Balearic Helicopters

16/10/2026

Back in Genoa, Italy, delivering superyacht helideck training.

Let’s talk about that small little “t” marked on the helideck.

What does it mean?
If the deck is marked 3.0t, it indicates a structural mass limit of 3,000 kg for the helicopter, subject to the deck’s other applicable limitations. If your helicopter is above that limit, you cannot simply land because the deck looks big enough or appears structurally substantial.

But surely the deck is built to take more than that?

Here’s where it gets interesting.
Helideck structural design must account for the dynamic loads imposed by a landing, not just the static weight of a helicopter sitting on the deck, this includes an impact load of 1.5 times the helicopter’s maximum take-off mass for a heavy landing, and 2.5 times for an emergency landing.

Why does it matter?
Because the deck’s structural capacity, the helicopter’s dimensions, operational restrictions and the vessel’s specific limitations all need to be understood before an operation takes place.

And no, “it looks strong enough” is not an engineering assessment!

Operating a helicopter from a superyacht is a specialist skill.

Understanding the helideck is just one part of the job. Vessel-specific limitations, approach and departure profiles, obstructions, wind effects and coordination with the crew all matter.

We deliver professional superyacht helicopter and helideck training, tailored to the vessel, the operation and the people involved.

If you own a yacht, manage a vessel, operate a helicopter or are responsible for onboard aviation safety, don't leave this to guesswork.

Make your next helideck operation a planned, professional operation.

02/10/2026

Superyacht Helideck Training completed in Tarragona, Spain.

Aft helideck operations can differ significantly from bow helideck operations, from deck setup and operational limitations to helicopter approach and departure profiles.
And, of course, no two vessels are the same.

Operating a yacht with two helidecks adds another layer of complexity, with each deck presenting different characteristics, procedures and operational considerations. Things can get “interesting” very quickly.

We provide practical, helicopter-focused training for yacht crews and personnel involved in helideck operations, tailored to the specific vessel and its operating environment.

If your yacht operates a helideck, is preparing for helicopter operations, or your crew requires helideck training, get in touch to discuss your requirements

26/09/2026

A very proud evening for Balearic Helicopters at the Nit de l’Aviació, held last night at the spectacular Bellver Castle in Palma.

They even lit Bellver Castle in Balearic Helicopters green, although whether that was in our honour or just a happy coincidence, I’m not entirely sure!

We were honoured to receive an award from the Mallorca Aviation Foundation, recognising our contribution to excellence in flight training, the promotion of helicopter safety, and our long-standing presence at Son Bonet.

For me, this is especially meaningful. Balearic Helicopters has always been about doing things properly. Training pilots to a high standard, promoting a strong safety culture, and passing on the experience that comes from many years of helicopter flying and instruction.

It was a privilege to receive the award in the company of so many people who contribute to aviation in the Balearics and beyond, including representatives from the Spanish military, Iberia, the aviation industry and the City of Palma.

A special evening, in a very special place. Thank you to the Mallorca Aviation Foundation for the recognition, and to everyone who has been part of the Balearic Helicopters journey.

The recognition is appreciated.

However, the real work continues, improving training, promoting safety and helping the next generation of helicopter pilots become better aviators.

09/09/2026

Come along and visit Balearic Helicopters R44 and meet the team.

Thinking about learning to fly a helicopter? Already a pilot? Just curious about helicopters?

Come and have a chat with us, ask questions and find out what we do at Balearic Helicopters in Mallorca.

Where - Binissalem Airfield
When - This Sunday morning

03/09/2026

Questions I Get Asked by Students & Pilots…. What’s the cheapest way to build hours? (also known as: becoming an “EASA Mongrel”)

Hour building isn't about simply adding numbers to your logbook. It's about building the skills, experience and judgement that make you a better commercial pilot. The danger with modular training is that it can become a race to find the cheapest option for every part of the process:

Cheap PPL
Cheap hour building
Cheap CPL
Cheap IR(H)
Perhaps a type rating here, another one there

Before you know it, you have a collection of licences, ratings and hours - but have you actually developed into a good commercial helicopter pilot? I refer to this as becoming an “EASA mongrel”

There is nothing wrong with modular training. It is an excellent way to become a professional helicopter pilot. The problem is when every module is treated as a separate transaction rather than part of an overall training plan

You might do your PPL at one school, hour building somewhere else because the aircraft is €50 an hour cheaper, your CPL at another school and your instrument training somewhere completely different

Technically, you will end up with the licences you need

But your logbook can tell a very different story

Any Chief Pilot looking at your logbook isn't just counting hours. They are looking at how you spent them, what experience you gained and what sort of pilot those hours suggest you might be. Hour building should be about building experience, not simply building hours

If you fly the same helicopter around the same local area, doing the same routes and landing at the same airports every week, you may increase the number in your logbook without increasing your capability very much

Eventually, you will get found out. You can collect the hours but can't hide poor training forever. When you sit in front of a Chief Pilot for a job, your lack of experience, poor habits and limited decision-making will become very obvious, very quickly

So, what should you actually be doing during hour building?

