2. When is the best time to do the helicopter on the Big Island of Hawaii?

3. If it is raining, do you fly tours?

4. What type of helicopter do you fly for your helicopter tours of Hawaii?

5. Does everyone have a window seat in your helicopter?

6. If there is only one activity that I can afford to do, what would you recommend?

7. What is your safety record and how many years have you been in business in Hawaii?

8. What is a Part 135 Air Carrier?

9. What kind of maintenance is provided compared to other operators?

10. Will I get motion sickness in the helicopter?

11. What are your pilots‚ experiences and how long have they been flying in Hawaii?

12. How low can you fly on Kauai and The Big Island of Hawaii.

13. It appears only one company on Kauai offers the Mega Windows, is this true?

14. Do you fly with the doors removed?

1. When is the best time to do the helicopter on Kauai?

Answer: That depends on the passenger’s objective. Early morning on Kuaai has certain highlights that enhance the view of the island (westerly flying direction) including rainbows if there is rain. The late afternoon has certain highlights that enhance the remaining parts of the island (easterly flying direction) and also including rainbows if there is rain. From 10 AM though 3 PM, the upper lighting is more neutral with minimal sun glare in most directions. Truth be known, a helicopter tour of Kauai is a breath-taking experience at all times of day, with different directions on the island being highlighted at different times of day.

2. When is the best time to do the helicopter on the Big Island of Hawaii?

Answer: There is no particular time of that is better than another on the Big Island. The lava reds appear more intense with an overcast day. However, because the Big Island is such a large area, there are dramatic views at all times of the day.

3. If it is raining, do you fly tours?

Answer: Rain varies from one side of the island of Kauai to the other. On an average, the North Shore has about 100 inches of rain per year, Hanalei Valley has about 200 inches, Mt. Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth has about 480 inches and the West Side has about 10 inches. You can see there is quite a variation to annual rainfall. There are always passing rain showers throughout the island. In fact, rain enhances the tour with more waterfalls and greater chances of rainbows. It is extremely rare that the island is completely „socked-in‰ with rain and if it is, we will either re-schedule the flight or credit the passenger's account. Hilo is the wettest city in America and constantly has passing rain showers.

4. What type of helicopter do you fly for your helicopter tours of Hawaii?

Answer: The 6 passenger ASTAR B2 helicopter with all forward facing seats. All the 4 passenger helicopters have some form of physical obstruction blocking either the passenger's forward or opposite side views or both.

5. Does everyone have a window seat in your helicopter?

Answer: There is only one type of helicopter that has all windows seats but it also has physical obstructions for forward and opposite side viewing. It is very small, cramped and with no air-conditioning.

6. If there is only one activity that I can afford to do, what would you recommend?

Answer: The helicopter provides the best overall viewing of the whole island of Kauai. Customers have remarked that it was the best thing they have ever done in their life.

7. What is your safety record and how many years have you been in business in Hawaii?

Answer: We have been in business for 18 years and never had an accident conducting sightseeing tours as a Part 135 Air Carrier. This company maintains the highest of safety standards. For more information concerning aviations safety records of any helicopter company, follow this link to the Federal Aviation Administration website.

8. What is a Part 135 Air Carrier?

Answer: It is the regulation process with constant FAA oversight inspections. Part 135 Air Carriers are not airlines but are certified for small aircraft operations. Part 121 are airlines and are certified for large aircraft operations. There are no helicopter operators conducting sightseeing tours in the State of Hawaii who are not certified as a Part 135 Air Carrier.

9. What kind of maintenance is provided compared to other operators?

Answer: Safari has 3 full time A&P mechanics for 2 helicopters on Kauai. Our Director of Maintenance had previously worked as DOM for an Authorized Eurocopter Service Center for more than 20 years. All of our mechanics are factory trained.

10. Will I get motion sickness in the helicopter?

Answer: That depends upon each person and their tendency toward motion sickness. We have had customers that never get motion sickness but did and we have had customers that always get motion sickness and didn‚t. We have discovered that if someone eats pineapple prior to the flight, there is more of a tendency to get motion sickness. We strongly recommend not eating pineapple prior to any flight. If one is not sure, then we recommend oral medications or motion sickness wrist bands. Air-conditioned helicopters really help to reduce the tendency towards motion sickness.

11. What are your pilots‚ experiences and how long have they been flying in Hawaii?

Answer: Most of our pilots have been flying in Hawaii for several years. Our pilots all have instrument ratings and extensive experiences in all forms of flights throughout the world. In addition, all of our full time pilots have an Airline Transport Rating, the highest credentials issued by the FAA and a requirement for a Pilot-In-Command for Part 121 airline pilots.

12. How low can you fly on Kauai and The Big Island of Hawaii.

Answer: Under new FAA Regulations (SAFAR 71), all operators are required to fly at 1,500‚ above the ground unless they have deviation authority to fly at a lower altitude. Safari has deviation authority to fly at the lowest altitude allowed at 500‚ above the ground at site specific locations, otherwise we legally can transition at 1,000‚ to/from the various site seeing locations. No company has any lower authorization than those just stated. If a company gives the impression that they are the only company that can fly lower or that they can fly throughout the islands at a lower altitude, they are not telling the truth. If you have any questions about who can and cannot fly lower, please contact the Honolulu FAA office at 808 837-8399.

13. It appears only one company on Kauai offers the Mega Windows, is this true?

Answer: Not true. Safari has the only ASTAR B2 fleet with the “Mega Windows” on Kauai. There are two other companies with the “Mega Windows” but they mix their fleet between the ASTAR B & B2 models. Safari was the innovator of the ASTAR Skylight overhead windows and the pilot left hand side seating, contrary to other company's claims.

14. Do you fly with the doors removed?

Answer: That is a big NO! We do not think it is safe to fly non-industry passengers with the doors off. In addition, we do not believe operators who fly with the doors off offer safety harnesses for their passengers. This kind of flight is just too risky.