FAQ

The BLACK OPS brand is an adventure-based helicopter flight product utilising a very cool looking (doors-off) Jet turbine military style MD500E helicopter – the concept is totally unique to the market worldwide. The company and aircraft are 100% owned and operated by  Black Ops Helicopters Pty Ltd (trading as Black Ops Helicopters). The owner of Black Ops Helicopters is Chief Pilot, Mark Fitzsimmons. Mark was also the founder of Sydney Airport’s longest established Helicopter Company, Blue Sky Helicopters.

In August 2019, Mark sold the Blue Sky brand to be able to focus more on Black Ops, aerial firefighting (during the summer) and his wildlife photography. Blue Sky was established in 1996 and Black Ops in 2015.

Black Ops is a fully certified Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) accredited Air Operator. Air Operating Certificate (AOC) number: CASA.TAAOC.0369.

Mark states “I had been wanting to come up with a new flight product that took it to the next level for some time… an experience that ticked all the right boxes with regards to safety, adrenaline and an airborne adventure over one of the greatest cities in the World. With the introduction of the BLACK OPS MD500E to Sydney, we have morphed the popular culture of computer games and Hollywood movies into an experience where you are part of the action, it’s no longer “just” a helicopter flight”. Our MD500E helicopter & the Black Ops concept is totally unique to the market and is truly an experience that you will never forget.

For “Share with Others” flights, these are operated on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. For “Private flights”, we can schedule flights to suit your itinerary (subject to availability of course). We need a minimum of two passengers to get airborne for a private flight and three for a shared option.  Please note that the company won’t be operational for 3 months over the winter period from July 2025. Any Gift Certificates that expire in this period will have up to 3 months added to the original 12 month validity.

We are as interested in safety as you are. Our duty is to minimise risk by making safety our primary focus and at the same time, to provide memorable experiences for our passengers.

At Black Ops, our passenger’s safety is paramount, it will always come first. We have a 100% safety record and have never been issued with any form of reprimand or non-compliance. You’ll be flying in our immaculately maintained MD500E with the most experienced tour pilot based at Sydney Airport. Even though the doors are off providing an incredible adrenalin rush, the aircraft is still flown well within its performance and flight envelope. We do not perform aerobatics.

We are a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Certified Air Carrier and embrace the regulations.

If you choose to go “Doors Off” (which is the standard) then no, due to the risk of the camera departing your hands as you fly around at 130 knots (240 kph). Doors on, yes you can, no problem… Black Ops passengers are offered a personal GoPro that is tethered to the aircraft using special equipment . The complete flight including the walk up to the aircraft and actual flight is recorded (complete with pilot/air traffic communications and a movie soundtrack). Upon landing, the footage can be taken home as an optional purchase ($50) for you to keep as a memento of your time spent in the “500”. We also allow time for you to take pics in front of the aircraft with your camera/phone. *Please note: Since Covid, we now provide headsets with a handheld (tethered) GoPro 9 instead of a flight helmet.

 Our MD500E helicopter can seat up to 4 passengers… The standard “Share with Others” configuration is 3 passengers (i.e A couple sitting together and a single passenger). If operational considerations permit, we may configure the aircraft to fly two couples (i.e two in the front next to the pilot and two seated together behind or two singles in the back and the couple in the front. (Definition of a couple? Known to each other).

Groups of two, three or four can also take a “Private Flight” option by purchasing all 4 seats with a 50% to 100% discount on the 4th seat. (When booking for 4, one passenger must be 60kg or less) Note: Minimum passenger numbers of 3 apply to all “Share with Others” flights. Individual & total weight limitations apply for all flights.

Depends on your budget, we are just as happy to fly you for the 20 minute Recon mission as we are for 80 minute Freedom Bird flight! The 20 Recon and 30 minute Intel flights are the most popular “Share with Others” flights so increases your chances of flying on the day you choose. Late morning or early afternoon are good times to fly as the air traffic (at Sydney Airport) is less busy and we tend to get better clearances with minimal waiting time on the ground.

