The 2024 festival season has been an extremely busy one for our ever-growing helicopter charter division. 
The ACS Helipad in 2024 – from Cheltenham to Coldplay
The 2024 festival season has been an extremely busy one for our ever-growing helicopter charter division. Kicking off in March at Cheltenham, and continuing on the home straight through to Glastonbury at the end of June, we sat down with Edward (Ed) Mayhew, our Helicopter Specialist, to hear about the triumphs and tribulations of running such a busy helipad during a jam-packed four months (which involved everything from steeplechase to Shania Twain).
Out of the gate like a shot in March, the Cheltenham Festival saw the helicopter division arrange 340 landings over the course of the four-day event. The festival also marked the unveiling of the new ACS heliport terminal to rave reviews from our guests; the new solid-metal structure boasts floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the helipads and employs state-of-the-art sound-proofing technologies.
On arrival, the team greeted and then escorted guests into the lavish terminal building where complimentary refreshments made to each guest’s exacting tastes were offered at the bar. A luxury transfer to the grandstand meant that guests, when ready, were whisked away to the very centre of the excitement by a waiting Aston Martin. With 340 landings at the heliport over the course of the festival, the most of any of our events, it was both an overwhelmingly successful and busy time for our Helicopter Division.
When asked about the festival, Joe Worthington-Firn, Charter Consultant, and an integral member of our Helicopter Division, remarked:
“My Cheltenham highlight was definitely the surprise we helped one of our guests organise – he chose the terminal as the perfect place to propose to his partner, who of course accepted! It was an apt way to christen the terminal’s first outing.”
The second festival in the team’s schedule marked the 2024 iteration of the world’s most famous steeplechase, the iconic Randox Grand National at Aintree. Between 11th and 13th of April, our helicopter division skillfully co-ordinated the transfer of guests from air, to terminal, and finally on to the stands and enclosures for a slice of the action. With the terminal and its two helipads stationed in prime position within the track itself, it was impossible for our guests not to feel a part of the event presented with the panorama on approach. Indeed, the terminal was in such a prime position this year that the titular race even rushed past the helipads (to the delight of the team). With a schedule of over 50 landings over three days (at a much smaller event than Cheltenham) from within the very rails of the Aintree track, the helipad northern tour was ticked as a roaring success.
The third, and final, instalment of the ACS helipad’s horse racing trifecta in 2024 was marked by the Epsom Derby in early June. Over the two days, the team arranged over 30 landings from within the rails, meeting-and-greeting guests personally, and ensuring each received the royal treatment before continuing their journey to the grandstand in style (in the back of the customary Aston Martin).
Glastonbury rolled around a few weeks later, marking an expansion in ACS helipad presence at the illustrious music festival. The most complicated event of the festival season logistically, our Helicopter Division always accept the challenge enthusiastically. An increase on previous festivals, 2024 marked the first time ACS provided three helipads at Glastonbury – one for guests of the exclusive Camp Kerala campsite, and two in Winding Lakes for the rest of the festival goers.
A roaring success and year of firsts all-round, the champagne bar at the terminal at Camp Kerala in particular was a notable highlight of both new guests and those who’ve chartered with us in previous years. Those flying into our Winding Lakes heliport raved about the excellent experience they received, helped no doubt by another outing of our fabulous modular heliport. Nine ACS employees worked around-the-clock, ensuring that each and every one of our guests had a stellar experience. With over 300 landings during the course of the festival, and 24-hour operations even extending to co-ordinating flights for guests in the early hours, all of the hard work put in by the team meant that the universal acclaim fed back by the clients was unequivocally worth the effort.
Firmly in the post-Glastonbury cool-down but also looking forward to 2025, the ACS helipad returns with the Cheltenham Festival in March. With charter bookings for Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom, and Glastonbury already rolling in, our Helicopter Specialist, Ed Mayhew, celebrated the year’s successes:
“It’s been an incredible season for the ACS Helipad, especially with the roll-out of the new terminal building, and, with our team growing in size this year, 2025 is set to be our busiest yet. I would recommend that those interested in chartering for our regular events, or any other occasion for that matter, enquire as early as possible to avoid disappointment – Cheltenham’s 2025 landing schedule is already filling fast.”
A helicopter is a spectacular way to arrive at an event with panache, but the flexibility of travelling by helicopter is a year-round delight. Contact Ed, or one of his team, to discuss your helicopter charter requirements.