Interview with a helicopter pilot on Mallorca

sunbonoo: What made you decide to become a helicopter pilot and how long have you been flying?

I've always wanted to be a pilot since I was a little boy. My mum finally enrolled me in a flying school when I was 12 years old, I think she was more nervous than me! My first flight was a glider. It wasn't until I came to Mallorca that I learnt to fly helicopters. That was in 1999, 18 years ago. Since then, I have flown more than 5,000 hours in helicopters and run a flying school as well as commercial helicopter tours on Mallorca.

sunbonoo: What is the fascination of flying, especially in relation to Mallorca?

Every flight is different. There are amazing areas on Mallorca. The nature is unique and being able to fly to the most remote areas where no one else can go still fascinates me. One moment we are flying along the sandy beaches and the blue sea and the next we are landing at 5000 ft and climbing in the Tramuntana mountains. Mallorca is unbeatable in its versatility. I've flown all over Europe and still think the most beautiful flying region is Mallorca. It never gets boring.

sunbonoo: What was your most impressive moment during a flight?

My first flight alone without an instructor. The moment when I was handed the keys to the helicopter and was entrusted with it. That was a sensational moment that I will never forget. Every pilot remembers that first solo flight. Now I'm a flight instructor myself and I can't describe to you how nerve-wracking flying is for the instructor.

sunbonoo: Which are the most beautiful regions of Mallorca and which would you recommend flying to?

Mallorca has it all. The north has the impressive Tramuntana mountains, which rise directly from the sea to over 4500ft and offer spectacular views. In the north are the bays of Pollenca and Alcudia, dozens of kilometres of sandy beaches with turquoise blue sea. It is also exciting to see the many tourists on the beaches in summer from above. In the east there are the beautiful bays with small beaches between the rocky outcrops and in the south you can experience the unspoilt nature of Mallorca with the beautiful Es Trenc beach, but only out of season. I can recommend simply everything on Mallorca, with a 2.5 hour flight you can practically fly once around the island. Here, for example, you can see a great view from the helicopter over Palma and the Royal Palace.

sunbonoo: Are there any regions over which you are not allowed to fly?

Yes, there are a few areas where flying is prohibited, including Palma, the airport area, the Royal Palace of Marivent and the island of Cabrera. Outside of these no-fly zones, you can fly freely over the Balearic Islands.

sunbonoo: Do you also fly to neighbouring islands such as Ibiza or Menorca? How much does a flight there cost and how long does it take? Where do you land on Ibiza with a helicopter?

Yes, we fly to Menorca and Ibiza, but not with guests, as it is forbidden to fly single-engine aeroplanes or helicopters over water for any length of time. European regulations do not allow this. However, we are allowed to fly to the islands with student pilots and with people who have a pilot's licence. The flight to Ibiza and Menorca takes about 1 hour.

We can land it either at the international airports on the island or at a private landing site (house, hotel or villa), provided there is a suitable landing area.

sunbonoo: Can passengers make route requests?

Yes - we ask before each flight if there is a particular area of Mallorca they would like to see. Many homeowners are very interested in what their villa or flat looks like from above. Otherwise, we are of course happy to recommend a route within the booked time.

sunbonoo: Would you let people with a fear of heights fly with you?

It may sound funny, but I suffer from a fear of heights myself and there are many pilots who are afraid of heights. When I stand on a high cliff and look down, I get nervous. But when flying in a helicopter, fear of heights is not a problem. In a helicopter, it's like being on the ground, as you have an all-round perspective. Apart from that, we don't normally fly higher than 150 metres above the ground. That's really not high enough for a fear of heights.

sunbonoo: What weather conditions would prevent you from flying?

In strong winds in the mountains, there can be turbulence which is uncomfortable during the helicopter flight. We generally don't fly in poor visibility such as fog and thick clouds. Rain is generally not a problem. Of course, we keep an eye on this and inform our guests well in advance if we are unable to fly. We can often escape the weather and choose a route where the weather is better. Mallorca never has bad weather for long - thank goodness.

sunbonoo: Can I also get a pilot's licence with you? What requirements do I need to fulfil? How long does it take before I can fly a helicopter myself?

Yes, it's actually my main job. I run a flying school. There is extensive training, with the possibility of acquiring a European helicopter pilot's licence. With this licence you can fly all over Europe. A good command of English is a basic requirement, as is physical and mental health, which must be certified by a doctor. There is no age restriction. The flight training includes at least 45 flying hours in the helicopter, we also have candidates who complete 100 flying hours before they dare to fly solo. In addition, there are 9 theory lessons and the theory test is multiple choice. The practical exam lasts 2 flying hours. The entire training and the exams take place in Mallorca.

You have to reckon with approx. 5 weeks with 5 days per week training time until you are admitted to the exam. Of course, the period can also be extended with correspondingly fewer days per week, as each student pilot receives their own personal flight instructor.

Incidentally, once you have obtained your pilot's licence, you have it for the rest of your life. There is virtually no expiry date or validity.

So when do you take off? :)