This video was sponsored by Edmonton Regional Helicopters.
Over the past several months, you may have seen quite a few aerial photos like this,
most of them owing to the global decline in air traffic.
But, these are seemingly taken while directly over an active airport.
How’s that possible?
Well, I’m here in Edmonton today to answer that question
and give you a behind-the-scenes look.
My name is Wes Sabulka, I’m chief pilot here at Edmonton Regional Helicopters.
We’re based right at the airport, the International Airport YEG, and offer a variety of services,
city tours, quite popular, of course and commercial air work too.
We’ve been tenants here for about 7 years now, focusing on the greater Edmonton area
and of course central Alberta.
Nothing’s too far away.
As with many airports across Canada, Edmonton International has been home to multiple stored
aircraft over the past three months.
For an aviation photographer like myself, although the circumstances are unfortunate,
it is worth documenting.
The only issue there is that Edmonton International is technically the largest airport in Canada
by land mass.
That makes it a bit tricky to capture, but with some planning and proper permission,
it can actually be done from a helicopter!
Well a lot happens behind the scenes, but we do it all the time.
Of course, we never fly without a flight plan, even something that you and I did today at the airport,
required a request for some aerial photography and operating inside the control zone.
So talking to Nav Canada, back and forth emails, and of course our flight plan specifically
explaining what we were doing, so, and we do that for every flight, it’s a matter
of a flight following, it’s a requirement, safety and regulatory reasons, and
it’s just part of every day.
During a flight like this, you’re in constant contact with air traffic control.
Even in a less congested environment than normal, communication is key.
Yeah, absolutely, I mean, we’re not LAX, and now with the Covid situation,
traffic is minimal.
But still, as you were a witness to, it was a busy morning, many aircraft departing, taking
off, all at the same time.
So working with the tower, in between those flights, trying to do an orbit around the
tower and the other properties here on site, and keeping separation, it’s a challenge
but kind of a fun challenge.
So, you’ve got this aerial platform with a phenomenal view of everything, all organized
and with proper permission, but the last thing any photographer wants to do is to take a
photo through glass.
People often wonder,
‘well, how do you get such great video and still photography from the helicopter?’
Well, the R44 here has got bubble windows, it’s got huge visibility with the size of
the windscreen.
But we do something even more than that.
We take a door off.
I did unfasten a few things before we did that *chuckles* but yeah, unimpeded view for
camera equipment.
Often times the photographers or videographers will have their own gimbal setup and have
that on their lap, and as we bank over and discuss approach angles and things like that, so...
Again, just a beautiful system to allow for great photography.
And people ask as well, ‘what about the wintertime?’
Absolutely in the wintertime as well.
We dress for it, it can be a little bit cold *chuckle* but it works great.
So, door off, dress for it, and actually it makes for some amazing opportunities for video
and still photography in the winter months.
Of course, it was mid-June 2020 when this flight took place, and Edmonton Regional Helicopters
has taken all the appropriate precautions.
I mean, we are a commercial air carrier like any other service, and so we are bound by
the same restrictions and guidelines that Transport Canada dictates to us.
Of course, the disinfecting, the masks, all of that, very relevant,
so yeah, that’s been a challenge.
But the advantage with the helicopter world, and with what we’re doing here, is
we have very much control over contact with individuals.
Our passengers are usually from the same household, and the only close proximity with someone
else is the pilot, and of course with all the usual PPE necessary, which we honor.
It really is a safe experience, we take it quite seriously and for the most part, we
depart from our location and return to the same location.
We’re not moving throughout the province or transiting other provinces, so for our
intended purposes, it actually is very controllable, very safe.
In addition to their commercial operations, Edmonton Regional Helicopters offers several
sightseeing packages, including one to Rocky Mountain House and Abraham Lake, which is
only a 45 minute flight from Edmonton.
We do some commercial work, as I mentioned before, longlining, photography, video, different
versions of video recording, and for pipeline patrol, things like that.
But when it comes to the enjoyment part, and the tourism end of what we do, we really emphasize
that we’re not really giving rides.
It’s more of a personal tour experience.
Right from the beginning, when you’re invited into the executive lounge, through the safety
briefing, and then of course enjoying some of the safety features that are pointed out
right at the helicopter, and off we go.
And in comfort, again, we brag about our bubble windows, our leather seats, and air conditioning.
Y’know even in like early spring and the late fall, when that sun is bright, shining
in those huge windows, we actually turn on the air, so it just adds to the comfort and enjoyment.
We’re proud of our city, Edmonton.
We’re based here, and what I often say is, yes, y’know, we don’t have the ocean,
we don’t have the mountains, even though the mountains are only a half hour away,
and our river valley is amazing.
Our downtown core, with all the new development, we’ve got the Stantec tower, 65 stories,
tallest building in Canada west of Toronto.
Of course a world-class facility in Rogers Place.
But again, the outdoors in winter and summer, the valley is amazing, lot of activities.
We’re known for that, and what a better way to see all of it than from the air?
Thank you so much to everyone at Edmonton Regional Helicopters for making this video happen!
Visit erhelicopters.com for more information, and to book a flight with them.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time.