It has been normal in discussion of helicopter operations to assume that the aircraft will operate at low altitudes. In particular, the commercial operation of helicopters on “inter-city” routes is usually assumed to take place between altitudes of 1,000 and 2,000 ft. with the appeal of the view of the countryside adding to the attractions of this means of transport.
It is intended to show in this paper that there are considerable advantages to be gained from flying very much higher than these low altitudes, and in using flight paths very similar to those of conventional air liners.