Your first helicopter tour

The main reason people take a Las Vegas helicopter tour is to get a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful things below. Unlike an airplane, which flies at about 30,000 feet, a helicopter flies at a low altitude, around 1,000 feet, making things as small as people on the ground easy for passengers to see.

On your first helicopter flight, it’s important to remember the ride is not the same as an airplane flight. In fact, helicopters can bring a whole new meaning to the phrase “motion sickness.” And while wind turbulence isn’t necessarily worse on a helicopter, it can certainly feel like it because you’re hovering at such a low altitude in the sky. Not to mention, helicopters are much smaller than airplanes and, boy, do they vibrate.

First and foremost, go to the bathroom before you get on your touring helicopter. Most do not have a toilet. And if you’re prone to airsickness, you may want to get some over the counter medication or a prescription from your doctor before boarding. If that’s not possible, there are a few precautionary and remedied ways to handle nausea: avoid eating greasy foods, having a belly full of liquid and drinking alcohol.

If pure nervousness can make you sick, there are usually motion sickness bags within arms reach. And please, don’t be shy — we encourage you to use one if needed. If all else fails, look out the window — not at the ground but straight ahead — and take deep breaths. That should help a little. Carbonated beverages also seem to do the trick for some people who suffer from airsickness; however, if burping upsets your stomach, you may want to avoid cola or ginger ale. The higher a helicopter goes, the more one is prone to burp.

Because helicopters are so much smaller than airplanes, there are more restrictions as to what you can bring with you on a tour. As far as baggage goes, you’ll be fine with just a purse or backpack. Not that you’ll need one on a Las Vegas or Grand Canyon helicopter tour, but most of these aircrafts do not have room for you to bring a suitcase. Some helicopters may offer room under the seat or the operator could make room in the cabin for a few larger pieces of luggage, but if you can, just don’t bring anymore than a backpack or camera sack. In most cases, whatever you bring will have to find a place on your lap.

Not that it’s likely, but accidents do happen. And in the event there’s a fire in the cabin, you’ll want to be coved in clothing. Women: nylons can melt to your skin — remember that when you’re getting dressed to go. Passengers are recommended to wear long sleeves, pants and shoes with cotton socks. And more layers equals more protection. Plus, because you’ll be at a higher altitude and there aren’t usually heaters in helicopter cabins, it’s safe to assume that you’ll more than likely be cold despite the dessert air below. In any helicopter ride, especially if it’s night or an emergency landing has to be made, it’s best to be prepared for cold weather on the ground.

If you’re still down to go, and we think you should be, pick up some earplugs — just in case. Night tours around Las Vegas are about 15 minutes, but keep in mind you may not be able to hear the person sitting next to you. If you’re going to be on a longer ride, you may even want to consider noise-canceling headphones or earmuffs.

Lastly, but certainly not least, always board a helicopter from the front and wait for the operator to give you the thumbs up or a wave from the cockpit before walking over the steps. Never approach a helicopter from the rear. Even if the helicopter engine is not on, wait for the signal to board. The blades are most deadly when they’re either starting up or winding down because they drop a tad. Boarding when the engine’s on is OK, but we recommend being escorted by a crewmember. Once you’re on, listen closely to the safety briefing. There aren’t any flight attendants to help passengers in the event of an emergency.

When you first purchase your tour, you may also want to check into the company’s certification and read up on its credentials.