Everything you might ask before you fly.

SkyMatch Group is the independent global platform for helicopter procurement and mission coordination. We represent the client — finding, comparing, negotiating and arranging independent operators worldwide. We are not an operator, not tied to any fleet, and always free for travellers.

No. SkyMatch is your aviation concierge. We work with an independent global network of licensed helicopter operators with active AOC certificates and current insurance — you deal exclusively with our team.

Yes. There is no fee for the concierge service. You submit your mission, we handle the search and negotiation, and you receive a single transparent proposal — you only ever pay the operator's price.

A single operator can only offer the aircraft it owns and the corridors it covers. One SkyMatch request reaches multiple independent operators, so you see genuine alternatives on aircraft, timing and price — and you keep coverage when your itinerary crosses borders.

Our coordinators work in 16 languages including English, Arabic, Hebrew, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Mandarin and Japanese — quote, contract and in-flight support in your own language.

Our operator network spans Europe, the Mediterranean, the Gulf, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Coverage density varies by region — for remote or emerging markets we confirm feasibility before quoting rather than promising a lift we cannot source.

Most missions get a curated proposal as quickly as possible, subject to availability during business hours, and within a few hours for complex multi-leg or remote requests. Urgent same-day flights are flagged immediately to our duty concierge.

Your brief is reviewed, operators that fly your corridor are contacted, and the responses are compared on aircraft suitability, crew, timing and total cost. You then receive a short set of curated options — nothing is booked until you approve.

Departure and arrival points, date and preferred timing, passenger count, luggage, and anything unusual — medical equipment, pets, cameras, cargo or security requirements. Everything else we can work out with you.

No. You can send a request without registering. An optional Mission Center account lets you track progress, store documents and reuse preferences on future flights.

For city and island transfers, 24–72 hours is usually comfortable. Peak season Mediterranean weekends, event weeks and heavy-lift or permit-dependent missions are better planned two to six weeks out.

Yes. Same-day, next-flight-out and last-minute missions are a specialty. We tap live empty-leg inventory and on-call operators worldwide, and prioritise urgent requests around the clock.

Usually yes. Timing changes, extra legs and passenger changes are common — we re-coordinate with the operator and confirm any cost difference in writing before it applies.

Yes. Dedicated multi-day hire keeps the same aircraft and crew on standby at your destination, which is often the most efficient structure for roadshows, film schedules and island-hopping.

Absolutely. If you have a preferred model we will search for it first, and tell you honestly when a different airframe would serve the mission better or land closer to your destination.

Pricing reflects aircraft type, route distance, repositioning, crew duty, airport and handling fees, fuel, insurance and VAT where applicable. You receive one transparent all-in price per option — no hidden markups on the customer side.

If the nearest suitable helicopter is based away from your departure point, the flight to reach you is chargeable. Choosing a departure point closer to an operator's base — or catching an empty leg — often reduces cost substantially.

No. Landing, handling, crew and taxes are itemised in the proposal. If something can only be confirmed later — for example a discretionary helipad fee — we say so up front rather than surprising you on the invoice.

Bank transfer (SEPA/SWIFT), major credit cards and corporate accounts. For high-value missions we can arrange escrow or staged payments. All transactions are processed against a signed charter agreement.

Yes. Corporate invoicing, purchase-order references, VAT documentation and procurement-friendly paperwork are standard for our business and industrial clients.

Yes. Companies flying regularly can work on an account with agreed response times, standing aircraft preferences and consolidated monthly billing.

Most operators require payment or a deposit before departure. The exact schedule is set by the operator's charter agreement and shown to you before you confirm.

From light singles (R44, R66, H125, H130) through light and medium twins (Bell 429, AW109, H145) to heavy executive and offshore types (AW139, S-76, H175). We match the airframe to the mission rather than upselling cabin size.

Light singles typically carry 4–6 passengers, light twins 6–8, and medium twins 8–15 depending on configuration. Hot or high-altitude conditions can reduce the practical payload.

Plan by weight, not just bags: 10–20 kg per passenger is a realistic guide for light aircraft, more in medium twins with a dedicated hold. Skis, golf bags, dive gear and camera cases should be declared at quote stage so we size the aircraft correctly.

