Flying paying guests

[jsbc]

We own and run a small wilderness lodge in BC and are thinking of possibly adding heli-hiking to the activities we offer. I've been searching around trying to find out the following, but haven't really got anywhere. Can't also seem to get through to the right person at TC. Any help with these questions much appreciated:

1. For us to fly our guests out to remote locations for day hikes is it enough that the pilot has a HCPL or do we need an operator certificate as well?

2. Anyone know what the insurance minimums would be for us to do this (even an approximate guess would help) if we decided to train one of our own staff. I'm guessing the 60 hr conversion from a FW CPL (one of us has a valid FW CPL) is probably not enough to get insurance.

3. Any idea of insurance costs on say a R44?

We wouldn't be planning on offering any charter services outside our business.

Many thanks

[Cat Driver]

The only way you could fly your guests around in a privately operated helicopter is if your guests were friends and not paying at your lodge.

Otherwise you need an OC and a pilot with enough time to be insurable for commercial operations.

[jsbc]

Thanks Cat Driver. I read somewhere you need 500 hrs for an operating certificate. Does that sound about right?

[photofly]

It's your organisation that needs the certificate, not a particular pilot.

This might be a useful resource for you:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/p ... u-5178.htm