Franz Josef in September

December through March gives you the longest days and clearest skies for helicopter flights. But here's the reality: weather changes every 20 minutes on the West Coast. I've seen perfect blue skies turn into horizontal rain in the time it takes to order coffee. January and February are peak season, which means higher prices and booked-out helicopter rides. March offers the sweet spot — fewer crowds but still decent weather. Winter (June-August) brings snow to the mountains, creating spectacular scenery, but helicopter flights get cancelled more often. The village basically hibernates from May to September, with some restaurants closing entirely.