In 2000, Jeff Codman bought a 1977 Enstrom 280C helicopter with a Small Business Association loan, a few credit cards and a dream. Initially focusing on flight instruction, aerial photography and  “barnstorming” rides at local fairs, festivals and air shows, 2007 saw the company upgrade to the first of many brand new helicopters. We continue striving to provide the very best helicopter tour experience bar none. Bird’s Eye View Helicopters / Newport Helicopter Tours is a thriving family run business that has not only provided safe, professional and thrilling tours of the greater Newport area for 75,000 people over the last 24 years, but also offers the best helicopter charter and aerial photography service in the region.

We fly the Robinson R44, the most popular helicopter in the world.  Our Viper Red helicopters are purchased brand new and meticulously maintained in-house, so we are intimately aware of all aspects of the aircraft and their safety.

The fact that we are a small family-owned business leads to a sense of camaraderie and pride that we hope is reflected in your flight with us.  Whether it is Jeff, his wife Kristin, who oversees accounting and scheduling or their children – Lily  and Jeffrey Jr. , you are likely to run into a Codman family member at some stage of your flight with us.  Be assured that all of us are fully committed to you having a superior experience.

If you see us flying overhead on your next trip to Newport, don’t just wave, come fly with us to see Rhode Island as you’ve never seen it before.  We’ve come a long way since
our “Barnstorming” days.

As a native of Rhode Island, Jeff took his first helicopter ride at the age of 8. He began flying airplanes with his father at age 12, fostering a lifelong love of aviation. After receiving his airplane license at 17, he pursued and earned his commercial helicopter license in 1988 and has never looked back.

Jeff’s helicopter career began over 35 years ago with aerial photography involving boats, homes, construction sites, and about anything else that can be photographed from the air. Since that time, Jeff has accumulated over 11,000 helicopter flight hours and is the driving force behind the success of the company. His efforts are apparent throughout every aspect of the operation.

He is an FAA Part 135 Commercially rated Charter Pilot and a Certified Helicopter Flight Instructor. Jeff is also an FAA Certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic who performs the maintenance on all of our aircraft.

Despite the protestations of everyone around him, Jeff continues to use a 1980’s Top Gun ringtone for his phone.

Ciaran has spent most of his life growing up here in Rhode Island and developed a passion for aviation at an early age. He began learning to fly airplanes at 16 years old but switched his focus to helicopters after graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2017. After receiving his commercial helicopter license in 2021 he began conducting sight-seeing tours, flight instruction, and charter operations around southern New England. Ciaran also enjoys spending his free time on the water boating and fishing around Narragansett Bay.