Don’t be surprised if you look up and see a yellow helicopter flying across the Manx skies in the next few weeks and months.

The new business Yellow Helicopters is a commercial enterprise which forms part of Luviair Ltd, who have 20 years of helicopter management experience.

It means that for as little as £50, people will be able to get a peek at the island from a different perspective in the sky.

Based at the Jet Centre, Ronaldsway, the Robinson R44 helicopter, registered G-LVIE, which has been especially painted yellow, will be conducting sightseeing flights, offering the chance to see the island from the air.

Private tours will be available for up to three passengers at a time, ranging from shorter flights to a full island tour.

It’s the brainchild of Nigel Watson, 63, Luviair’s founder and company director.

Mr Watson told Business News: ’We operate helicopters all over the world but I have always wanted to do something for my home here in the Isle of Man.

’With G-LVIE and Yellow Helicopters this will come to fruition.

’This is a super-exciting moment for me and my team, hopefully adding a new and exciting dynamic to the island both as a fun thing to do and as a means of helping the community.

’We will engage on as many fronts as is practical.’

Mr Watson spoke to Business News on Zoom along with Captain Tom Bean, 28, who will pilot the single-engined aircraft.

Captain Bean, originally from Cheshire, has plenty of experience flying helicopters and spent many hours piloting flying tours in California.

He is currently spending time in isolation in the south of the island having brought the helicopter to the island from the UK last week. He is looking forward to the challenge of taking up to three passengers on trips around the island and said: ’I’m using my time well in isolation swotting up on the history of the Isle of Man and its many interesting landmarks.’

Mr Watson said: ’He will be one of the island’s best tour guides,’

Mr Watson said the launch of the new enterprise had been delayed by Covid but he is keen to stress that operations will be ready to commence soon.

He said the cost of going on flights in the island will vary greatly according to the amount of time booked.

But it could be from as little as £50 per person for a so-called buzz flight.

Family is important to Mr Watson, who is himself the holder of a private helicopter pilot’s licence.

Luviair has operated in the island since 2006 and Mr Watson, who has lived here since 2010, says it incorporates both his daughters’ names, Louise and Olivia.

He said the helicopter was bought just after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He was treated in the island and is now currently cancer free. He said he is grateful to the island for the treatment he received.

But Mr Watson said Yellow Helicopters will not just be about tours and pleasure flying. He is working with the island’s government exploring possible additional ways of using the aircraft.

And Mr Watson is also looking at using his own charity called Manx Youth Opportunities, in some way and said there could be use of a special ’Nice Day Out’ programme that looks set to be launched in the coming months.

The business will also be looking at introducing other take off and landing spots in the future.