Celebrity Helicopters

What Celebrity Helicopters does

Celebrity Helicopters is a privately held, founder-owned aviation services company headquartered at Compton Airport (901 West Alondra Blvd., Compton, California) with a secondary operational base at Torrance Airport. Founded in 1994 by chief pilot and president Robin Petgrave, the company serves the Los Angeles metropolitan area through four interlocking lines of business: consumer helicopter and airplane tours, executive and celebrity charter flights, aerial film and television production, and pilot flight training. Its customers include LA tourists booking individual sightseeing experiences (priced $99–$659 per person across tour tiers and durations), corporations and high-net-worth individuals booking charters, and film/TV/music video productions requiring FAA-authorized restricted-flight-zone operations. The company has been credited on productions including Broken Arrow, Eraser, and Myth Busters, and the founder personally accumulated over 25,000 flight hours with the broader staff logging more than 82,000 collective hours across the Western US, Hawaii, and Mexico.

The company operates a heterogeneous fleet configured for both sightseeing and aerial cinematography — including Hughes 500, Robinson R44RII and R66, Bell 47, Bell 212, Jet Rangers, Long Rangers, Eurocopter Astars and Twin Stars, Hughes 300, McDonnell Douglas aircraft, and WWII-era biplanes — supported by an FAA-approved Motion Picture and Television Waiver (Movie Manual) and a proprietary harness handheld camera-mount technique that differentiates its aerial production offering. A 7,000 sq ft hangar at Compton Airport incorporates make-up and dressing rooms, a sound stage, a cafe, and a staging area, enabling on-site production support that doubles as tour infrastructure. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the company's website, a toll-free booking line, an online scheduling system (SchedulePointe), and a 4.9-star Airbnb Experiences listing; group and corporate bookings are processed via direct sales. Subsidiaries include Chameleon Global (aerial production) and DC3 Gourmet Restaurant (a WWII DC-3 converted into a food truck serving as a fundraiser for the founder's separately organized nonprofit, Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum).

Celebrity Helicopters is bootstrapped with no institutional investors, has 11–50 employees, and donates most of its profits to Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum (T.A.M.), a nonprofit that delivers youth aviation education with endorsements from Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Home Depot, the Tuskegee Airmen, the L.A. Mayor's office, and the California State Assembly. Revenue is generated through per-flight tour pricing (transaction-fee model), executive charter fees, aerial production services priced as professional engagements, branded merchandise (hats, hoodies, t-shirts, flight jackets), and flight training with 100% financing available. Tour product breadth ranges from a $99 budget airplane tour to a $1,595/hour Robinson R66 jet-turbine custom experience, plus bundled offerings such as the Catalina Wine Tasting Tour ($589–$609) and The Celebrity Experience ($425), which combines luxury sedan pickup, champagne, and a red carpet photo session.

Name

Celebrity Helicopters

Legal name

Celebrity Helicopters, Inc.

Website

https://celebheli.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Celebrity Helicopters is a Compton, California-based aviation services company operating helicopter tours, aerial film production, executive charters, and flight training in the Los Angeles market. Founded in 1994 by Robin Petgrave, it serves tourists, productions, and high-net-worth individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Tourism and Aviation Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487), Air Transportation (481), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Helicopter Sightseeing & Scenic Tours (TLAFACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scenic & Sightseeing Helicopter Tours (THABAGAE), VIP/Executive Helicopter Transport (THABAGAH), On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB), Helicopter Event & VIP Transport Services (TLAFACAG)

Keywords

• Helicopter tour services
• Aerial cinematography services
• Executive charter flights
• Flight training programs
• Sightseeing tour operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Compton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Helicopter Tours: Per-flight revenue from aerial tours of Los Angeles, including sightseeing, celebrity homes, beaches, Hollywood Sign, and Catalina Island. Prices range from $129 to $589 per person depending on tour duration and inclusions.
2. Executive Charters: Corporate charter services with jets and helicopters for executives and celebrities requiring point-to-point transportation with luxury amenities.
3. Aerial Production Services: Film, television, and music video production services including camera ships, location scouting, cast & crew transportation, and dailies transport. Major credits include Broken Arrow, Eraser, Myth Busters.
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including hats, t-shirts, hoodies, letterman jackets, and M1 flight jackets sold through online store.
5. Flight Training: Flight training services with 100% financing available (O.A.C.) for aspiring pilots.
6. DC3 Gourmet Restaurant: WWII DC-3 aircraft converted into gourmet food truck serving as fundraising tool for Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Celebrity Helicopters provides helicopter and airplane tours, executive charters, aerial cinematography for film/TV, flight training, helicopter ferrying, and branded merchandise, primarily serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The company operates sightseeing flights over LA landmarks, celebrity homes, beaches, Hollywood Sign, and Catalina Island, alongside professional aerial production services backed by an FAA-approved Movie Manual.

