Press and Media

Helicopter company CEO has spent a lifetime enjoying the Grand Canyon from top to bottom.

The top western destination can be an easy inspiring day trip or an epic immersion in nature and culture. Here are three ways to experience the accessible wonders of Grand Canyon West. Just pick your comfort level and go Grand, Grander, or Grandest!

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, the world’s largest and longest-running helicopter tour company, is the recipient of two Diamond Awards from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for excellence in maintenance and compliance.

Starting, Nov. 19, 2020 Grand Canyon West and Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters welcomes back aerial and pontoon tours.

You can also get that classic view while avoiding the crowds entirely by viewing Horseshoe Bend from above, aboard a helicopter. There are a handful of helicopter tour companies in the region, and many offer tours that not only include Horseshoe Bend, but also Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters received the No. 1 ranking in the 2020 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest for Best Helicopter Tour in North America.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters received the No. 1 ranking in the 2020 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest for Best Helicopter Tour in North America. A panel of industry experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees and then top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters is introducing two brand new, exclusive packages featuring a luxury dining experience and a fabulous night flight of the Las Vegas Strip.

Welcome back to our new summer travel series, Road Trippin’ presented by Sprad’s RV. Following an epic start to our trip in southwest Utah where we had a chance to visit the Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, we moved south to the border to the town of Page, Ariz.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, the world’s largest and longest-running helicopter tour company, is the recipient of two Diamond Awards from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for excellence in maintenance and compliance.

Las Vegas and gambling go together like showgirls and feathers, but the city has an abundance of things to do beyond the casinos.

Get ready for daring adventures by day before hitting the Vegas Strip after the sun goes down for glamourous shows and lavish casinos.

Here's the perfect guide to your end-of-summer trip to Page, Arizona - including helicopter tours with Papillon

Once you are done with the casinos, here's how to make the most of the outdoors.

Discover how one mommyblogger experienced the ultimate roadtrip - including a Papillon helicopter from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon

Visitors to Las Vegas can try a variety of thrilling activities, from roller coasters to ziplines and even helicopter tours over the Strip.

Visitors to Las Vegas for the biggest electronic dance music festival no longer have to be forced to wait in traffic - we offer helicopter flights!

They may seem pricey, but the helicopter rides are just 10-15 minutes and include incredible views.

Las Vegas' biggest music festival is the source of annual traffic jams across the freeways. Papillon offered helicopter transport over the traffic to the party.

Find detailed information about EDC 2019, including new features, artist lineups and how to reach the festival via helicopter.

Information about Papillon Helicopters' first year offering helicopter transport into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and booking details.

Papillon Helicopters hosted Gordon Ramsay on a private charter in Las Vegas from the Strip to the Motor Speedway for a day of racing.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in style via helicopter for a tree-lighting ceremony Friday night at the The Magical Forest at Opportunity Village.

There is life outside the neon lights of Las Vegas. Visitors who want to play in Sin City by night and see some of the Southwest’s most iconic natural landscapes by day may want to check out a new air-and-land tour.

Picturesque landscapes entice thousands of tourists to take to the skies to view the breathtaking beauty of the desert Southwest. Take a look at the air tourism industry and how it got started. McCarran recently welcomed German-based Eurowings. Take a look at the celebration and the new international service that give travelers more options to and from Europe.

For people like Amanda Daniel, a program launched last year by Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air and Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines represents an opportunity to get on a fast track to becoming a jet pilot.

On Friday night, the 25th annual tree lighting ceremony came to Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest in Las Vegas.

Geoff Edlund is president of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, which last year added a golden helicopter to its fleet, coined “copter #50,” in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary. Edlund’s grandfather, Elling Halvorson, founded the company and his mother, Brenda Halvorson, is CEO. But that didn’t mean Edlund got to just walk right in and become president without proving he’s the right man for the job.

Michael Koenigs on His Election Cycle Journey Across America

Being named one of the Seven Natural Wonders Of The World, there’s no question that the Grand Canyon is a spectacular sight. Its sheer scale is overwhelming, with colours and rock formations that have to be seen to believed.

Las Vegas Review-Journal reports on the new Hoover Dam helipad service being offered from the former Hacienda Hotel.

