HELIPHOTOS FLYING VISITS - Helicopter visits to schools explaining how they fly, their mechanics, physics and navigational aspects - all tailored around the National Curriculum. Educational helicopter, helicopters, school, schools, physics, geography, primary, secondary, school visits, helicopter visits, education, educational, helicopter, helicopters, school, schools, physics, geography, primary, secondary, helicopter visits, education, educational, helicopter, helicopters, school, schools, physics, geography, primary, secondary, helicopter visits, education, educational, helicopter, helicopters, school, schools, physics, geography, primary, secondary, helicopter visits, education, educational, helicopter, helicopters, school, schools, physics, geography, primary, secondary, helicopter visits, education, educational, helicopter, helicopters, school, schools, physics, geography, primary, secondary, helicopter visits, education, educational

Before a helicopter may land at your school, we need to conduct a site survey and this is generally done by appointment during the winter months. Once this is complete and the landing area has been approved (we obtain all permissions), a date can then be arranged for your school visit.

Our main flying operations usually take place from March through to October each year. However, if you have a special school event or celebration at any time of the year, please let us know. Please remember, Heliphotos' costs are met by the sale of the Souvenir Picture Packs, which contain a class group picture. The company asks for sole rights to supply these and so, if you normally have class photographs arranged, please postpone them for the academic year of the visit.

Once you have received confirmation and a firm date and time - plus all certification (please be sure to sign and return the letter and Terms & Conditions as soon as possible. In particular, we require confirmation of the correct spelling of your school). 2 weeks before the visit, please send your neighbours in the local vicinity a letter - we recommend this one. 1 week before the visit, print off children's names onto labels ready to be put onto the Souvenir Packs before they are handed out to the children. This will greatly help with the administration. 3 days before the visit ring and inform the local Police and Fire Service as a matter of courtesy.

Practise makes perfect!

The only preparation needed before the day itself is to practise forming your shape or logo, which will be photographed when the helicopter arrives overhead. This shape should involve the active participation of all children and staff and may take the form of the school name, initials, date or simply a "smiley" welcoming face. We recommend marking the shape out in chalk on your playground and having a practice run prior to the visit. See below for hints on making a successful logo. We always find two gym benches very handy for the class photographs!

Making a successful logo

The aerial photograph of the children standing outside will be used in our souvenir folder, so it's important that it is formed well.

1. As a rough guide, if you take one class to form an 'O' this will get an idea of how big each letter/numeral should be. Then simply chalk-mark your logo onto the playground so that the children can take up position before we arrive overhead.

2. The simpler the logo the more effective it is.

3. Make sure that the logo is the right way up! Your logo should 'read' so that it shows underneath the school buildings; See image right.

4. When chalk-marking the logo it is a good idea to mark the points of the characters with a dab of paint. So if it rains the night before all you have to do is join the dots.

5. Keep the logo tight, you can do this by either linking arms, holding hands, or by put their hands on each other's shoulders. By doing this the individual letter/number will look solid when viewed from the air. This also has an added advantage of keeping excitable children in their place!

6. Ensure that everyone in the logo is sitting down so should it be a bright sunny day there will be less of a chance of shadows over casting onto your logo.

7. Make sure that the whole school is in a uniform colour to help your logo stand out better. The brighter the better!!

8. If you have any children, parents or staff which are not involved in the logo please ask them to stand in an area well away from the logo so they will not be seen in the children's picture.

Make sure your logo is the correct way up in relation to your school!