In eight years of flying we have learned one thing: a helicopter flight is far more often given as a gift than bought for oneself. And gift-givers always come with the same questions: which route to pick for this particular person, how to arrange it, how long the certificate stays valid, and what happens if the date falls through. Let’s answer them one by one.
Why a flight is a gift that works
With a physical gift you can guess right or wrong. With a flight, guessing wrong is almost impossible: the person settles into the helicopter seat, the ground drops away, the familiar city unfolds like a map — and that memory stays for life, whatever their age, gender or character. A gift of an experience outlives a gift of a thing: people talk about it, remember it, come back to it through photos.
And there is a practical bonus: a certificate has no size, colour or taste. You can’t get it wrong the way you can get a sweater wrong.
Who gets a flight as a gift: matching the route to the person
For him — a birthday or an anniversary. The classic scenario: the man “who already has everything”. Pick a route with character — the 42-minute flight over Kyiv’s bridges and Mezhyhiria: plenty of sights, a long flight, lots to look at and to talk about afterwards. For a history lover — Prypiat and Chornobyl from above (110 minutes, the most powerful route we offer).
For your wife or girlfriend — an anniversary or “just because”. A flight for two works best: you are giving a shared memory, not a ticket. A short sightseeing route of 18–24 minutes is enough to take the breath away and not too much for a first flight. A special touch — an anniversary flight with a photo session beside the helicopter.
For your parents. The generation that has never seen their Kyiv from above. A calm 18-minute sightseeing route, nothing extreme: the helicopter flies smoothly at a comfortable altitude — from the ground it looks far more daring than it feels inside.
For a child. There is no strict age limit: if you are flying with a small child, contact our manager — they will advise what works best. A child needs a full separate seat. For a teenager, the flight is often a first taste of aviation altogether — and sometimes the start of a lifelong passion.
For a colleague, a partner, a team. A business gift you won’t be embarrassed to hand over — and one that won’t gather dust on a shelf. For companies we quote group flights separately: three people fly in one helicopter, larger teams split into several departures.
How the certificate works
- The certificate covers the whole helicopter — up to 3 passengers (combined weight up to 250 kg). So you are not giving “one seat” but a flight the recipient can share with two people close to them. This is the most common misunderstanding — and the nicest surprise for the recipient.
- The recipient picks the date. You give the gift — the recipient contacts us and chooses a day that suits them. Nothing is tied to the date of purchase.
- The weather can’t eat the gift: if flying conditions are poor on the chosen day, the flight is rescheduled free of charge, as many times as needed.
Being honest about today: flights are temporarily suspended due to martial law. That is why the certificate’s validity is set up fairly — 6 months from the date flights resume, not from the date of purchase. The gift won’t expire while the sky is closed: it will wait together with us and be among the first to fly.
What it costs
Route prices start from 7,599 UAH for the whole helicopter (a 12-minute sightseeing flight, up to 3 passengers). The full table of routes and prices is on the helicopter tours page. If the gift is for one person, there are seats on shared flights on the short routes — the flight departs once a full group of three is formed.
How payment works — so there is no confusion:
- Booking a flight for yourself — no prepayment is needed: you choose a date, come to the aerodrome and pay on the day of the flight. That is how it has always worked with us — and how it will stay.
- Giving a certificate — we are not selling certificates right now: leave a request with no payment and no obligation, and we will let you know first as soon as we open sales. After that the certificate holder flies with nothing left to pay.
How it works: three steps
- Leave a request — choose a route or leave the choice to the recipient. No payment, no obligation.
- Receive the certificate — as soon as flights resume and we open sales, we will let you know first and agree on payment and how you receive it.
- Give it — the recipient does the rest: contacts us, quotes the certificate number and picks a date.
Gift-givers’ frequently asked questions
Can I give a flight to someone who is afraid of heights?
Yes — and they often turn out to be the most grateful passengers. In a helicopter there is no “drop beneath your feet”: there is a cabin, a seat and seat belts; the feeling is closer to a car that has gently risen above the city. The pilot can always adjust the flying style to the passenger.
What if the recipient never gets around to flying?
The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date flights resume — which is more than enough. In special circumstances, the validity period can always be discussed with our manager.
Will there be photos and video?
Photo and video shooting during the flight is free. Professional photography beside the helicopter can be arranged separately.
Can the gift be anonymous, or a surprise?
Yes: you can add a “from” signature to the certificate, and the presentation can be staged any way you like — from an envelope under the Christmas tree to handing it over right at the aerodrome before takeoff.
Helitour — helicopter tours over Kyiv since 2018. Robinson R44, experienced pilots, insurance for every passenger.