This is Maverick Helicopters pilot and instructor Matthew Olson’s favorite week. “If you ever walk into this place during Electric Daisy Carnival, you would have no idea that we go to the Grand Canyon,” he says, laughing. “It’s transformed to look like the Speedway. I’ve flown EDC—this’ll be No. 7. You see the artists that come up that play at 7 or 8 o’clock at night, then next year, they’re playing at 11 and then the next year, they’re headlining the main stage. Martin Garrix, Zedd, Tiësto, Calvin Harris, Armin van Burren, Paul Oakenfold, Marshmello, DJ Snake—I’ve got to fly all those guys out there.”
It would make sense that EDC week is Olson’s favorite. The California native grew up studying music, specifically classical drumming, even getting his BA in music. But after college he decided to change directions and go after a lifelong passion. “Deep down, I always wanted to be a pilot,” he says. He enrolled in flight school in Colorado, realized he loved flying helicopters instead of planes, built up his flight hours (Olson has roughly 4,400), and in 2014, he joined Maverick as a pilot; by 2018, he added instructor to his title.
“I’ve met people from all around the world—from countries that I didn’t even know I’d ever meet anyone from: Mongolia, Tahiti, Ivory Coast,” he says. “It shows that Vegas is attracting people from all over the world. You are now part of their vacation, their bucket-list-crossing-off-moments, if you will. You definitely have an impact ... They’re going to remember the Strip—the activities you do in the city that really fortify your vacation here, and that’s this company and what we do.”
And EDC week is no exception. “With the vibe that’s happening here, the vibe at the (Speedway)—you’re involved with something completely different and you’re now part of one of the biggest music festivals of the year,” Olson says.”
Experiences: Maverick Tours
If you want to catch a ride with Olson to Electric Daisy Carnival (May 20-22), Maverick Helicopters is offering both one-way and round-trip flights. Individual rates start at $550 one way and $850 round trip. Once on board, guests use voice-activated headsets to talk with the pilots, listen to music and get amazing, bird’s-eye views of the Strip and the Speedway. Maverick also offers tours to the Grand Canyon, where guests will be dropped off at Maverick’s own private bluff deep inside the canyon. Other tours include trips over the Strip, trips to Grand Canyon’s Skywalk, flights over the Hoover Dam and more.
Benefit: When booking the Neon & Nature package, make sure to ask about the sunset flight option.
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