What you need to know | Barossa Helicopters

What you need to know before flying

We all know there is boring information that you need to know before any experience. Please read all the information below to ensure that your experience is everything you expect and more! Feel free to send us an email or give us a call (+61 8 8524 4209) if you have any queries.

Weather Conditions

What happens if the weather is bad?

Barossa Helicopters reserves the right to change flights due to weather conditions or other operational considerations. The pilot’s decision is final – regardless of the occasion.
Your safety and that of our pilot’s and aircraft are the Number 1 Priority!
If you are travelling long distances to fly, please let us know at time of booking. This way we will discuss a time to make the call if the weather does not look promising.

Weight Restrictions

Each flight has a minimum of total weight limit including fuel, passengers etc.

Maximum individual weight is 130kg.

All up combined maximum passenger weight is 270 kg per flight.

Accurate weights at time of booking must be supplied.

Age/Height Limits

What are the age limits?

Children under 100cm tall are not able to fly.

Each person is required to have their own individual seat regardless of age.

A child must be able to sit independently on their own seat.

We do not allow children to sit on laps.

Cancelling or Rescheduling

What happens if I have to Cancel or Reschedule?

If you need to reschedule your flight, contact us with as much notice as possible.
Clients that are a “NO SHOW” or CANCEL within 24 hours of booked time, will forfeit the cost of the entire booking.
No charge outside 24 hours.
Full refund will be made available to customers in the event of a cancellation of the flight by Barossa Helicopters Pty Ltd due to adverse weather or any other unforeseen event.

Surprises, Proposals and Special Occasions

If the flight is a surprise or a marriage proposal, please advise us (by phone 08 8524 4209 or email, not just on booking form) of the special occasion so that we can best coordinate with you to make it a special time.

Travelling with Pets

Can I bring my dog? NO!

Do not bring your pets on to our property!
This applies to your dog, who you think is human, so please do not be offended if we ask you to take the dog off site.
We take bio security very seriously. Based on a working farm with livestock and vineyards, we do not want disease being spread.
Exception to this rule is special needs dogs, BUT they are not allowed to fly.

Payment Options

Payments:

10% deposit at time of booking.
Full payment must be made prior to take off on the day of your tour.

Payment can be made using:

Cash
VISA & Mastercard
Afterpay – instore only
ZipPay & Humm – by prior arrangement only – call 08 8524 4209 or email fly@barossahelicopters.com.au

Photo Identification:
Photo identification of the person making payment is required instore.

Seating Arrangements

How is the seating arranged?

The Robinson R44 is a 3-passenger helicopter.

Seating is assigned according to weight and balance calculations.

Please do not promise anyone in your group a specific seat (especially children), we cannot guarantee specific seating as it depends on the weight of all the guests booked on a particular flight.

Visibility for all passengers is excellent as there is no separating bulkhead to obscure the sweeping view from each seat.

Will we be the only ones in the helicopter?
Yes, you will be the only passengers in the helicopter. We do not join groups.

Gift Cards

1.Purchasing a Gift Card

You can buy Gift Cards online, over the phone, or at our office.
Each Gift Card is purchased for a specific dollar value that works like credit toward any Barossa Helicopters purchase.
Payment must be made in full at the time of purchase.
After your purchase, we’ll send you either a digital or physical Gift Card based on your preference.

2. Validity and Expiry

Gift Cards are valid for 3 years from the purchase date.
The expiry date will be clearly displayed on your Gift Card.
Ensure your Gift Card is used before the expiry date. Barossa Helicopters may not honor expired Gift Cards unless required by law.

3. Using Your Gift Card

Your Gift Card works like cash and can be used towards any Barossa Helicopters purchase.
When redeeming your Gift Card, its value is applied as credit toward your booking at the current price.
If your purchase exceeds the Gift Card value, you will need to pay the difference.
If your purchase costs less than the Gift Card value, the remaining balance remains as credit until the original expiry date.
To redeem your Gift Card, provide the voucher number when booking.
All bookings are subject to availability and standard booking conditions.

4. Sharing Your Gift Card

Gift Cards are fully transferable and can be given as a gift.
Transferring a Gift Card does not extend its expiry date.
Please treat your Gift Card like cash and keep it safe.

5. Cancellations & Refunds

Gift Cards cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded unless required by law.
If you cancel a booking made with a Gift Card, the value will be restored for future use before the original expiry date (subject to our cancellation policy).
We reserve the right to cancel Gift Cards issued by mistake or obtained fraudulently.

6. Change of Mind Refund Policy

If you change your mind, you may request a refund within 24 hours of purchase.
The refund excludes any delivery or transaction fees paid at the time of purchase.
Refunds are only permitted if the Gift Card has not been used (i.e., no booking has been made).
Refunds are processed back to the original purchaser only.
The Change-of-Mind Policy does not apply to Gift Cards purchased through a rewards points system.
After 24 hours from purchase, no refunds will be granted for change-of-mind.

7. Extensions for Expired Gift Cards

If a Gift Card has expired within 90 days past the expiry date, you may request an extension for an additional 90 days by paying a $50 extension fee or adding $50 or more to your purchase.
Gift Cards expired beyond 90 days cannot be extended under any circumstances.
Expired Gift Cards are non-refundable in whole or in part. Any unused value at expiry becomes the property of Barossa Helicopters.

8. Lost or Damaged Gift Cards

Treat your Gift Card like cash. Generally, lost or stolen Gift Cards may not be replaced.
If you have proof of purchase (e.g., order number or receipt), a replacement may be issued at our discretion.
The Gift Card holder is responsible for providing required verification details. If proof of purchase is unavailable, the original purchaser must contact Barossa Helicopters.

