Helicopter transport – terms and conditions

A booking is valid once it has been confirmed in writing by the company. When an assignment is accepted, Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS undertakes to provide the agreed helicopter equipment.

Payment is made in cash or by card before the flight unless otherwise agreed. Should weather conditions or force majeure prevent the planned arrival, the company undertakes to keep the customer informed of when the assignment can be carried out.

If the customer cancels an assignment:

• Less than 24 hours before the assignment was due to start, Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS may claim the full price of the assignment incl. VAT.
• Less than 7 days before the assignment, Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS may claim 50 % of the price of the assignment.
• Less than 4 weeks before, Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS may claim 25 % of the price of the assignment.

The pilot in command is responsible for the safe execution of the assignment. Personnel from the customer or its representative(s) involved in the operation must follow the instructions given by the helicopter crew.

An assignment is considered to have started the moment the helicopter takes off from its home base, Verdal heliport Slottelid, and completed when it has returned.

Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS accepts no liability for non-attendance or interruption caused by poor weather, public requisition, air ambulance operations, search and rescue and similar, or by unforeseen technical circumstances. The company does, however, undertake to resume the assignment as soon as possible.

Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS is not liable for consequential costs arising from delays. This includes a delayed, cancelled or rescheduled meeting time or date due to weather conditions, unplanned technical events, public requisition or force majeure. The agreed flight will in any case be carried out by the company's helicopters with first priority and as quickly as practically possible.

In the event of an interruption to taxi and passenger transport, Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS has the right to offer alternative transport to the destination.

As a passenger/customer flying with the company's helicopters, you are informed of the following provisions:

• The transport is subject to ordinary carrier liability.
• Under the Norwegian Aviation Act No. 101 of 11 June 1993, the liability of Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS is limited to 100,000 SDR for personal injury and 1,000 SDR for baggage. Liability for other cargo, including underslung loads, is limited to 17 SDR per kilo.

If the customer has cargo with a value exceeding 17 SDR per kilo, Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS can assist with additional insurance if desired. Any extra costs are charged to the customer. 1 SDR (special drawing rights) corresponds to approx. NOK 11.

A helicopter used for flying with underslung loads must not carry persons other than the crew. Exempted from this are persons deemed necessary for the assignment to be carried out, as well as pilots and other personnel under training.

The customer is at all times responsible for preparing loads and lifts in accordance with the guidelines given by the personnel of Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS.

Costs for transporting fuel and special equipment beyond what the helicopter itself carries are charged to the customer. The customer may arrange this transport themselves if more practical. If Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS arranges the transport, the customer is charged NOK 15 per km.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the following applies:

• The applicable hourly rate is calculated from departure from base until return. Time is counted as long as the rotor is turning. For stops on the ground, waiting time is charged per commenced hour.
• Passenger transport at a fixed price requires that the weather allows a direct flight path at normal cruise speed for the entire flight – including the flight to the departure point, onward to the destination and back to base. Deviations are charged as an additional cost per minute.
• Cargo flying at a fixed price requires each lift to be prepared for helicopter slinging, which is carried out by our crew on arrival. No lift may be heavier than the maximum weight agreed in writing in the quotation.

You can pay by credit card or invoice. A surcharge of 4 % is added to the price when paying by credit card.

Private customers pay in advance. Business customers pay in arrears by invoice if credit has been approved. The person placing the order is responsible for payment unless another payer has confirmed liability for payment.

• All quotations are excl. VAT unless otherwise stated.
• Quoted prices and other terms must be in writing to be binding.
• Deviations from written quotations that may affect the cost must without exception be confirmed in writing to be valid.
• Quotations are given as a fixed price or per hour of flight time.
• Where both a fixed price and an hourly rate are quoted, the fixed price applies unless otherwise agreed.
• Written quotations are valid for 30 days unless otherwise stated. Quotations declined within the validity period lapse.
• A fixed price assumes that the weather allows a direct route between the departure and arrival points, and between the loading and unloading sites for cargo flying.
• For hourly rates, time starts when the rotor begins to turn and ends when it comes to a complete stop.

• Flight time: Calculated from engine start to engine stop. All flight time is rounded up to the nearest 5 minutes.
• The minimum time for all assignments except sightseeing is a 30 min flight.
• Subsistence: According to the Norwegian state travel regulations. Accommodation is charged to the customer. Municipal/state landing and take-off charges are charged to the customer when an airport is used.
• Public holidays: For flights on Saturdays/Sundays and movable/fixed public holidays, a supplement (buy-out of crew days off) is added for the AS 350 of NOK 4,500 per day.

Waiting time ordered or caused by the customer: NOK 5,500 per commenced hour.

For departures from Norwegian airports/airfields, a take-off charge of NOK 500 is added.

Special rules apply to the transport of «dangerous goods», including flammable and explosive substances. The customer is obliged to inform Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS in every case where such transport is relevant.

The customer is obliged to obtain permission from the landowner where the helicopter is to land. For landings in uncultivated land, the customer must also obtain the necessary landing permit from the relevant municipality (cf. the Norwegian Act on Motor Traffic in Uncultivated Areas and Watercourses). In protected areas, flight permission must be obtained from the protected area board or the County Governor. Copies of permits are to be sent to Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS by e-mail before the assignment commences.

If the customer wishes Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS to obtain the landing permit, a supplement of NOK 5,000 excl. VAT applies.

Any complaint must be made immediately to the Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS personnel on site, and in addition in writing within 8 days.

It is prohibited to take photographs from the air without permission from the authorities. This is known as a photo licence and is obtained from the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM). Passengers on scheduled, charter or taxi flights are exempt from this requirement. Permission for a single assignment limited in time and scope can normally be obtained from NSM.

25 % VAT applies to the transport of cargo/goods, film/photo, inspection flights and reindeer herding, as well as the proportional share of positioning flights for assignments involving both cargo and passenger transport. For passenger transport the VAT rate is 12 %.