Two different flights
Asking for "a helicopter" can mean one of two quite different things.
A transfer moves you from one place to another: from an airport to the city, or from the city to a house on the coast.
A sightseeing flight is the trip itself. It takes off, shows you the view and comes back to where it started.
The difference matters, because US rules treat the two differently, and the right operator for one is not always the right operator for the other.
The transfer
A helicopter transfer for you and your guests is a charter flight. The FAA describes on-demand air charter as operations under Part 135 of its rules, and it publishes a list of certificated charter operators that anyone can check.
When Narook arranges a transfer, it does so as your air charter broker, with a properly licensed carrier that holds operational control of the aircraft. The helicopter is chartered whole, for your party only. Narook does not sell seats on shared flights.
The sightseeing flight
The FAA calls a flight for hire whose purpose includes sightseeing a commercial air tour, and it applies a dedicated set of safety rules to it.
A sightseeing flight that starts and ends at the same airport, without stopping, and stays within 25 statute miles of it, can be flown by an operator holding a Letter of Authorization from the FAA rather than a charter certificate. That operator must still meet the air tour safety rules and run drug and alcohol testing.
So the first question to ask any operator is simple: under which authority will this particular flight be flown?
In New York City
New York City has three publicly owned heliports in Manhattan: East 34th Street, West 30th Street and Downtown Manhattan. According to the New York City Council, only the Downtown Manhattan Heliport can operate sightseeing tours, with restricted hours and flight paths, and no tours on Sundays.
Rules like these change. The operator confirms what is allowed on the day you want to fly.
Which one you want
If you need to be somewhere, ask for a transfer, and tell us the date, the places, the number of passengers and their luggage.
If you want the view, say so. We will tell you what an operator can offer, from where and under which rules, before you decide. Before we propose a carrier, we check its certificate on the FAA's public records, and the carrier confirms its FAA certificate and DOT registration to us in writing.
Routes, landing sites and timings in this note are examples only, subject to the operator and local rules.
How Narook arranges flights
For flights, Narook acts as an air charter broker and as your agent. Narook is not a direct air carrier, does not own or operate aircraft and does not hold operational control of any aircraft. Every flight Narook arranges is operated by a properly licensed direct air carrier that holds operational control of the aircraft.
Before you enter a contract for a flight, Narook tells you in writing the name of the carrier that will operate it, the capacity in which Narook is acting, and whether Narook holds liability insurance covering you, your passengers and your property on the flight, with its limits. We also give you in writing any business relationship between Narook and the carrier, the total cost, and any fees third parties will charge you directly.
Sending an inquiry does not reserve an aircraft. A flight is arranged only once the operating carrier has made a binding commitment and you have accepted the written terms. Aircraft, times and routes mentioned on this site are examples; the operating carrier confirms them for each flight.