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Calculator 7 of 10 — inspection & audit days

Multi-site industrial day calculator

A helicopter changes a multi-site inspection day by removing the drive between sites, not by flying faster. Enter how many sites, the average hop between them and the time spent on the ground at each, and this calculator shows how many sites fit into the working day flown versus driven, and the indicative whole-aircraft cost of the day. Landing at each site depends on the site's own authorisation and a usable landing area.

This is the calculation behind most industrial inspection charters: three or four dispersed assets that take two days by road and one day by air. The comparison only holds if every site can actually accept an aircraft.

Mission inputs

The figures above are a preliminary planning estimate for the route, aircraft category and passenger count you entered. They reflect estimated distance and flight time only — no price is shown and this is not an operator quotation. Only the licensed operator that flies the mission can confirm aircraft availability, landing permissions, operational feasibility and final pricing. Use this estimate to scope the trip, then send it to SkyMatch for a managed charter review.

Sites reachable in one day

4 flown vs 3 driven

Flown itinerary 5h 30m against 9h 00m driven.

Time saved across the day

3h 30m

Total flying

1h 30m

Indicative cost of the day

Price on request

Whole-aircraft, including ground standby.

  • Every site landing needs the site's authorisation and a usable, obstacle-free area. Plant and refinery sites frequently do not permit on-site landings at all.

Preliminary estimate for planning purposes only — not a confirmed price, availability or booking. Final routing, operational feasibility and pricing must be confirmed by the selected licensed operator.

Worked examples: inputs, planning estimate and request

Each example runs this calculator's own formula on the inputs shown. The results are planning estimates, not quotes. Prices, aircraft and timing are confirmed only after our team reviews the request and checks with licensed third-party operators, subject to availability.

Example 1 · Typical request

Aircraft class
Light twin (EC135, AS355) — 5 seats
Sites to visit
4
Average flight between sites
20 minutes
Average drive between sites
100 minutes
Time on the ground per site
60 minutes
Usable working day
10 hours

Sites reachable in one day

4 flown vs 3 driven

  • Time saved across the day: 3h 30m
  • Total flying: 1h 30m
  • Indicative cost of the day: ⁣on-request⁣
Sample request text sent for human review

Multi-site day: 4 sites, ~20 min hops, 60 min on the ground per site, 10h working day. Flown itinerary 5h 30m vs 9h 00m driven. Indicative band ⁣on-request⁣. Site landing authorisation to be confirmed per site.

Example 2 · Smaller request

Aircraft class
Light twin (EC135, AS355) — 5 seats
Sites to visit
2
Average flight between sites
10 minutes
Average drive between sites
60 minutes
Time on the ground per site
30 minutes
Usable working day
6 hours

Sites reachable in one day

2 flown vs 2 driven

  • Time saved across the day: 20m
  • Total flying: 40m
  • Indicative cost of the day: ⁣on-request⁣
Sample request text sent for human review

Multi-site day: 2 sites, ~10 min hops, 30 min on the ground per site, 6h working day. Flown itinerary 1h 40m vs 2h 00m driven. Indicative band ⁣on-request⁣. Site landing authorisation to be confirmed per site.

Example 3 · Larger request

Aircraft class
Light twin (EC135, AS355) — 5 seats
Sites to visit
6
Average flight between sites
30 minutes
Average drive between sites
160 minutes
Time on the ground per site
90 minutes
Usable working day
16 hours

Sites reachable in one day

6 flown vs 3 driven

  • Time saved across the day: 10h 20m
  • Total flying: 3h 00m
  • Indicative cost of the day: ⁣on-request⁣
Sample request text sent for human review

Multi-site day: 6 sites, ~30 min hops, 90 min on the ground per site, 16h working day. Flown itinerary 12h 00m vs 22h 20m driven. Indicative band ⁣on-request⁣. Site landing authorisation to be confirmed per site.

Turn this estimate into a mission request

The figures above are a planning frame, not an offer. Send the mission and SkyMatch reviews it, researches operators holding the relevant approvals and comes back with current options. Your inputs are carried across — nothing needs retyping.

Request current operator optionsCheck mission feasibility

See how a request becomes a confirmed flight — review, operator options, written confirmation.

