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.

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Mark Huber

The international car service Uber, currently running into some road barriers, is launching a limited expansion into per-seat helicopter ride sharing. Uber broke into the market in the metropolitan New York area in 2013 through an alliance with the Blade service and Liberty Helicopters. Recently it has expanded its helicopter offerings to Los Angeles; Melbourne, Australia; and Cape Town, South Africa. Typically, Uber aligns with an established charter operator and offers package ground-air deals involving its car service. Sometimes the deals are heavily promoted during special events, holiday weekends or the summer tourism season, depending on the market.

 


In October, Uber offered Melbourne customers a special deal during the Caulfield Cup horse races in partnership with Air Melbourne. The package included ground transportation in an Uber Mini Cooper to the helipad, a flight to Caulfield and VIP race passes.

 


In Cape Town, customers can choose from heli-tour packages with ground transportation: the “two oceans” package provides a flight along the Atlantic Coast to False Bay and passes over Fish Hoek to Muizenberg; a “full peninsula” route covers the coast from the Cape Peninsula from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope; and specialized tours take in wine lands and shark-cage diving.

 


Over last Labor Day weekend, Uber offered a deal in partnership with Orbic Air for air tours of Los Angeles and Malibu with options for a “unique safari tour of the Malibu Wines property featuring a wine and cheese tasting, safari ride and the opportunity to feed safari animals.”

 


In the Indian cities of Mumbai and Bangalore, Uber teamed with local helicopter providers in a special promotion with Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch for skyline and brunch tours last summer.

 


However, Uber’s most visible season-long service continues to be its alliance with Blade and Liberty Helicopters in New York, ferrying summertime vacationers to the Hamptons on Long Island for a one-way price of about $500 per seat.

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

Uber Expands into Helicopters

Typically, Uber aligns with an established charter operator and offers package ground-air deals involving its car service.

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

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

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Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

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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

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