Variety, The Children’s Charity of Southern Nevada, Papillon Group and Australia’s Thunder From Down Under made a dream come true for Katie and Brianna O’Donnell, two Australian sisters battling with Muscular Dystrophy (MD), visited Las Vegas for the first time on June 17, 2016.

Standing amid the endless seclusion of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, where the earth opens before you to write its story in millennia of alluvial plains, it’s easy to feel lost in time.

While any trip to the Grand Canyon is worthwhile, there's no way to fully appreciate the 1,900 square miles of rugged beauty without a quick flight over the red dusty trails through Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines.

One day during our stay at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, we were whisked away to Boulder City, the site of Papillon’s private heliport from where they send guests up into the distance on their Golden Eagle Tour.

Well, we loved the Papillon Grand Celebration Helicopter Tour so much so, that we simply had to give it, it's own special feature.

Ascend to the top of this Butte by taking a Papillon helicopter tour. Spend some time on the Butte for photo opportunities and interpretive information about how the Navajo culture ties to their land.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most breath-taking views in the world. It's an amazing view. If road trips take too long, consider taking a helicopter ride with Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters.

Watch how Elling Halvorson, the founder of Papillon Grand Canyon helicopter tours, began from humble beginnings in 1959 to owning the world’s largest aerial...

On Thursday, they traded the reindeer for a red helicopter and landing at Papillon's Aerocenter at the Boulder City Municipal Airport to deliver holiday treats to nearly 60 abused, neglected and homeless children living at St. Jude's Ranch for Children.

Papillon Group gave Santa a ride to town via an EC130 helicopter. He touched down in the College of Southern Nevada parking lot at the entrance of the Magical Forest to greet nearly 300 individuals with intellectual disabilities, OVIPs, served by Opportunity Village who were anxiously awaiting his arrival.

Papillon Group pilots will wear pink epaulettes during the entire month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The ornamental pink epaulette shoulder piece will be worn by every pilot during every tour throughout the month to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Papillon Group has announced the promotion of third-generation Halvorson family members, Geoff Edlund and Jake Tomlin, to new roles within the company. Papillon Group’s Brenda Halvorson, who previously held the dual roles of president and chief executive officer for 22 years, has elevated Edlund to the position of president of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and Tomlin to president of Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines.

"It has been my intention for several years to turn over the leadership of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines to the next generation," said Halvorson. "These men have many great qualities and talents, they complement each other both personally and professionally and—most importantly—they are committed to working together for the betterment of both companies."

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015. Papillon (French for "butterfly") is one of the world’s largest "flightseeing" companies with 4,500 passengers served daily, and nearly 70 state-of the-art helicopters and airplanes.

On a typical day, hundreds of people from around the world pass through Papillon Group’s “Aerocenter” in Boulder City, Nev., on their way to the experience of a lifetime — a Grand Canyon helicopter tour. Usually, only unflyable weather will stem the flow of eager passengers. On the sunny afternoon of April 16, 2015, however, Papillon paused its operations for a different reason: to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Sure, you can take your kids hiking, fishing or camping in a national park, but if you really want to wow them, take them on a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon or go sledding with them down sand dunes at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.

Papillon Group, the world’s largest helicopter tour operator, which operates at the Grand Canyon, marked its golden anniversary, appropriately enough, by introducing a new helicopter with a gold-painted exterior.

Papillon’s 54 Grand Canyon touring helicopters all are numbered starting from one so that staff can track them. Except "50" was reserved. Until Thursday. That’s when the longest running helicopter touring company, based in Boulder City, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a golden helicopter bearing the number 50 to mark five decades of ferrying passengers for tours of the landscape marvel.

The tour company that flies from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, goes golden with one of its choppers. The golden helicopter joins the fleet on Thursday, April 16, to commemorate 50 years in business.

When Elling Halvorson created The Papillon Group, a Grand Canyon helicopter tour company, he never imagined that 50 years later his business would turn into a family affair.

When Elling Halvorson created The Papillon Group, a Grand Canyon helicopter tour company, he never imagined that 50 years later his business would turn into a family affair.

For a limited number of guests, the Papillon Group is offering a privatized helicopter experience for the Big Game on Sunday, February 1.