U.S. Gulf Coast tourism has recovered from the impact of the 2010 <a href="http://ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2010-07-06/gulf-operators-squeezed-oil-drilling-halt">Deepwater Horizon oil spill</a>: The start of heli-tour operations in Orange Beach, Ala.


The unusually wet summer tourism season has not dampened Oasis Aviation’s enthusiasm for the project, according to company president Steve Olive. Oasis, based in Peachtree, Ga., dispatched one of its five helicopters, a Robinson R44, to Orange Beach to fly individual tourists for $50 to $150 per head, fly whole-aircraft charter, conduct public-sector flights (including fire, search-and-rescue and traffic observation for the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores), and make electronic newsgathering flights for a television station, WKRG, in Mobile, Ala. The R44 has a hand-held stabilizing camera mount and has flown numerous video missions this year covering boat races and a recent bill fishing tournament. It has also flown safety diver missions during boat races and will be used for utility contracts.


Typical tourist flights are up and down the beach and around the barrier islands in the area. Two pilots and a ground-support person, who does bookings, collects fees and helps load passengers, are assigned to the R44, which is flown single-pilot. Olive estimates that the R44 flies 35 hours per month and its missions are split approximately 80 percent retail tourism and the remainder distributed among the various aforementioned customers.


Oasis holds a Part 135 certificate and started operations in June from two helipads; one at the Wharf in Orange Beach and the other near Perdido Pass near the beach. Due to the weather, “The volume has not been quite what we want it to be,” Olive said. “But overall we have been pretty happy. We really didn’t get a chance to market much before the season, but next year we will see that pick up. I’m going to keep that ship down there year-round.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Oasis Brings Heli-Tours Back to Gulf Coast

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

AmyWilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Rotorcraft

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

Rotortrade Partners with Safran, Joins Mentor Program

Preowned helicopter specialist is expanding its capabilities

Bell Logs Sales for 505 and 407GXi Helicopters

Includes the sale of the 100th Bell 505 in Europe

FAA Releases 2023 Helo Air Ambulance Ops Data Summary

Six accidents, two with fatalities, took place during calendar year 2023

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN