TOPS

At Papillon Helicopters safety is priority number one! Papillon Airways, Inc (our parent company) and its subsidiaries are fully certified by TOPS (Tour Operators Program of Safety.) TOPS (www.topsafety.org) is an organization whose sole goal is to insure safety and reliability throughout the air tour industry. Operators who carry a TOPS certification have agreed to operate their airlines to standards that far exceed those set forth by the FAA. These standards are upheld and enforced by regular internal audits and annual external audits by independent industrial safety auditors.

In addition to stringent operating standards TOPS members provide a wealth of safety training to all employees involved in any portion of a visitor’s flight. This includes additional safety training for management, flight crew, and ground support staff. The aircraft themselves are also required to carry additional emergency communications equipment beyond what is required by the FAA. For example, Papillon aircraft are all equipped with an advanced radio stack that connects the pilot to a dedicated company radio network. With this network the aircraft is in contact with our highly trained flight following staff for the entire duration of the flight. Information about weather, additional aircraft, winds, and more are relayed by the flight following center to other company aircraft flying in that area.

When flying with a TOPS certified carrier guests can be assured that they are touring with some of the safest and most highly trained professionals in the industry. Insist on flying only with TOPS carriers!