European owners of big yachts have come to regard helicopter decks as standard "must have" feature rather than optional extras. "Nearly every 65 metre plus yacht is being built with a helicopter deck," according to Jamie Edmiston, a director of Edmiston & Company, a yacht sales and brokerage firm which works closely with Eurocopter.

Eurocopter again show-cased several of its helicopters at the latest Monaco Yacht Show which Heli Air Monaco reported was one of the busiest ever for its fleet of Squirrels and Dauphins that is used to ferry show visitors from Nice to Monaco.

Olivier Lambert, senior vp sales and marketing, Eurocopter customer re-lations, says: "More and more yachts are being equipped to carry helicopters. They can pick guests up from an airport and take them directly to the yacht and rapidly transport passengers from the yacht to any city or specific place.

"This allows them to spend more time afloat or to see the sights in remote areas. The helicopter also offers a greater security if there is a need to urgently evacuate injured or sick people. Most of Eurocopter's helicopters can be embarked on yachts thanks to its experience in the field of naval helicopters."

Eurocopter says it works ever more closely with yacht architects and designers and has written a guide detailing the engineering regulations and ancillaries involved in the yacht/helicopter interface.

"The use of helicopters on yachts is facilitated through a growing number of companies that offer yacht owners a turn-key helicopter service including logistics and support," says Lambert.

An EC130 B4 was displayed on an Edmiston yacht, The Wind, anchored in the Monaco harbour and an EC155 B1, operated by Heli Air Monaco, was based at the Monaco Heliport.