Currently being developed by Heli Outpost Sdn Bhd, the app will enable booking helicopter service at your fingertips as easy as booking a ride on your favourite taxi.
Headed by the company’s chief executive officer Faiz Fahmi Sazali, 29, a Langkawi Island native, the app was conceptualised on “real-time location tracking”, as well as payment system for easy access by customers and can change the booking method used, from manual to digital.
“The application comprises two services, namely the Helicopter Tour where tourists can book helicopters to fly around Langkawi Island through the existing packages provided, and the Helicopter Taxi where people can book a helicopter ride to fly to their destinations, for example to fly from Alor Setar to Ipoh,” Faiz told Bernama.
He said this after the launch of the app by Prime Minister Najib Razak at the “I am Usahawan GO 4.0” carnival, organised by the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM), at the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) parking lot here today.
Currently, there are 11 helicopters available for customers, namely six Robinson 44 (R44) aircraft that can accommodate four passengers, including the pilot, and five of the Robinson 66 (R66) model to carry five passengers, involving locations such as Langkawi Island, Kuala Terengganu, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Port Dickson.
Of these, three helicopters are stationed in Langkawi Island, with all flights operated by Cempaka Helicopter Corporation Sdn Bhd, which holds the operating licence.
Faiz said since the commercial and tourism helicopter service was introduced in 2009, it had received good response. In the first three years of operation, it had recorded 5,000 passengers annually.
He said the number had been increasing over the years and last year, the company recorded the highest number thus far, at 18,000 passengers, or an average of 20 flights per day.
The majority of the patrons were tourists from the Middle East.