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There are roughly 60 charter yachts above 60m LOA with some form of helicopter capability on the open 2026 market. Of those, fewer than 25 carry a certified helideck (year-round helicopter operations, hangar, refuelling) rather than a touch-and-go pad (passenger drop and depart, no overnight, no refuel). We rank 12. LOAs run 60m to 156m, weekly rates €450K to $3.5M plus APA at 30 to 40 percent. Helicopter operations push APA noticeably higher than a comparable non-helicopter charter because pilot fees, fuel, and ground handling stack on top of the standard fuel and dock line items.
Two cautions before the ranking. First, "helipad" is not "certified helideck." A touch-and-go pad lets a helicopter land, drop or collect passengers, and depart within roughly 10 minutes. A certified helideck (with the appropriate Lloyd's, DNV, or LR notation) lets a helicopter remain on board, refuel, and operate as part of the charter programme. The difference matters more than clients realise at the booking stage. Second, the size of the helicopter is the constraint, not the deck. A deck rated for an Airbus H125 or H130 is the most common; a deck rated for a Bell 429 or H145 is significantly less common; a hangared twin-engine larger helicopter is rare. Confirm the deck rating against the specific helicopter ahead of booking.
How we ranked
Five weights. First, helideck certification (certified hangar > certified open helideck > touch-and-go pad). Second, deck rating (helicopter type and weight class supported, with documentation). Third, fuel and ground-handling capability on board (Jet A1 stowage, fire suppression, deck crew). Fourth, captain and helicopter-coordinator tenure (a helicopter operation is a crew-skill problem, not just a deck problem). Fifth, charter-rate positioning versus the comparable non-helicopter pool. Editor's Pick, runners-up, and 9 alternates below. Then passed-on. Then budget. Then FAQ.
No. I — Editor's Pick: Eclipse (Blohm+Voss, 162.5m, 2010)
LOA 162.5m. Beam 22m. Draft 5.9m. GT [VERIFY: 13,564]. Built 2010. Builder Blohm+Voss. Guests 36 in 18 cabins. Crew 70 to 92. Two helipads, hangar, twin-engine helicopter capability. Charter rate [VERIFY: $3.0M to $3.5M] peak weekly. APA 30 to 35 percent.
Eclipse is the strongest single Editor's Pick in the helicopter-charter pool because she is the only yacht in the segment with two functional helipads (one forward, one aft), a hangar large enough for a twin-engine medium helicopter, and a continuous documented helicopter programme. The 36-guest capacity is unusually high and works for the charter use case where the helicopter expands the daily-experience radius (Saint Tropez to Monte Carlo lunch, then back, in an afternoon). She charters intermittently and bookings close very early. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: $2.6M to $3.0M] regular, [VERIFY: $3.0M to $3.5M] peak, plus APA at 30 to 35 percent.
Inquire via Imperial Yachts | Inquire via Burgess
No. II — Runner-up: Octopus (Lürssen, 126m, 2003, 2024 refit)
LOA 126m. Beam 21m. Draft 5.7m. GT [VERIFY: 9,932]. Built 2003. Refit 2024. Builder Lürssen. Guests 12 in 6 suites. Crew 56 to 63. Two helipads, two helicopters, certified hangar. Charter rate [VERIFY: $2.2M to $2.5M] peak weekly. APA 35 percent.
Octopus runs the most established two-helicopter programme on the charter market. Two certified helipads, a working hangar, and a documented multi-decade history of helicopter operations across high-latitude and tropical seasons. The 2024 refit refreshed bridge and interior without altering the helicopter platform. She suits clients who want continuous helicopter use through the charter (multiple ferry-and-return runs per day, helicopter sightseeing, scientific operations). Charter rate runs [VERIFY: $1.9M to $2.2M] regular, [VERIFY: $2.2M to $2.5M] peak, plus APA at 35 percent.
Inquire via Imperial Yachts | Inquire via Burgess
No. III — The Lürssen flagship pick: Dilbar (Lürssen, 156m, 2016)
LOA 156m. Beam 23m. Draft [VERIFY: 6.2m]. GT [VERIFY: 15,917]. Built 2016. Builder Lürssen. Guests 24 in 12 suites. Crew 80 to 96. Helideck with hangar. Charter rate [VERIFY: not openly chartered, intermittent availability]. APA 30 to 35 percent.
Dilbar is the largest yacht by gross tonnage in the world and the second largest by LOA. She is not consistently available for charter and we list her as a placeholder for clients tracking the upper end of the helicopter-yacht market. When she does come available, the helicopter platform is genuinely commercial. Charter availability is intermittent and rate is bespoke; brokers will quote on enquiry only. Standard practice is to inquire 12 to 18 months ahead.
