A superyacht is like a private island on the seas in the wonderful world of the ultra affluent. Even the most opulent house owners envy these billionaire playgrounds.

Yachts have evolved from party boats to nautical icons. These superyachts offer cutting-edge designs, amenities, and other features that make you question why billionaires bother coming to land when they have a floating mansion.

Imagine a millionaire off the coast of Sardinia taking a helicopter tour of the Italian city as the sun sets. This is elegance meets usefulness. The clever design of the onboard helipads and chopper storage beneath the deck allows this smooth transition from sea to sky. In dangerous settings, a helicopter is essential.

A Design

Keeping a helicopter aboard a $49 million superyacht is difficult. Engineers usually install a helipad or heli deck on the ship. To make takeoffs and landings easier, the helipad can be situated in the stern or bow, depending on the yacht’s size.

The reinforced steel and carbon fiber helipad can resist helicopter weight and impact without buckling. The yacht’s structure usually includes a hangar underneath the helipad.

This hangar stores the helicopter while not in use. Precision hydraulic or electric pulley systems lower the aircraft inside the hull, out of sight and out of the weather.

Landing, Storage

Due to wave action, the $49 million boat moves, making helicopter and yacht landings dangerous.

The boat must stand motionless with its snout in the wind before landing to decrease relative wind speeds, and ICAO rules limit helipads to helicopters. The crew must clean the helipad of any impediments and remove any loose material that might cause landing hazards.

Next, the crew will examine weather for visibility. Aircraft landing safety depends on wind speed and direction. After landing on the helipad, the crew will fold the helicopter’s blades backwards to make it easier to stow in the yacht’s hangar.