Product overview

Celebrity Helicopters operates as a tour and aviation services company offering a portfolio of helicopter and airplane tour products centered on Los Angeles sightseeing experiences. The core offering consists of helicopter tours ranging from budget-friendly 10-minute gateway flights to premium 75-minute extended tours, complemented by airplane tours, biplane rides, executive charter services, and aerial film production. Key tour products include DTLA Tour, Beach Cities Flight, Hollywood Sign Tour, Celebrity Homes Tour, VIP Grand Tour, Sky's the Limit, Night Tours (Original and Deluxe with dinner), and Catalina Island excursions. The company also provides fully Custom Tours for personalized destinations, The Celebrity Experience as a luxury all-inclusive package, and merchandise under the Celebrity Helicopters brand. The DC3 Gourmet Restaurant provides on-site dining. Services are coordinated through Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum, a non-profit youth aviation mentorship organization founded by CEO Robin Petgrave.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Los Angeles Helicopter Tours Aerial sightseeing tours of Los Angeles landmarks, beaches, celebrity homes, Hollywood Sign, and Catalina Island, with tour durations ranging from 10 minutes to 75 minutes and per-person pricing from $129 to $609. Target audience is tourists, locals, and special occasion celebrants.
• Aerial Production Aerial cinematography services for film, television, and music video productions, including camera ships, location scouting, cast/crew transportation, and dailies transport. Major credits include Broken Arrow, Eraser, and Myth Busters. Enabled by the FAA-approved Movie Manual and proprietary harness handheld camera mounting technique.
• Executive Charters Point-to-point charter services for corporate executives and celebrities using helicopters and jets, featuring luxury amenities, flexible scheduling, and privacy.
• Custom Tour Bespoke helicopter tours allowing clients to design their own flight routes and destinations, priced at $1,595/person/hour with a $90 fuel surcharge and 1-hour minimum.
• Flight Training Helicopter and airplane flight training with 100% financing available on approved credit, leveraging the expertise of Chief Pilot Robin Petgrave's 25,000+ hours of experience.
• DC3 Gourmet Restaurant WWII-era DC-3 aircraft converted into a gourmet food truck offering outdoor dining overlooking the airport runway; operates as a fundraising vehicle for Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum.
• Celebrity Helicopters Branded Merchandise Branded apparel including Black Hat ($35), Crew T-Shirts ($29.99), Black Hoodies ($59.99), Letterman Jacket ($120.99), and M1 Flight Jacket ($239) sold through the company's online storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.9 star rating on Airbnb Experiences
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum (T.A.M.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit aviation museum founded by Robin Petgrave. Celebrity Helicopters donates most profits to support the museum. T.A.M. offers hands-on aviation experiences, virtual reality simulators, and youth programs for at-risk youth ages 8-21. Endorsed by L.A. Mayor, California State Assembly, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Home Depot, and Tuskegee Airmen.
• American Airlines Regional CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsorship of the DC3 Gourmet food truck which serves as a fundraising tool for Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum.
• Tuskegee Airmen Los Angeles ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides historical journey through aviation for youth programs at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum.
• Eureka's RestaurantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for gourmet dinner service included in Deluxe Night Tour package.
• Knowledge Is Power FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter of Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum youth programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Orbic Air: LA-area helicopter tour and charter operator serving tourists and corporate clients with overlapping routes and pricing. Directly comparable on consumer sightseeing and charter segments.
• Rotor Zen: LA-based helicopter tour operator with similar sightseeing routes and pricing tiers. Overlapping customer base of LA tourists and special-occasion flyers.
• LA Helicopters: Direct LA-based competitor offering per-seat helicopter tours over similar landmarks (Hollywood Sign, beaches, downtown) at comparable price points. Closest head-to-head peer in the core tour product.
• Helinet Aviation: Southern California helicopter operator providing aerial cinematography, electronic news gathering, and charter. Closest comparable for Celebrity Helicopters' FAA Movie Manual aerial production business.

Regional players

• Precision Helicopters: Southern California-based helicopter operator providing tours, flight training, and charter services. Comparable on training and regional tour offerings, though typically serving different customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters: Largest US helicopter tour operator with a diversified sightseeing and charter offering across multiple national parks. Comparable as a scaled helicopter tourism incumbent, but in a different geography.
• Sundance Helicopters: Larger, established helicopter tour operator (Las Vegas/Grand Canyon) with similar per-seat sightseeing model, premium packaging, and charter add-ons. Comparable as scaled helicopter tourism brand, though not in the same geography.
• Maverick Aviation Group: Multi-location helicopter tour operator (Grand Canyon, Maui, Kauai, Vegas) with similar per-seat pricing structure and luxury packaging. Comparable as a broader helicopter tourism platform serving premium leisure demand.
• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters: Established Hawaiian helicopter tour operator with a diversified fleet and high-volume sightseeing business. Comparable operating model and customer base, though not directly competing in LA.

Others

• Skyship Entertainment: Aerial advertising blimp operator with adjacent aviation production and media-business model overlap. Thematically comparable as a specialty aviation entertainment business, but does not directly compete in helicopter tours.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClhIk567JN7iUXs8EsMRB_w
• Instagraminstagram.com/robin.at.tam
• Facebookfacebook.com/celebheli
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/celebrity-helicopters-inc.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Celebrity Helicopters