About Us
Flying M Air, LLC is a Wickenburg, AZ-based helicopter tour and charter operator that has been serving Arizona and the southwest since 2000.
Company History
Flying M Air was founded in October 2000 when it acquired a 1999 Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter. This 2-place helicopter was leased to a flight school in Chandler, AZ, from October 2000 through May 2001.
In October 2001, Flying M Air began FAA Part 91 helicopter sightseeing tour operations at Wickenburg Municipal Airport Wellik Field. In addition to tours, the company provided aerial photography services to individuals and real estate companies. The business was expanded for the winter 2003/2004 season with the lease of a 4-place Robinson R44 Raven helicopter. This larger helicopter enabled the company to triple its tour business and offer rides and tours from locations other than Wickenburg. Unfortunately, this helicopter was returned to its owner when the lease was up in April 2004.
In October 2002, Flying M Air won the Wickenburg Airport Fuel Manager contract and took over operations of the airport’s fixed base operation (FBO). In the process, it completely renovated the town-owned airport terminal building’s interior and landscaping and made many other highly acclaimed improvements to the facility. The company also started a pilot shop based at the airport and began selling aeronautical charts and pilot supplies online. Flying M Air sold its interest in the Fuel Manager contract and gave up airport FBO operations in May 2004 and discontinued its mail order business in January 2005.
In June 2004, Flying M Air placed an order for a new Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter. Because of a six-month backlog of orders, the helicopter was not delivered until January 2005. Flying M Air sold its R22 helicopter in preparation for the new arrival and now exclusively operates the new R44.
In February 2005, the company received its FAA Part 135 operating certificate. This allows Flying M Air to offer longer tours, including tours with intermediate stopping points, and provide air taxi services throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states.
In July 2006, Flying M Air began offering its first overnight excursion, the Southwest Circle Helicopter Adventure, a 6-day, 5-night journey around the southwest’s most popular destinations. Additional excursions are in the planning stages.
Managing Member/Chief Pilot Background
Flying M Air is owned and operated by Maria Langer who is the Managing Member of the LLC and its Chief Pilot.
Maria is a graduate of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, where she received a BBA degree with highest honors in accounting in 1982. She worked as an auditor and financial analyst for the City of New York and a Fortune 100 corporation before leaving her job to start a freelance writing career in 1990. Since then, she has written more than 60 technical books and hundreds of articles about using computers. She continues to write part-time today.
Maria began flying helicopters in September 1998, fulfilling a dream she’d had since her first helicopter flight at age 8. As a part-time student, she did not obtain her private pilot certificate until May 2000. She began her commercial pilot training in October 2000 and received her commercial certificate a year later. She immediately began offering tours and other services with Flying M Air’s R22 helicopter. She has accumulated over 1,700 hours of flight time, all in helicopters.
Maria meets Robinson Helicopter Company’s strict requirements for ferry pilots. She has given rides in R22 and R44 helicopters at a variety of events, including county fairs and other public outdoor gatherings in Arizona and Utah. From April through September 2004, she worked as a seasonal Grand Canyon tour pilot flying Bell 206L Long Ranger helicopters.
Maria is serious about safety. She has attended the Robinson Helicopter Company Factory Safety Course three times since 2000. She also practices emergency procedures with a certified flight instructor at least once a year in addition to her required annual Part 135 check ride.
Maria uses her imagination, business background, and communication skills to attract customers and open new markets for Flying M Air. It is her goal to provide the helicopter tour and charter services in demand by individuals and organizations throughout Arizona. But Maria hasn’t lost sight of what brought her into the business in the first place: the wonder and excitement of rotary wing flight.
About Our Helicopter
Flying M Air flies a 2005 Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter. Built in Torrance, CA, Robinson helicopters have an excellent record for safety and reliability.
Flying M Air took delivery of its brand new helicopter, N630ML, on January 6, 2005. This helicopter was built to Flying M Air’s specifications and has everything needed to ensure a safe, comfortable flight. In this 4-place helicopter, you can share your experience with one or two friends, family members, or business associates.
Our helicopter is equipped with headsets for every passenger and a voice-activated intercom system. This makes it easy to communicate with the pilot and other passengers throughout the flight. Other helicopter features include special “bubble” observation windows, leather seats, and an iPod-compatible stereo sound system.
For the pilot, there are two communications radios, a state-of-the-art GPS, and an air traffic warning system in addition to the standard instrument and avionics package.
The helicopter is meticulously maintained by a large maintenance organization that specializes in Robinson helicopters. When it’s not flying, it’s kept in a secure hangar, safe from the elements, and ready for its next flight.
