Fly Heli Takes Locals on Helicopter Tours Over Cleveland

A helicopter buzzing above Cleveland’s lakefront might look like a news chopper or medical flight. But look a little closer, and the passengers inside may simply be taking in the view. Taking off from Burke Lakefront Airport, helicopter tours give locals and visitors a new vantage point on the city, trading the familiar skyline from the ground for a flight above some of Cleveland’s most recognizable landmarks.

Long before Fly Heli expanded to cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Nashville, the helicopter tour company got its start much closer to home.

The business launched as Paratus Air on Put-in-Bay in 2012, initially offering helicopter tours over the island. Today, Paratus Air operates its helicopter tours under the name Fly Heli. Five years after its launch, Cleveland became its second location, a natural next step thanks in part to founder Steve Overy’s existing connections to the city and its proximity to the company’s roots.

Cleveland remains distinctive in part because of where those flights begin. Operating out of Burke Lakefront Airport puts Fly Heli along the Lake Erie shoreline and just minutes from Downtown, giving passengers a view of the skyline almost immediately after takeoff.

For COO Noah Harlan, 27, who has been with Fly Heli for about six years, that accessibility is part of what makes Burke valuable to the company and the city.

“It is something special that they have in Cleveland,” Harlan says. “It’s something that a lot of cities don’t have, where it’s that close, that ease of access, and it’s not an international airport where it makes it difficult for small businesses to thrive.”

From above, Harlan says passengers frequently point out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Huntington Bank Field, though one of the reactions he hears most often has little to do with any particular landmark, with passengers often surprised by just how small the city can look from the air.

Fly Heli offers multiple Cleveland experiences, ranging from a quick trip above Downtown to longer flights that stretch beyond the city. The City Tour ($55) typically lasts six minutes, followed by the roughly 10-minute Shoreline Tour ($100), 15-minute Suburb Tour ($145),  a 20-minute Grand Cleveland Tour ($230), a CLE Lakeshore Tour ($275), and a 42-minute CLE & Beyond Tour ($300). Actual flight times can vary based on factors including wind, fuel, passenger weight and air density.

On especially clear days, Harlan says the view can stretch all the way to Put-in-Bay, offering a distant glimpse of the island where Fly Heli got its start more than a decade ago.

And while a helicopter sightseeing tour might sound like something reserved for out-of-town visitors, Harlan estimates 50% to 60% of Fly Heli’s customers are locals. Some book flights for date nights or bucket-list experiences; others simply want to see their hometown from an entirely new perspective.

That idea is central to Fly Heli’s mission. Harlan says he and the company’s founder recognized the appeal themselves after seeing the Chicago skyline from a helicopter at dusk and realizing it was an experience they would be willing to pay for.

Gio Godby, marketing and client partnerships coordinator at Fly Heli, acknowledged that the Cleveland operation has faced scheduling challenges recently, citing pilot availability, routine aircraft maintenance, weather, temporary flight restrictions and other operational factors that can lead to changes.

Cleveland Magazine freelance writer John Skrtic recently took to the skies alongside Niki Farahmand of Lay of the Land Media LLC, a Cleveland-based content creator who produces travel videos designed to help people with anxiety navigate unfamiliar places and experiences. For Skrtic, the flight was an opportunity to confront his fear of heights.

“I was really nervous, but the gentleman who flew us went over what we were going to expect beforehand,” Skrtic recalls.

For passengers who have never been in a helicopter, Harlan compares the sensation to the difference between floating down a lazy river and riding in a motorboat. An airplane offers more of the former feeling, he says, while a helicopter feels more like cutting through the water in the latter.

Despite that added sense of movement, Harlan says first-time passengers are often surprised by how smooth the ride actually is.

Skrtic found that to be true during his own flight, with the pilot communicating through their headsets throughout the experience.

“I was white-knuckling and holding onto everything at first,” he recalls. “But when I got up there, I didn’t feel nervous because it was a smooth ride. Even though it was slightly raining, I still felt OK.”

Of the sights along the route from Burke Lakefront Airport to Bay Village and back, Skrtic says Pier W stood out most, offering a rare perspective of the restaurant’s ship-like design. While the familiar Terminal Tower was another highlight, seeing the lakefront restaurant from above left the biggest impression.

“You eat at that restaurant, but you don’t ever get to see the way it’s built, sort of like a ship,” he says. “I thought that was so cool.”

Of course, seeing the city from hundreds of feet in the air raises a practical question: Who exactly is flying this thing?

Fly Heli's pilots are FAA-certified commercial pilots, many with extensive experience flying over the cities where they're based. Harlan says the company's Cleveland pilot, Keegan Gullifer, grew up about 45 minutes outside the city, giving him familiarity with the region passengers are seeing below.

Cleveland's tours are conducted in Robinson R44 helicopters, while Fly Heli's broader fleet includes both R44 piston and R66 turbine aircraft. Maintenance is handled in-house through the company's Robinson Service Center in Auburn, Indiana.

Harlan says the company has operated for 14 years without an accident and conducts annual inspections that go beyond the standard checks required every 100 flight hours.

Preparing for the experience doesn't require much. Harlan recommends dressing comfortably and wearing closed-toe shoes, which can make climbing in and out of the helicopter easier. 

The doors generally remain closed during tours, making it easier to communicate with the pilot. And for anyone eyeing a flight once Cleveland temperatures drop, the helicopters are heated during the winter.

Fly Heli has experimented with seasonal experiences as well. According to Harlan, the company’s Christmas-light tour has become a popular winter option, offering a bird’s-eye view of Cleveland dressed up for the holidays.

Fly Heli continues to offer Clevelanders a chance to see their city from a different perspective, one Skrtic believes makes for a lasting memory.

“If you're a fan of the city and the region, you're going to get to see something special,” he says. “I think it's kind of amazing that you can have this experience over your city.”

For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.

Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, featuring immersive stories, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.