Thunder Aviation FAQ's - Want to know how much it costs to charter a helicopter?

Where does Thunder fly from & to?

We commonly operate from private landing sites, helipads, airfields and airports on our charters. We fly within the UK and have the ability to fly to parts of Europe and beyond.

If you’d like us to assess the suitability of a private landing site, firstly ensure you have permission from the landowner, and then get in touch for a quote using What3Words to show us the site you have in mind.

How much does UK Helicopter charter cost?

Thunder helicopter charter rates start at £2,000 per hour for UK helicopter flights. Miniumum of 1 hour. This allows up to 7 passengers to fly on a private charter to destinations of your choice, flown by military and ex military pilots on state-of-the-art Agusta 2020 helicopters. See the price guide for further information

How many people can fly in the Helicopters?

The aircraft has capacity to seat up to 7 passengers.

What are Empty Leg Flights?

‘Empty leg’ flights arise as a result of a charter program containing multiple flights. They are also known as ‘positioning’ flights, and occur when an aircraft is flying ‘empty’ from one airport to another, in order to be ready for their next flight. This presents an opportunity to get on board as the aircraft flys this route, and passengers can often benefit from a substantially reduced charter rate.

Browse our list of empty legs and contact us to book the entire aircraft.

‍

What are the benefits of using Empty Legs

· You can book last minute.

· You can experience a range of aircraft and cabin sizes.

· You can book jets and helicopters at heavily discounted rates.

· You can access airports and destinations not serviced by standard commercial airlines.

· Experience the comfort and unrivalled service that chartering an aircraft can offer.

‍

What are the risks of Empty Legs?

· Your empty leg may be on a fixed schedule dictating the time and place.

· Your empty leg may be cancelled short notice if there is a change in schedule.

· You may have to make alternative travel arrangements.

‍

Can I book by the seat?

Currently we offer charter flights. e.g 1 person or entity charters the entire flight privately.

A charter can be for 1 to 7 persons. For information about booking please get in touch.

Can i change the route of my Empty Leg?

Utilising an aircraft heading in the right direction ‘empty’ can present an opportunity to get a reduce price on the routing you desire. Please contact the team as sometimes it is possible to amend the route at an additional cost, reviewed on a flight-by-flight basis.

Can we take luggage with us?

Yes – each aircraft has a luggage hold which can fit multiple suitcases – get in touch to discuss particulars as available weight will depend on the number of passengers and length of journey

How big does an area have to be to land?

As a general rule to go by we need a clear area the size of a football field.

I'd like to book. What's next?

Firstly make an enquiry by the BOOK or CONTACT forms or WhatsApp us. Our in-house sales team will then look after your request. If it is your first time flying by Helicopter or private jet we are on hand to guide you through the process.

At the point of booking, we will require a few details about you for the contract and invoice. Following on from that, we will need the full names of all passengers, as well as their weights and estimated amounts of luggage.

Can we fly with pets?

Yes - for any animals over 8kgs, we require a risk assessment so will ask a few questions about your pet.

Sustainability & Carbon Offseting

Thunder Aviation work in partnership with THG / ECO

For every charter flown by Thunder, THG Eco facilitate the purchase of carbon credits to offset the carbon emitted from each flight. The carbon credits sourced through THG Eco are obtained from the highest quality Carbon Credit Standards with robust audit requirements, accessing projects on a global scale. THG Eco execute the carbon retirement on behalf of Thunder to monitor when and where those credits are used for Thunder’s offsetting purposes.

For further information on Thunder and how we off-set our flying, please get in touch.

What Helicopter aircradft do you have on fleet?

Thunder Aviation comprises of 4 privately owned Agusta helicopters (the largest private fleet in the UK) all produced in 2020. For further details see the 'Fleet' section. If you would like further details on each of our aircraft please get in touch and we will be happy to provide additional information.

Helicopter v Jets?

Helicopters can often offer a more direct ‘door to door’ option than a private jet, however as a general rule of thumb anything beyond a London – Paris begins to be more cost effective and time efficient in a jet. We’d be delighted to provide multiple options and advise on a case by case basis.

What happens if the weather is poor on the day of flight?

If the weather is forecast to be below minima, our operations team and crew will be in touch the day before to discuss contingency plans with you. If we cannot fly, we will action a full refund minus any incurred costs (such as replacement ground transport to get you to your destination).

Payment Terms

We require cleared funds prior to departure. At the point of booking, you will be issued with a proforma invoice for payment. First time Thunder customers are required to settle this invoice to fully confirm the booking.

Cancellation Terms

Thunder Helicopter Fleet

- Over 7 days = 10%
- 7 days to 48hrs = 25%
- Less than 48 hours = 50%
(% = amount of charter total payable upon cancellation)

Private Jet
Case by case basis, these will be made clear at the point of booking.

‍

FAQ

Ready for your next adventure?

Ready for your
next adventure?