Minimum age for travel is 10 years of age for the doors OFF option and not less than 3 years of age (and a minimum weight of 16kg) with the door ON. All passengers between 3 and those who have not reached their 18th birthday must be accompanied by at least one adult. All door off operations are still at the discretion of the pilot in command regardless of age.

We require that you check-in 15 minutes prior to departure. As well as the safety brief, you will be given a full mission briefing, have the opportunity to talk about the legendary MD500E helicopter and of course time, to take photographs with you next to the aircraft! Limited free parking is available at the Heliport.

Cancellation by passengers INSIDE fourteen days prior to the departure date or a no show on the day will incur a 100% cancellation fee and forfeiture of the seat/s. Our 14 day no cancellation policy is in place because as a “Share with Others” passenger, you are relying on the other one or two passengers to fly and they are relying on you to make up the required minimum passengers required to get airborne (i.e the income from 3 seats). A short notice cancellation usually doesn’t give us enough time to fill the seats. The same policy also applies to the Private Flights as it doesn’t leave enough time to fill the flight time we’ve allocated in our schedule. 

If the “actual” weather is inclement on the day of your flight with no signs of improvement, the flight will be rescheduled at a time that is mutually convenient (we will also endeavour to contact you a minimum of 3 hours before the departure time to inform you of our decision). Pilot decision making is based on actual weather on the day of your flight not forecasted… On these occasions, the company may also choose to exercise a “60-minute wait window” added to your original flight departure time. This means that we will reserve the right to make a decision to fly for up to 60 minutes beyond the original flight time, in this time period the original booking and all our terms & conditions still stand (please allow for this contingency with your schedule). Please do not contact us in the days leading up to your flight to discuss a “forecast” as they can be notoriously inaccurate. Note: it’s always the pilot’s decision on the weather and it’s only on rare occasions a “No Fly” decision would be made prior to the flight day/time.

Your Black Ops pilot will be in the BLACK OPS zone not only entertaining you but also giving you an expert narration. Your aircraft is also equipped with headsets allowing you to talk to your pilot as well as listen to the in-flight music… The music has been specially chosen and choreographed to complement the changing scenery, flight mode and stages of your flight. *Please note: Since Covid, we provide headsets with a handheld (tethered) GoPro 9 instead of helmets.

Normal clothing/closed shoes, however, please note that everything must stay within the aircraft so no loose items will be permitted. As this is an adventure-based activity, it is a requirement that you must have an alcohol-blood reading below .05. You may be breathalysed prior to boarding and anyone over the limit will not fly. This will invalidate the ticket and the right to rebook.

To conduct a BLACK OPS mission you will need to have a general level of health and fitness with the ability to enter and exit the aircraft independently without physical assistance. On the day, you may be asked questions about your ability to fly in an aircraft with the doors off, however, there are some things that may prevent you from conducting the mission, including (but not limited to):

• Heart conditions
• Physical injuries
• Vertigo
• A history of mental illness
• A history of fits or seizures

We are here to help you enjoy a once in a lifetime experience so it’s a requirement that you inform us of anything that you feel may impact the wellbeing and/or the safety of you or others onboard. It is also a strict requirement (at the time of booking) that you inform us of any passengers that have a physical or intellectual handicap. Boarding may be denied (with penalty) if you neglect to give us information prior that could cause operational difficulties. Whilst its standard, all doors off operations are entirely at the discretion of the Pilot in Command regardless of the age of the passengers.

Black Ops Helicopters is a member of the Helicopter Association International. We incorporate the associations “Fly Neighbourly” program into our flight operations. This initiative promotes the operation of helicopters in such a way that minimises the noise impact to the community and the environment. This is accomplished, for example, by establishing and following routes that limit exposure to the public, employing pilot techniques that reduce the noise signature of the helicopter and by flying at higher than normal altitudes in noise-sensitive areas.

Have we missed anything? Are you unsure about certain aspects of our operations? If so, please make contact with us for clarification as our Terms & Conditions form the basis of our agreement if you want to fly with BLACK OPS. We hope to see you soon…