Skies
TO THE
by breanna mroczek
Rocky Mountain High
Get a birds-eye view of the breathtaking
Rocky Mountains
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THE ESSENTIAL CALGARY 2015/16
First Class Flight
Fly to or from Calgary in a private jet
In this era of travel, planes, trains, and automobiles have
made way for the private jet.
“It’s an incredibly luxurious travel experience,” says
Andres Arboleda, COO of Privé Jets, who’s in charge of operations and client and vendor relations. “It’s a
personalized and comfortable way to travel.”
Privé Jets typically serves clients in North America—including Calgary—and can fly to and from any airport in
the world, as long as it is legal for the passengers to fly there. Passengers are in charge of securing any necessary
visas, passports, and other travel documentation.
Privé Jets has access to over 6,000 different aircraft worldwide, and over 40 varieties of jets are available.
These include light, midsize, and heavy aircraft—they vary in the size of the cabin and the distance they can fly.
“Small jets are really, really small,” Arboleda says. “It’s literally just to get you from A to B in your own plane. If
you want amenities and space, you have to upgrade.”
Each plane is unique, each has its own amenities but they can include a television, game console, wifi, iPad,
pet-friendly amenities, and in some planes you can even smoke in them like the early days of flying. “There is
so much variety with our planes, and there’s a market and situation for each one, it depends on your personal
needs and preferences,” says Arboleda. “If you’re not sure, ask to see pictures. We have actual photos of each
plane to look at, not just stock photos.”
“We can guarantee the arrival of your aircraft within four hours, of course the more notice we’re given the
more options you have,” says Arboleda.
The most luxurious planes in the fleet are business-configured Boeings and Airbuses—a plane that would
normally seat 120 or so guests only has 20 seats and uses the extra space for a bedroom with a king size bed, a
table that seats eight, a movie theatre, and a kitchen. This mansion with wings is available to order but it comes
at a price, and they’re usually in use by royalty, government, and billionaires. “If someone in Canada wanted to
fly in a Challenger [aircraft], we could get it,” says Arboleda. 1-305-917-1600, privejets.com
PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY ALPINE HELICOPTERS; COURTESY BLINK PR
If you’ve come to Calgary to see the beautiful Rocky
Mountains, there’s no better way to get up close to
the majestic peaks than in a helicopter.
Take a short one-hour drive out to the town of
Canmore where your in-flight adventure begins at
Alpine Helicopters. Duck onto the landing pad and
into your very own piloted helicopter and you’re off
among the clouds and into the skies to experience
some of the most awe-inspiring views Alberta—and
Canada—has to offer.
Alpine Helicopters coordinates 12, 24, 30, and
60-minute sightseeing tours of different areas of the
Rocky Mountains where guests can see icy glaciers,
tree-lined mountains, icefalls, and teal blue water.
If you want a super exclusive experience, a visit to
the tranquil, secluded Assiniboine Lodge is a must.
There is no road access to Assiniboine Lodge, you
can only access it through some hiking trails or by
flying in with Alpine Helicopters. “BC Parks regulates
the flying in and out of the lodge, you can only fly in
and out if you’re staying at the lodge,” says Jo-Ann
Kobelt, Manager of Tourism Operations at Alpine
Helicopters. “When you book directly through the
lodge they can arrange for your flights in and out of
the area.”
Other than Assiniboine Lodge, there are only a few
other places in the Rocky Mountains to explore up
close—unless you’re up for a hike. “Marvel Pass is
one of the few places that we can land [during the
Assiniboine Tour] because it’s not in Banff National
Park or Assiniboine Provincial Park, it’s crown land,”
explains Kobelt. “On that tour, the party has 30
minutes to wander around and take photos. Lots of
proposals take place up there, as it’s typically only two
passengers and a pilot.”
For a unique experience in the winter, Alpine
Helicopters can drop off or pick up guests for or from
a dog sled ride with Snowy Owl Sled Dog tours. Take
in the beauty of winter and the glistening snow on the
trees while mushing through the Canadian Rockies in
a