Post by Mike Louagie

Many passengers ask where the helicopter is. The reason is simple: when it is not in use, it is stored in a hangar beneath the helideck of LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT and therefore remains out of sight. The helicopter on board is an Airbus H125, operated by a dedicated helicopter company with its own pilots and engineers. Unlike on some expedition ships, it is not used for sightseeing flights or passenger excursions. Guests cannot fly in the helicopter. Its primary role is to support the ship's operations. From the air, the pilots help the bridge team identify the safest and most efficient route through the ice, allowing the ship to navigate more effectively and reduce fuel consumption. The helicopter is also used to assess potential landing sites for expedition activities and to support safety operations. In addition, it plays an important role in emergency situations, such as search and rescue missions, assisting stranded hikers, or carrying out medical evacuations when required. For this video, I wanted to show something that passengers rarely see: how the helicopter is prepared for a mission, from the moment it leaves its hangar beneath the helideck to the final pre-flight checks before take-off. #LeCommandantCharcot #helicopter Stéphane Luchini Cyrille Boubakour Olivier Mabille Etienne Garcia Richard Vito

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