Singles are efficient and excellent for scenic, alpine and short coastal legs. Twins add engine-out performance, IFR capability and are often required for over-water, night and offshore flying, and by many corporate travel policies.

Most charter helicopters plan 2 to 3.5 hours of endurance, roughly 400–800 km depending on type, payload and reserves. Longer missions are flown with planned fuel stops built into the schedule.

Many executive-configured cabins — AW139, H145, Bell 429 and similar — offer onboard WiFi and 230V power. Availability varies by individual tail, so we confirm it at quote stage.

Every operator in our network holds a valid Air Operator Certificate (AOC), current hull and passenger liability insurance, and is reviewed against our internal checks covering safety record, fleet age and crew experience.

We check the AOC and its scope, insurance certificates and limits, aircraft registration, maintenance arrangement and pilot qualification for the mission type — and we re-check documents before each flight rather than once at sign-up.

Commercially licensed pilots employed or contracted by the operator, current on type and on the mission profile — night, IFR, offshore, hoist or external load as required by the flight.

The operator's pilot-in-command makes the final call. Weather, NOTAMs and route risk are reviewed before departure — if conditions are unsafe the flight is re-timed, rerouted or cancelled under the charter terms. Safety decisions are never commercial decisions.

Many can, subject to aircraft equipment, crew qualification, lighting at the landing site and local rules. Night operations usually require a twin and a licensed, lit landing point.

Cancellation terms follow each operator's charter agreement and depend on aircraft type and notice given. We surface the exact terms before you confirm, and will always try to rebook or substitute to protect your deposit.

Passenger details are shared with operators only to the extent required to quote and operate the flight, and never published. Non-disclosure arrangements can be put in place for sensitive corporate, government or private travel.

Often, but never automatically. Landing away from a licensed helipad depends on local regulation, site survey, landowner permission and operator approval. We check feasibility before it appears in your itinerary — we do not promise landings we cannot obtain.

Yes — airport-to-city, airport-to-resort and inter-airport connections are among our most common missions, with FBO access, fast-track and ground transfer coordinated on both ends.

Yes. Multi-city executive itineraries, site visits and investor roadshows are planned as a single mission with one coordinator, consolidated documentation and one invoice.

Yes. We coordinate official delegations, inspection flights and institutional missions with appropriate operators, documentation and procurement paperwork.

Yes. Air-ambulance and inter-hospital transfers, organ transport and urgent medical logistics are coordinated with HEMS-capable operators and medical crews where the mission requires them.

Yes. Camera-ship helicopters with gyro-stabilised mounts, doors-off configuration, film-rated pilots and low-level or congested-area permits are sourced for production work.

Yes. Site access, crew rotation, aerial inspection, survey and external-load work are coordinated with utility and heavy-lift operators, with the rigging and approvals that go with them.

Yes. Yacht-to-shore, island-hopping and marina transfers are core Mediterranean and Gulf missions, subject to deck certification or a suitable shoreside landing point.

Yes — arrivals, guest shuttles and departures are planned around the schedule, with noise, permission and timing checked with the venue in advance.

Yes. Grand Prix weekends, regattas, tournaments and major festivals usually operate temporary helipads with slot allocation — these should be requested early because slots close before the event.

Frequently yes. Pet-friendly charter depends on operator policy, cabin size and destination import rules. Tell us species, weight and carrier type at request stage and we will source an operator that accepts them.

Yes. Empty legs are repositioning flights already scheduled by an operator, often priced well below standard charter. Subscribe to alerts and we will notify you when one matches your route and dates.

They are opportunistic — the original booking drives the schedule, so times can shift or the flight can disappear. They suit flexible travellers; for fixed commitments, book a dedicated charter.

Yes. Cross-border missions require overflight and landing permissions, customs and immigration arrangements and sometimes additional crew documentation — we handle that coordination as part of the mission.

Plan on roughly 200–280 km/h cruise plus 10–15 minutes of ground time each end. Most transfers that take two to four hours by road are 20–45 minutes by air.

Yes. Chauffeured ground transfers, VIP terminal and FBO access, customs fast-track, in-flight catering and special requests are coordinated as part of the concierge service.

Tell us in advance. Aircraft with wider doors, step assistance and cabin space can be selected, and ground handling arranged at both ends so boarding is comfortable and unhurried.