East Texas Helicopters

East Texas Helicopters is a helicopter company based in Tyler, Texas, in the Piney Woods of East Texas. It flies a Robinson R44 and holds FAA authorisation for commercial air tours under the rules that cover short sightseeing flights.

Its scenic tours fly along Broadway into downtown Tyler, with views over the city and Lake Tyler, and another route takes in downtown and nearby areas with views of Lake Palestine. The company also designs custom routes for special events and can land at pre approved private locations such as ranches for private occasions. It says tours run by appointment, usually seven days a week when schedules allow, and that flights cancelled for weather are rescheduled.

The helicopter can fly with the doors off for unobstructed aerial photography, and it can fly lower and slower to capture detail. Each flight carries up to three guests, with weight limits per seat and in total, and young children must fly with an adult.

Beyond tours, the company flies real estate surveys of ranches, farms and other properties, hunting lease and lake surveys, pipeline patrols and well checks for oil and gas operators, and power line patrols that inspect pole tops for wear and overgrown vegetation.