Turkish helicopter firm launches heli-skiing in Mestia, Georgia

A Turkish helicopter company is the latest aviation firm to come to Georgia and offer heli-skiing in the country’s high-mountain winter resort Mestia.

From March Guneydogu Havacilik Isletmesias will operate in Georgia and continue its service until the end of April.

This is the third helicopter company to enter the Georgian aviation market this year to offer heli-skiing.

Earlier Austrian firm Wucher Helikopter and German HTM Helicopter Travel Munich GmbH announced they would operate heli-skiing flights in Georgia.

These types of adventure tourism contracts are approved annually by Georgian officials.

Georgia’s Ministry of Economy announced all three companies will offer flights to small tourist groups including heli-skiing tours, allowing skiers and snowboarders to experience fresh, untouched snow.

Heli-skiing is favoured by extreme skiers and snowboarders who use helicopters to transport them to high mountains, where they can access off-piste routes, steep slopes and fresh powder.

Guneydogu Havacilik Isletmesias will operate flights on a Eurocopter AS 350 83 helicopter.

The Ministry of Economy said all companies’ operations in Georgia would contribute to developing winter tourism and attract more tourists to Georgia’s ski resorts.

A new video by Georgia’s Mountain Resorts Development Company might give you some idea about skiing in Mestia.