Inquire via Imperial Yachts | Inquire via Burgess
No. IV — The Andromeda pick: Andromeda (Astilleros Gondán, 107m, 2015, 2022 refit)
LOA 107m. Beam 16m. Draft [VERIFY: 5.2m]. Built 2015. Refit 2022. Guests 12 in 6 cabins. Crew 30. Certified helipad with hangar. Charter rate [VERIFY: €750K to €1.0M] peak. APA 35 percent.
Andromeda runs the strongest hangared-helicopter programme in the sub-110m bracket. Certified helipad (not touch-and-go), full Jet A1 stowage and fire suppression, deck crew trained for continuous operations. She is also a working expedition platform, which means the helicopter operations are not a marketing feature but a working part of the daily programme. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €650K to €850K] regular, [VERIFY: €850K to €1.0M] peak, plus APA at 35 percent.
Inquire via Y.CO | Inquire via EYOS Expeditions
No. V — The Lürssen 90 to 110m pick: [VERIFY: 90 to 110m Lürssen with certified helipad and hangar, 2017 to 2023 build, 12 guests, weekly rate €1.2M to €1.8M peak]
The 90 to 110m Lürssen segment includes several charter yachts with full certified helipads and hangars. The cleanest single booking is a 100m+ Lürssen with a documented two-season helicopter programme and a captain on the hull for 24+ months. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €950K to €1.4M] regular, [VERIFY: €1.4M to €1.8M] peak, plus APA at 32 percent.
Inquire via Burgess | Inquire via Y.CO
No. VI — The Feadship pick: [VERIFY: 90 to 110m Feadship with certified helipad, 2018 to 2024 build, 12 to 14 guests, weekly rate €1.0M to €1.6M peak]
Feadship has delivered several 90 to 110m hulls with certified helideck capability since 2018. The Feadship build standard on a helideck is the cleanest in the market: deck rating documentation is comprehensive, fuel and fire systems are over-specified, and the integration with the bridge electronics is best-in-segment. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €850K to €1.2M] regular, [VERIFY: €1.2M to €1.6M] peak, plus APA at 30 percent.
Inquire via Edmiston | Inquire via Burgess
No. VII — The Oceanco pick: [VERIFY: 80 to 110m Oceanco with certified or touch-and-go helipad, 2018 to 2024 build, 12 to 16 guests, weekly rate €700K to €1.4M peak]
Oceanco has produced several 80 to 110m charter yachts with helicopter capability. The Black Pearl 107m and several recent Oceanco hulls carry touch-and-go pads; selected Oceanco hulls in the new-build pipeline have certified helideck capability. Confirm certification level at the booking stage. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €600K to €900K] regular, [VERIFY: €900K to €1.4M] peak, plus APA at 32 percent.
Inquire via Imperial Yachts | Inquire via Y.CO
No. VIII — The 60 to 75m touch-and-go pick: [VERIFY: 60 to 75m motor yacht with touch-and-go helipad, 2015 to 2022 build, 10 to 12 guests, weekly rate €450K to €750K peak]
A 60 to 75m motor yacht with a touch-and-go pad is the cleanest single helicopter-capable charter at the sub-€800K price point. The trade is no overnight helicopter capability, but for clients who use the helicopter for ferry-and-return rather than continuous operations, the touch-and-go is sufficient. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €380K to €580K] regular, [VERIFY: €580K to €750K] peak, plus APA at 30 percent.
Inquire via Burgess | Inquire via Y.CO
No. IX — The Benetti 100m pick: [VERIFY: 100m+ Benetti with certified helideck, 2018 to 2024 build, 12 to 14 guests, weekly rate €900K to €1.4M peak]
Benetti's 100m+ FB programme has delivered hulls with certified helideck capability and continuous helicopter operations through the charter season. The certification documentation on the recent Benetti 100m+ hulls is current. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €750K to €1.1M] regular, [VERIFY: €1.1M to €1.4M] peak, plus APA at 32 percent.
Inquire via Camper & Nicholsons | Inquire via Burgess
No. X — The Sunrays pick: [VERIFY: Sunrays, 85m Oceanco 2010 with touch-and-go pad, 16 guests, weekly rate €700K to €890K peak]
Sunrays is one of the more established charter yachts with touch-and-go helicopter capability. The platform has run a continuous helicopter ferry programme for clients who use the helicopter for the standard Mediterranean lunch-and-return circuit (Saint Tropez to Monte Carlo, Cannes to Èze, Capri to Naples). Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €580K to €750K] regular, [VERIFY: €750K to €890K] peak, plus APA at 30 percent.
Inquire via Camper & Nicholsons | Inquire via Burgess
No. XI — The Caribbean dedicated pick: [VERIFY: 70 to 90m motor yacht with helicopter capability and Caribbean winter base, weekly rate €600K to €900K peak Caribbean]
A helicopter-capable yacht with a Caribbean winter base runs a clean inter-island helicopter programme (St Barths to Anguilla, BVI to St Martin, Antigua to Nevis). The Caribbean charter rate sits 5 to 10 percent below the Mediterranean equivalent at the same hull. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €500K to €720K] regular Caribbean, [VERIFY: €720K to €900K] December 20 to January 4 holiday peak, plus APA at 30 percent.
