Readers here may or may not know that I know a thing or two about helicopters – I have an airline transport helicopter rating with hundreds of hours of instruction given, charters flown and cross-country ferry flights. I have had a mishap or two along the way, but I’m still here to blog about it.
I can’t comment about the crash of the Island Express helicopter on Catalina Island other than to observe that the pilot had a lot of experience and that the weather conditions were certainly less than optimal. The FAA and NTSB state that the investigation might take up to a year to complete. We offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims in this terrible accident.
We have been passengers several times on Island Express – we were married in Avalon, and often go back, especially for our anniversary.
We’re going again this year as well and we’re planning to fly over on Island Express helicopters. We believe that it is a safe and enjoyable way to cross the channel.
So, with that in mind, click on the video to the right and see for yourself just how nice an adventure you have when taking the helicopter to the Island.
Do you remember your pilots’ name? When was this taken? It looks one of my best friends who flew with Island Express two years ago.
Sorry, but I don’t think he introduced himself. He was a very good pilot – a nice, personable young man who spoke to us when he asked if he could arrange a ride from the heliport to town.
I took this video in September, 2006. It may well have been your friend that was our pilot.
Thanks for stopping by the blog, Jeanne.
I have known the owners of Island Express for 44 years. I have flown on their Helicopters for the past 20 years and will continue to do so. Their aircraft, facilities, maintenance and personnel are top notch. Their pilots are highly experienced in type and well trained. Looking at their past safety record, I find that no other commercial helicopter operator, that I am familiar with, has a better safety record. Their aircraft and pilots are equipped to fly in poor weather conditions but they don’t. Their flight briefings, ramp procedures, flight following are among the best in the business. What happened is out of the ordinary, and can occur to any operation. and does around the world, whether in an aircraft, a ship, a car or a train. As a former Navy combat helicopter pilot, give me a helicopter to fly in any day, it’s safer then traveling by car or train in my opinion. Island Express is a great operation, and one I hope will continue to thrive.
Thanks for that insight into the Island Express operations, Tom. Your comments validate our previous observations of their professional and courteous services.
We’re going to book passage on Island Express again this year when we spend our wedding anniversary on The Island.
I just booked a flight with IEH for our 10th wedding anniversary next month. We’re looking forward to it
Once again, we have taken Island Express to Avalon. It’s always a nice quick way to get to the island and start having fun.