Film, television and print production, have long been one of St. Lucia Helicopters staples. Company flight crew have considerable experience flying cameras, and working in-front of them too.

The Company has done a lot of work in Martinique for the European film and television markets. Production companies include AB Broadcast of France, Aspekt Telefilm from Germany, BBC Television (London and Bristol), and National Geographic (Explorer series on Montserrat's Volcano).

Rental of mounts can be arranged through CineVideoTech in Miami (Tyler mounts), Istec in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (WesCam), and Aerial Camera Sytems in the United Kingdom (various systems). While St. Lucia Helicopters can arrange mount rental, many rental companies prefer to deal directly with Production Companies. It is therefore St. Lucia Helicopters recommendation that mount rental be handled directly by the Producers. Of course, St. Lucia Helicopters' support and assistance would always be on tap through this process.

St. Lucia Heilcopters charges a 5 hour daily minimum for mount-flown operations. Equipment can be attached on the helicopter(s) the night before, and disassembled after hours. A valid Type Certificate is required before any mount can be attached to the helicopters

St. Lucia Helicopters' hull insurance covers loss and damage of mounts once on the helicopter, however in the case of very expensive systems, such as the WesCam, additional insurance may be required. Also, most companies require transport insurance. Additional coverage for mounts can be purchased at the Production's expense.

Low flying, night operations, and other restricted activities must be approved by the St. Lucian Authorities. The grant of such waivers takes time so thorough descriptions of mission requirements need be provided well in advance of shooting.

There may be nominal costs associated with the obtaining of waivers.

• Please click here for specifics of the Company's helicopters;
• Doors off for shooting is no problem;
• The Island's latitude puts the sun high in the sky for most of the day. Long shadows occur roughly 30 minutes after sunrise and 30 minutes before sunset;
• Weather in St. Lucia is nice all year round but cloud cover is considerably more prevalent from August to January;
• Shooters should be picked carefully. The feeling of exposure with doors off, next to sheer, cliffs, thousands of feet high, especially when shooting hand-held, can "freak" people out and spoil any chance of getting the shot.

• Material lifts for the St. Lucian Rosseau Dam Project. A mission made challenging by the hot weather and high mountains;
• Wire pulling for Martinique's electrical utility, Norelec;
• Mining support for GoldStar, a Canadian mining company prospecting in Guyana;
• Material lifts, and core sampling for the Montserrat Volcano Observatory;
• Camera and supply lifts up to St. Vincent's Soufriere Volcano for the production of "White Squall" (a movie);
• Bird towing (magnetonomers) for Canada's Ministry of Natural Resources (before moving to St. Lucia);
• Various lifts of air conditioners, etc. in the Toronto area prior to 1991.

The AS350B "AStar" is approved to carry an external load of up to 1800 lbs. The actual loads carried would be largely a function of the location of a fuel source. The further away, the more flying involved, the more fuel onboard required to cover the distance, the greater the weight due to fuel, and therefore the lighter the payload. Remote refueling could be arranged with sufficient notice, and at additional cost.

• From December 1995 through July 1998, St. Lucia Helicopters flew on short-term contracts (repeatedly renewed) with the British Government in support of the scientists of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. Monserrat's volcano quickly became the worlds most carefully monitored volcano for some two and a half years. The Company's equipment and crew were right there through the worst of it. Some of the action (often shot from the helicopter) has been recorded on video and aired by numerous broadcasters around the globe.
• Since 1995, hurricane threats have been increasing. This has been statistically predicted due to an apparent thirty year aberration which saw unusually low hurricane activity. Hurricanes have kept St. Lucia Helicopters busy for weeks flying relief supplies to neighbouring Islands.
• From time to time, a boat goes missing. Usually small, less than thirty feet, but even freighters well over one hundred feet go missing.
• Medical evacuations within St. Lucia and from neighbouring Islands have been another occasional calling. Trauma and clinical cases have included - cardiac arrest, spinal cord injuries, near drownings, stroke, decompression injuries, head injuries, broken bones, and third degree burns.

Due to professional confidences, the precise nature, and the names of parties involved cannot be fully divulged. In any regard, suffice it to say that St. Lucia Helicopters is willing to do its best where help is needed.

• Transport of emergency cases requires a subject who, at the very least, does not constitute a tangible risk to the passengers or flight crew;
• Where attending Physicians are present, control and responsibility for the patient must be fully borne by the attending Physician;
• Transport to a non-OECS country such as Martinique or Guadaloupe (both France) usually requires considerable immigration procedures. Broaching France's airspace, even in medical emergencies, cannot be done without the risk of being shot down.
• St. Lucia Helicopters can be contacted at the following numbers:
  
  Office: (758) 453-6950
  Director of Operations: (758) 450-0470, 450-0662
  Chief Pilot: (758) 458-1390
  Director of Maintenance: (758) 458-1391, (758) 459-0648
  Fax: (758) 452-1553
  Email: stluciahelicopters@candw.lc 

AS350B AStar

• US $1,400 per hour; (US$1,500 per hour /incl. Mounts etc.)
• Daily minimum with mount installation: 5 hours;
• Daily minimum on location: 5 hours;
• Daily minimum with ground time commitment in excess of 5 hours: 5 hours;
• Pilot and crew per diems, hotel, and transportation when on location apply;
• Landing fees and departure taxes may be applicable;
• Duties, Customs Charges, Custom Brokerage for imported equipment may apply;
• Bulk rates must be negotiated on a job by job basis.
• Please click here for our standard rates sheet.

Please Contact St. Lucia Helicopters by filling out the Booking Form Here , or by Email us at: stluciahelicopters@candw.lc