Flying with Magnum Helicopters Hosting the VAI Air Tour Safety Conference in Hawaii created a perfect opportunity to visit the Honolulu-based member. By Zac Noble On Sep. 23–24, 2024, we welcomed the first annual VAI Air Tour Safety Conference, held in Hawaii not far from Honolulu International Airport (PHNL) at the Hawaii Convention Center. The two-day event brought together about 100 air tour operators, safety experts, and pilots. (For more on the conference, see “VAI Event Highlights Air Tour Safety,” p. 48.) Many were from the Hawaiian Islands, but one operator came all the way from Florida. I think that speaks to the overwhelming desire of tour operators to ensure that they pack their kit bags with as much safety content as possible in our rapidly evolving vertical aviation industry. Bucket-List Experience While in Hawaii, I took advantage of the opportunity to fly with VAI member Magnum Helicopters. I enjoy working with all our VAI member companies, but I have to admit, I was especially excited to visit this particular operator because of how the company embodies the spirit of the old, 1980s television show Magnum, P.I. The operator reconstructed an MD 500D helicopter to closely resemble the aircraft popularized in the show—even down to the familiar orange, brown, and yellow livery—and makes it available for tours. The folks at Magnum Helicopters even display a Ferrari used by actor Tom Selleck on the original series. I ponied up for a private charter with the MD 500D so I could get the dual controls installed and fly with a CFI. Although I have over 41 years of helicopter experience and am helicopter current, I’ve never flown an MD 500 and wanted to clear that from my bucket list. So the team at Magnum obliged by removing the doors and installing the dual controls. We were set for maximum Magnum fun! Safety Is Top of Mind After I arrived at the Magnum office at PHNL, the team went to work preparing me with their safety briefing. They presented a nicely done video of what to expect during a typical tour flight and how to prepare for the flight. No hats or caps, no loose jewelry, no handbags, pockets had to be empty, and long hair had to be tied back. Cell phones were allowed but had to be on a lanyard and secured around your neck. After that portion of the safety briefing, we had to line up and get fitted for the mandatory life preserver. After all, we would be flying around the island just a bit offshore. Because I was doing a private charter and was up front with the CFI, I received additional flight and safety briefing information from the captain. I was eager to get on the controls and show my skills. After we picked up and backed out of the helicopter parking spot at Magnum headquarters, we did a three-way transfer of the controls and I was fulfilling my bucket-list item … I was flying a Magnum, P.I., helicopter in Hawaii! “After we backed out of the helicopter parking spot, we did a three-way transfer of the controls and I was fulfilling my bucket-list item … I was flying a Magnum, P.I., helicopter in Hawaii!” We flew around Oahu counterclockwise with my captain pointing out all the cool points of interest while I flew the machine and grinned from ear to ear. About halfway around the island, I passed the controls back to the captain so I could spend a few minutes just looking around, and then, with great anticipation, I asked for the controls back. The captain kept me abreast of route and altitude requirements. I asked many questions about flight separation with other tour aircraft, use of available weather cameras, and anything I thought would better prepare me for supporting VAI’s Hawaiian operators in the future. We had a fantastic view of the island and Pearl Harbor. What a wonderful way to see some of the most beautiful scenery our country has to offer. Doing it from a helicopter is an added bonus. Focused on Our Members The Air Tour Safety Conference was a success, and many attendees expressed their gratitude to VAI for putting together such a beneficial event. We look forward to continuing the conference year after year. VAI has changed so much in the past four years; it’s remarkable to look back and see the transformation. We’re more focused on member engagement than ever before. We’re out learning in person what it is our members do and how they do it. This bucket-list item for me was only one of many ways VAI staff are staying in touch with our members so that we can better serve them in the future. Many thanks to the team at Magnum Helicopters! The honor was all mine! Fugae tutum! Zac Noble is VAI’s director of flight operations and maintenance.