Inquire via Northrop & Johnson | Inquire via Y.CO
No. XII — The Latitude pick: Latitude (Damen SeaXplorer 77, 77m, 2024)
LOA 77m. Beam 14m. Built 2024. Builder Damen Yachting. Guests 12 in 7 cabins. Crew 22. Certified helipad. Charter rate [VERIFY: €700K to €900K] peak. APA 35 percent.
Latitude is the cleanest single new-build helicopter-capable explorer on the 2026 market. Certified helipad (not touch-and-go), bridge electronics integrated for helicopter operations, and an ice-class hull that lets the helicopter programme operate from the Norwegian summer through the Greenland season. Charter rate runs [VERIFY: €600K to €750K] regular, [VERIFY: €750K to €900K] peak, plus APA at 35 percent.
Inquire via Damen Charter Brokerage | Inquire via Y.CO
What we passed on
Five helicopter-capable charter yachts on the 2026 market that we did not rank.
[VERIFY: 80m motor yacht with touch-and-go helipad documentation last updated in 2019]. Helideck certification documentation must be current. We would not place a helicopter operation on a deck without 2024 or 2025 paperwork on file. The clean fix is to ask the broker to provide current notation paperwork before signing.
[VERIFY: 90m motor yacht with hangar marketed as "helicopter-capable" but with hangar repurposed as a tender garage]. A hangar that has been repurposed cannot run a helicopter operation. The clean fix is a yacht with a working hangar (Octopus, Andromeda, Eclipse).
[VERIFY: 70m motor yacht with helideck rated for H125 only and a charter client requesting H145]. A deck-rating mismatch is a meaningful operational problem. The clean fix is to confirm deck rating against the specific helicopter type before signing the contract.
[VERIFY: 100m motor yacht with helicopter operations suspended for hull recertification]. A helicopter platform without active operations is a deck, not a helicopter yacht. The clean fix is to wait for recertification or to book a different hull.
[VERIFY: 65m motor yacht advertised with helicopter use included where the small print restricts helicopter operations to a single ferry per charter]. A meaningful restriction on helicopter use that does not appear on the front-page brochure. The clean fix is to read the MYBA contract addendum on helicopter operations before signing.
How to think about budget for a helicopter charter
A helicopter operation is a meaningful add to the all-in. Plan on the standard charter rate plus 35 percent APA (versus 30 to 32 percent on a non-helicopter charter), plus a helicopter operating cost line of $3,000 to $8,000 per flight hour depending on type, plus pilot fees if not included with the helicopter, plus ground-handling fees at each onshore destination.
For a 90m Feadship at €1.4M peak weekly with 6 hours of helicopter operations during the charter: €1.4M plus 22 percent VAT (€308K) plus 32 percent APA (€448K) plus helicopter at €5K/hour for 6 hours (€30K) plus pilot at €1K/day for 7 days (€7K) plus 12 percent gratuity (€168K) equals roughly €2.36M all-in for the Mediterranean week. The helicopter component itself is small relative to the base; the trade is convenience versus a 30 to 50 minute coastal-road transfer.
A continuous helicopter programme (multiple flights per day, scientific or photographic operations) can add 10 to 20 percent to the all-in rather than 2 to 3 percent.
FAQ
What is the difference between a helipad, a helideck, and a hangar? A helipad (touch-and-go) is a deck rated for landing, passenger transfer, and immediate departure. A certified helideck is a deck rated for helicopter operations including refuelling, with the appropriate notation (Lloyd's, DNV, LR). A hangar is enclosed storage that lets the helicopter remain on board overnight and operate continuously through the charter.
Can I bring my own helicopter on a charter? Yes, on a yacht with a deck rated for the type. Confirm the deck rating against the specific helicopter ahead of booking. The deck rating includes weight, dimensions, and rotor diameter constraints.
Who provides the pilot? Either the helicopter owner brings a pilot or the operator does. Some yachts (Octopus, Eclipse) carry pilots as part of the crew complement. For a standard charter with a privately owned helicopter, the helicopter pilot is the client's responsibility.
How much does a helicopter operation add to APA? Helicopter operations typically add 3 to 8 percent to APA depending on intensity. A continuous helicopter programme (multiple flights per day) can add up to 15 percent.
Can I land a helicopter at any port the yacht visits? No. Onshore helicopter operations require permits, fuel availability, and a helipad at the destination. Standard Mediterranean ports (Monaco, Saint Tropez, Cannes, Nice) are well served. Smaller ports often require a road transfer from the nearest airfield. A helicopter coordinator on the broker side handles permitting.
Does charter insurance cover the helicopter? The yacht's hull insurance does not cover the helicopter. The helicopter requires separate insurance, typically a private aviation policy. Coordinate this with the helicopter operator and the charter broker before the trip.