The AW109S from Roma Urbe with Esperia Aviation

Why it is on the list

Esperia flies its own helicopters under its own air operator certificate, IT.AOC.0135, and keeps them airworthy with its own CAMO and Part-145 maintenance approvals; its pilots come out of its own approved training organisation.¹ The aircraft is the twin-engine AW109S, flown in Performance Class 1, cleared for IFR and VFR by day and night, with a soundproofed cabin and room for luggage.² Two pilots fly every flight by company policy, even where the rules would allow one, and the crews carry more than 8,000 flying hours.³ The base is Urbe airport on Via Salaria, inside the city; routes run to Florence, Siena, the Argentario, Elba, Porto Cervo, Capri, Amalfi, Portofino, Lake Como and Saint Moritz.⁴

It is the wrong choice for more than six people or heavy luggage: the cabin takes six, fewer on long legs, and each passenger brings one standard case of 56 x 45 x 25 cm and 10 kg.⁵ A large party bound for Florence or Naples is better on the Executive coach of the Frecciarossa from Roma Termini.

How to get it

Send the route, date and time through the booking form, or write to fly@esperia-aviation.it or call +39 344 173 7482; a flight planner replies with a proposal.⁶⁴ The helicopter can land in a private garden or any flat open space of at least 20 x 20 m clear of obstacles; send photographs of the site taken from the ground so the crew can approve it.⁵ Night flights need both the departure and the arrival site to be cleared for night operations.⁵ Italy charges each passenger a tax on every leg: EUR 10 up to 100 km, EUR 100 up to 1,500 km, EUR 200 beyond; children under two are exempt.⁵ Small dogs travel in a carrier; a passenger with a broken leg or a wheelchair flies with a companion and a doctor's clearance, and the wheelchair must fold and its size be given in advance.⁵

Discretion

Flights leave from Urbe, the city's small airfield on Via Salaria, rather than from Fiumicino or Ciampino, and can set down in a private garden.⁴⁵ The crews are held to discretion with clients as part of their brief.³ Filming is only possible through closed doors: the AW109S does not fly with the door open.⁵