Kokatahi Helicopters has been operating since 1986 and has an excellent safety record with no accidents involving machines or people. Below is a list of ten safety tips and rules of etiquette that should help anyone feel like a pro for that remarkable but frightening first heli-trip.

Safety When Flying In Heli-Style By: Evan J. Stafford
Photographer: Tim Hawkins & Dave Frankel

Mr. Lucky. Bluebird skies, the sun is shinning, and you’re lying across the cockpit of your kayak with your crew by the sparkling blue placid water in the lowlands of some exotic river. The sound of distant rotors finally reaches your ears. You linger with your head laid back for a couple of extra moments. You let the sound grow louder, making sure that it is not just another audio hallucination. You raise your head, wink at your closest partner and there she is. Off in the distance. Curling in a graceful arc directly at you. You raise a hand to wave because it seems appropriate but you hear the snickering of your bros and you know you just looked like the parade queen. Except, your attire is made up of mostly wretched polypro that has never seen the inside of a washing machine. You are however wearing a skirt.

As your ride into the inaccessible wilderness comes in for a soft landing you realize that there must be some sort of procedure for the loading of the boats and the rest of the gear, for the approach to the cockpit and for the exit and unloading at the top. You freeze. Never fear. You’ll be prepared if you read on.

Reproduced from http://coloradokayaking.com/