9. Additional Information

Gift Cards cannot be combined with other offers or discounts unless explicitly stated.
You cannot use a Gift Card to purchase another Gift Card.
Flights may be modified or canceled for safety or operational reasons.

10. Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time.
Changes will be posted on our website and will apply to Gift Cards issued after the change date.

Items that CAN and CAN'T fly

What am I allowed to take on the helicopter?

Camera or phone
On longer flights, water bottle

Items that CAN’T fly?

Selfie sticks
Hats
Bags
Headscarves, if it is for religious reasons you wear a head scarf, it MUST be pinned on or it DOES NOT fly.
No loose items

Flying while pregnant

Can I fly while pregnant?

Yes – the decision to fly at any stage of your pregnancy is entirely up to the individual. There are no pressure changes or maneuvers that could cause discomfort.

Best time time to fly

When is the best time to fly?

We open for flights between 10 am and close at 4pm, Australian Central Standard Time.

It is wise to book a tour early in your stay, that way if your pilot determines that weather conditions on a particular day is not the best for your tour, there will be options for re-scheduling.
As far as the best time of day for a helicopter tour you should consider your personal schedule. Most of the time we have nice weather; during summer it can get quite hot, so it is best to schedule your flight for early morning. If we happen to have rainy weather, the pilot will consult the weather forecast and actual conditions to determine if it will be safe to fly.
We do not take our guests on a tour unless we are certain we can give you an excellent experience. Apart from not being enjoyable, rain does damage the helicopters blades. The pilot’s decision is final, regardless of the occasion.

However, if your needs do not fit into our standard hours, we are happy to fly anytime, by arrangement and aircraft availability, some fees may apply. Bookings are essential on weekends. We do not want you to miss out!!!

Are the helicopters air-conditioned or heated?

Yes, both.

What should we wear?

The helicopters can get quite hot during the Aussie summer months and cooler during the winter months, so dress comfortably.

If you plan to take photographs, we recommend darker colours to reduce any window reflections.

Ladies, please wear flatter shoes.

Hats, bags, or any loose clothing are not allowed to be worn in or around the helicopters as they can fly up into the rotors. We will be happy to hold any hats or bags for you until you return from your tour.

Smoking

No Smoking:

The Barossa Helicopters base is non-smoking for all clients and customers.

Accreditations and Experience

Is Barossa Helicopters an accredited operator?

YES. We are Tourism accredited, Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved and have all the necessary public liability insurances.

How much experience do your pilots/ground crew have?

All pilots at Barossa Helicopters have a high level of flying experience and local knowledge. Our ground crew are very experienced in all aspects of loading and unloading passengers and or cargo.

How long has Barossa Helicopters been in business?

The company began in the mid 1980′s. We ARE South Australia’s oldest helicopter company, flying many thousands of hour’s / client’s accident and incident free.

Will we see all sights mentioned?

Are we guaranteed to see all the sights mentioned in your tour descriptions?

You will see every point of interest mentioned in the tours if weather permits.

Motion Sickness

I get motions sickness sometimes, but I am keen to fly!

This is a scenic tour, not a thrill ride. Most people do not experience motion sickness.

Our flights are smooth, and turns are slow and gentle.

We recommend that if you are prone to motion sickness, that you do not use your camera or phone. Looking at these screens can create distorted vision, which can cause motion sickness.

If you are particularly prone to motion sickness an anti-motion sickness medication is a good idea.

TOUR PROCESS

Check in

When you come to the main office, you be greeted by our friendly staff.
There are some formalities we need to get out of the way before flight. Passenger manifest and safety briefing, these are required by Australian Civil Aviation Law.

All aspects of YOUR safety will be covered in a safety briefing. Please listen carefully!

Pre-flight

These items need to stay behind: hats, bags, scarves, anything lose (including selfie sticks). Either our staff will care for them or return them to your vehicle.

Cameras, phones, sunglasses are ok to fly with.

Our ground crew will escort you to the helicopter, before you board, they will show you where to stand to have your photo taken next to the helicopter. Using YOUR CAMERA or PHONE.

Boarding Helicopter

The Ground Crew will also determine the best seating arrangements – this is according to individual size/weight. Children will always have their own seat and generally will be in the back seats. Please do not promise the front seat to any person.

Once inside the helicopter

Once seated, the ground crew will ensure your seat belt is fastened correctly. You will also be assisted with putting on your headset, allowing you to communicate with the other passengers and pilot. The Ground Crew will ensure the doors are closed correctly.

Everything in the Green & Good to Go

The pilot will explain what he/she is about to do and when they are ready for take-off. Remember your pilot has done this many times and if you feel a little un-easy, please tell him/her and they will be able to talk through the process as it is all happening. The pilot will point out some of the famous landmarks and icons of the Barossa Valley. If there are any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Arriving at your chosen winery/pub/venue (food & wine, outback pub or tailored packages only)

We will land you as close to the venue as physically possible to ensure the “Rockstar” arrival!
We ask you to remain inside the aircraft until the pilot has shut the aircraft down and opens the doors.

At this time, the pilot will let you know the departure time from the venue.
They will then with you inside the venue and introduce you to the staff member who will guide you through your experience.
After your experience at the winery the pilot will help you back into the aircraft and shut the doors for you.

Arriving back at Base

Once you are back on the ground at our base, the pilot will once again shut the aircraft down or one of our ground crew will help you disembark and take you back through to our reception where we say our goodbye’s!

On your way out

Our ground crew can help with local recommendations for lunch or wine tastings. They will ask if you have a local visitor guide.

We enjoy hearing about your experience! We take pride in helping others enjoy a special milestone, or just seeing the region from above! Please share your comments on Google and TripAdvisor or share your photos on Facebook and Instagram!