How Much Does A Helicopter Cost
Getting a car is one thing, buying a helicopter another. The latter is oftentimes a more serious undertaking. This is true especially with the price involved in doing so. Whether it is for military, commercial, or public use, purchasing a helicopter involves a big sum of money. Read on and discover how much does a helicopter cost.
Typical Cost Of A Helicopter
The average cost of a helicopter is $200,000 to $400,000.
The price can increase dramatically up to $100,000 depending on the model, type, and size of helicopter you choose.
Included In The Price Of A Helicopter
- The helicopter including all its parts, machines, and safety features
- Other selling companies offer pilot services, maintenance, and repair in line with the purchase for a specified period of time .
Consider These Factors
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Seating capacity. More often than not, the bigger the helicopter is, the higher its price becomes.
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Condition. Used helicopters are obviously way cheaper than brand new ones.
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Individual needs. How will you be using the helicopter? Is it for your company, the military, or public service? Take note that not all helicopters are made the same. Pick a helicopter type and model that will be right for your needs. Your choice will usually determine how much you will be spending on this big purchase.
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Location. Helicopter manufacturers are not likely to be here and there and so as their stores. Meaning, shipping will have a major impact on the overall cost of the purchase. You must consider buying from stores near you so that the shipping and handling fees will not be that much to bear. This will save you more money as compared to buying a helicopter overseas.
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Shipping adds up the total cost of a helicopter. The farther you are from the store, the bigger the price you have to pay to cover for the shipping. .
Additional Costs
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Operational costs. The cost of flying a helicopter is not cheap. Some operational expenses of owning a helicopter include fuel and oil, maintenance, insurance, and taxes.
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Training. If you plan to fly your own helicopter, you need trainings and licenses before you can successfully, legally, and safely take over the front seat. Flight training can cost around $10,000 to $15,000 to meet the necessary requirements for getting your private helicopter license. If you don’t plan to fly your helicopter yourself, you will spend on the cost of labor that can be offered to you by licensed helicopter pilots.
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License. Registering your helicopter is important when you buy a brand new one. A $5 registration fee is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Check out the requirements and processes of registering your aircraft at the FAA website.
- Decide whether the purchase is reasonable or not. Investing on a helicopter means a lot of money. Hence, it is important that your purchase will be worth it in the end. See whether or not you will save more on owning a plane as compared to leasing one every time you need to fly.
Tips Before You Buy a Helicopter
Helicopter Pilot's Guide lists the major helicopter manufacturers and links to their websites. Choose the best make and model that will meet your specific needs.
Talk with the manufacturer in terms of the inclusions of the purchase. Make sure to discuss about warranties, after-sales services, legality, and a lot of other factors.
If you are not well-versed in terms of helicopter purchases, it may be best to get the help of aviation consultants. You may need to pay them service fees but at least you can be sure that your purchase will be worth your money in terms of quality, safety, design, maintenance, and legality. Check out this directory of aviation consultants in the United States at AirlineUpdate.com.