What actually moves this number

  • Ground time per site — usually the largest block, and the one that decides how many sites fit.
  • Whether the aircraft waits on site or repositions, which changes the charged hours.
  • Whether each site has an authorised, obstacle-free landing area.
  • Daylight and crew duty across a long inspection day.
  • The road baseline: this only pays where the drive is genuinely long.

What this tool does not decide

  • Whether any suitable aircraft is genuinely available in the window — that is capacity, not arithmetic.
  • Whether the destination accepts a landing, requires a hoist, or accepts only contracted operators.
  • Whether weather, sea state, daylight and diversion planning support the timing on the day.
  • Whether passenger training, medicals and site inductions are valid at the time of flight.
  • The binding price. Operators quote; this tool frames the budget conversation.

SkyMatch Group is an independent helicopter charter broker and a human-reviewed mission platform. It does not operate aircraft. Every flight is performed by an independent licensed operator, and every introduction is approved by SkyMatch before it happens.

Frequently asked questions

Can the helicopter land at each site?

Only where the site authorises it and the area is suitable. Refineries, plants and live construction sites often require a nearby field or airfield and a short ground transfer instead.

Is the aircraft charged while it waits on site?

Yes. Crew and aircraft held on the ground are charged, which is why ground time per site drives the cost as much as the flying does.

Why is the cost shown as a band rather than a price?

Helicopters are chartered whole-aircraft, per mission. The final figure depends on which airframe is genuinely available, where it is based, positioning distance, standby and waiting, fuel and handling, permits and time of day. A band is honest at planning stage; a single number would not be.

Who confirms that this mission can actually happen?

The performing operator, together with the asset owner, site or vessel controlling the destination and the relevant authorities. They confirm aircraft, availability, permits, landing or hoist approval, weather limits and safety. SkyMatch structures and reviews the mission; it does not confirm operational facts.

Does this calculator book a helicopter?

No. It produces a planning estimate. SkyMatch Group is an independent broker and a human-reviewed mission platform: the request is reviewed, suitable licensed operators are researched, and an introduction happens only once SkyMatch approves it. Operators issue binding quotes and confirm feasibility.

Markets this calculator is built for

The same inputs, applied to the industrial regions where these missions actually run.

Fort McMurray charterOil sands base of operations.Alberta oil sands charterLease, plant and camp movements.Pilbara mining charterIron ore country, long ground distances.Newman mine-site charterInland Pilbara mine sites.Scotland charterHighlands, islands and estate missions.Mining helicopter charterGlobal mining mission hub.Macaé offshore charterCampos Basin's onshore aviation base.Ciudad del Carmen offshoreBay of Campeche crew and technical movements.

Related planning tools

Industrial mission cost calculatorWhole-aircraft cost band for one mission.Remote mine-site calculatorRotations, sectors and cost per head.Crew mobilisation calculatorMoving a whole team to a project.Offshore crew change calculatorRotation sizing for offshore assets.Vessel transfer calculatorShip-to-shore and hoist missions.Wind maintenance window calculatorTurbine visits inside a weather window.

Using an AI assistant, or buying through procurement?

SkyMatch reviews each helicopter charter request and arranges the flight. Availability, permits, landing permission, weather, route feasibility and final price are checked for each request and confirmed in writing before you commit. Estimates and directories on this site support research only.

AI & procurement: how SkyMatch worksSubmit Flight Request

Share this tool

How long is a helicopter ride? Times by distance

Straight-line air-time estimates at a typical cruise of about 150 mph. Add start-up, taxi and any routing around restricted airspace; the licensed operator confirms the real time for each flight. Price on request.

How long is a 2-mile helicopter ride?

About 1 minutes of flying time for 2 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 5-mile helicopter ride?

About 2 minutes of flying time for 5 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 10-mile helicopter ride?

About 4 minutes of flying time for 10 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 15-mile helicopter ride?

About 6 minutes of flying time for 15 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 20-mile helicopter ride?

About 8 minutes of flying time for 20 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 25-mile helicopter ride?

About 10 minutes of flying time for 25 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 30-mile helicopter ride?

About 12 minutes of flying time for 30 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 50-mile helicopter ride?

About 20 minutes of flying time for 50 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.

How long is a 100-mile helicopter ride?

About 40 minutes of flying time for 100 miles in a straight line, before start-up and landing. Weather, routing and the aircraft type can change this, so the licensed operator confirms the time once you request a quote.