Use those hours deliberately.

Go somewhere unfamiliar
Fly longer navigation exercises
Fly internationally
Experience different environments
Learn to make decisions
Practise regularly with an instructor to prevent skill fade

These aren't things you do because an examiner might ask you about them. They are the things that make you a professional pilot

Your hour-building strategy should have a purpose. If you need another 100 hours before your CPL(H), don't simply ask:

“Where can I get 100 hours cheapest?”
Ask:
“What experience can I gain from those 100 hours that will make me a better pilot?”

Those are two very different questions, and when you eventually sit down for an interview with a Chief Pilot, you'll be very glad you asked the second one.

Your logbook isn't just a record of hours. It's part of your CV.

https://balearic-helicopters.com/blog/why-hour-building-can-become-a-complete-waste-of-time.html

24/08/2026

Questions I Get Asked by Students & Pilots…. Is becoming a Flight Instructor really a good way to build helicopter hours?

For many newly qualified CPL(H) pilots, the answer seems obvious. You have around 200 hours, the industry is asking for 500, 700 or even 1,000+ hours for many commercial jobs, and you need to find a way to bridge that gap. So, the FI(H) course looks like an attractive option: relatively accessible, considerably cheaper than some of the alternatives, and it gives you the opportunity to fly regularly while gaining experience.

But there is a problem.

There are, in my opinion, two very different types of Flight Instructor.

The FI Collector is focused primarily on the logbook. Ground briefings are something to rush through, lessons are flown for as long as possible because more flight time means more hours, and the student's progress can become secondary to building the instructor's own experience.

Then there is the FI Mentor. Someone who genuinely enjoys teaching, wants to pass on knowledge and understands that the objective isn't simply to put another hour in their own logbook it is to make the student a better, safer and more capable pilot.

And there is another problem: the way Flight Instructors are often paid. If an instructor is only paid for the time the helicopter is actually flying, a “one-hour lesson” can easily involve three hours of their working day once briefing, preparation, aircraft handling, paperwork and debriefing are included. That makes it extremely difficult for good instructors to remain in the profession long-term.

So, is FI(H) a good way to build helicopter hours?

Yes.

But perhaps the more important question is: what sort of Flight Instructor are you going to become?

Click below to read the full article:
Is FI(H) a Good Way to Build Helicopter Hours?
https://balearic-helicopters.com/blog/is-fi(h)-a-good-way-to-build-helicopter-hours.html

21/08/2026

Spectacular lenticularis cloud over the Tramuntana mountains. For students who haven’t done their Met, this is also known as Biggus Windus....

Want to know the proper terminology? Learn your Met with Balearic Helicopters — because we’ll teach you the difference between Lenticularis, Mountain Wave, and Biggus Windus… and make sure you know which one to put in the exam!

18/08/2026

Repositioning from the UK back to Mallorca, making the most of the journey.

First stop: a quick coffee with Guy Ritchie, while keeping one eye on the clock and the other on whether Border Force fancied paying us a visit!

Then Caen for fuel before heading south in the R66.

Three hours later, we were in Bergerac, once again very happy to have the auxiliary fuel tank!

An enjoyable evening followed, with foie gras, steak & pommes frites and a rather good local red w**e.

The next morning it was back into Spain, with a lunch and refuel stop in Empuriabrava before the final leg home to Mallorca.

UK to Mallorca in two days, three countries, plenty of flying and some excellent food along the way.

Just another positioning flight… although we’re not sure every helicopter journey comes with quite this itinerary!

14/08/2026

10/08/2026

Another Superyacht Helideck Training Course successfully completed — this time in Iceland, supporting an Arctic Explorer.

For an expedition yacht operating in the Arctic, helicopter operations demand a very different level of preparation.

Extreme weather, icing, rapidly changing conditions, cold-weather equipment, deck conditions and the realities of operating in remote locations all require careful consideration - with safety, preparation and crew competence at the centre of the operation.

We specialise in providing bespoke Superyacht Helideck Training designed around the vessel, its helicopter operation and its itinerary.

Our experience spans the globe, from Iceland to Ushuaia, and from Europe, the USA to the remote waters of French Polynesia.

Every yacht is different. Every helicopter operation is different. And every itinerary brings its own challenges.

Whether operating a helicopter from a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, an expedition vessel exploring the Arctic, or a yacht undertaking an extended Pacific voyage, our training is tailored to the environment, the vessel, the aircraft and the crew.

Discreet. Professional. Operationally focused. Globally experienced.

For yacht owners, captains, management companies and crew who expect the highest standards of helicopter operations, we provide specialist Superyacht Helideck Training wherever your voyage takes you.