If you work in new or used helicopter sales, or in helicopter rentals, industry-specific information is available which will help you run your business. By keeping up on the latest helicopter sales news and trends, you will be able to help fill your customers’ needs more completely and run your business more smoothly.

Helicopter prices, for instance, are one of the most important areas of the industry in which you need to stay informed. Whether your customers are looking for prices for commercial helicopters or prices for personal helicopters, they expect their dealer/broker to be knowledgeable and current on the going prices for various models. To keep up with helicopter sales news and trends, consider the following:

1. There are three types of helicopters: single rotor, tandem rotor and coaxial rotor.

2. Many online resources exist to help you stay current on helicopter sales news and trends.

3. Companies might want to consider buying a personal helicopter, if their usage needs are not great, since personal helicopter prices run much lower than those of commercial helicopters.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Do regular online checks regarding helicopter prices and helicopters for sale

Keep atop of the trends in helicopter sales and helicopter rentals. Many websites will even let you set up alerts to let you know when something new is posted about a certain subject or person. In addition, you can find some of your favorite helicopter news sites and blogs, bookmark them and check back often to get up-to-date information about helicopters.

I recommend: HelicopterBuyer is a website that delivers information as well as solutions. They also keep a list of items that have sold recently, so you can use that list to see what types of helicopters are selling in today’s environment. Helicopter News Blog is a collection of news stories regarding helicopters.

Subscribe to helicopter sales trade magazines

Trade magazines and publications are a great way to keep up on news affecting the helicopter sales industry. You can subscribe to most just by going to their websites and purchasing subscriptions online. These publications will help you keep up on the going prices for helicopters, whether you are looking into a helicopter rental, or looking to buy a helicopter.

I recommend: HeliOps is a trade magazine that focuses on the independent, civil helicopter sector of the industry. Vertical Magazine has a wider focus, including articles on operators, regulatory issues, maintenance and other issues that pertain to helicopter buyers, enthusiasts and workers.

Pay attention to your competitors so you can stay current with the market trends of helicopter sales

One of the best ways to keep up on the trends of any industry is to simply check around and see what other people in the industry are doing. In the case of helicopter sales and helicopter rentals, you'll want to see what other businesses are charging their customers to rent helicopters, to buy helicopters and to buy used helicopters.

I recommend: Visit the Helicopter Marketing Association's website. They have a list of helicopters for sale, complete with pictures, descriptions and prices. Corporate Helicopters also has an inventory list including prices. They specialize in Robinson helicopters, so if your company deals with this brand, Corporate Helicopters is a good place to do some research.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask your pilots and mechanics what types of helicopter sales news matter to them, and make sure to pass on information and magazines to these people. They are the ones who work with your company's helicopters every day, so it's important for them to know the trends of the industry as well as the management and office staff.

Buying or leasing a personal helicopter can improve your bottom line by saving you time and reducing rental costs if you use a helicopter on a regular basis.

A personal helicopter can cover a variety of functions. Some business considerations are on-demand travel for executives, aerial photography services, mapping, transport services, property or asset inventory, aerial agricultural uses and when airline travel is not practical.

For example, when the travel need is immediate, or the distance is not too great, a helicopter with a range of six hundred miles and a speed of two hundred miles per hour can be cost-effective. Personal helicopter prices range from around $200,000 for two passenger to $400,000 for larger, multi-passenger models.

Consider the following before making your big purchase:

1. Do an economic analysis to determine whether to purchase or lease a personal helicopter.
2. Choose the personal helicopter size and price that is right for your business needs.
3. Consider purchasing a used personal helicopter or buy one at a police or government auction.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Do the math: helicopter sales vs. lease

Once you purchase your personal helicopter, you still have to pay to operate it. Take into account tax advantages or disadvantages as well as whether or not the cost of owning and operating a helicopter is worth the time it saves. Calculate the real costs of owning and operating one.

I recommend: The Helicopter History Site provides good details about the true costs of owning a personal helicopter. HeliValue$, is considered the "Blue Book" for personal helicopters.

Learn all you can about personal helicopter features and prices, and start shopping on the Internet

From light to heavy, there is a variety of personal helicopters and price ranges choose from. Carefully determine the features you really need by familiarizing yourself with different models, and develop a shopping list with specific criteria for your situation.

I recommend: Air Crew Systems offers a range of options for buying a helicopter. You can even check out helicopters on eBay. Find different manufacturers at Controller.com.

Beat high helicopter prices with fractional ownership

Pioneered in the corporate jet market, fractional ownership entitles you to fly a certain number of hours, sharing with other owners.

I recommend: Contact Sikorsky Shares or HeliFlite for fractional helicopter sales.

Shop for used helicopters for sale

After analyzing the purchase vs. leasing option and which features and capacities you need, narrow your search to a specific helicopter. There are websites that provide searches by specific criteria. Find the specific model helicopter that suits your needs.

I recommend: Helicopter Sales.Com is a clearinghouse for purchasing all types of helicopters, and Ekhard Helicopter Sales specializes in used helicopter sales.

Auctions of seized helicopters can be a good source for used personal helicopters

The government sells seized assets through helicopter auctions. But be sure you are dealing with a reputable, reliable helicopter sales company or government agency.

I recommend:
The Government auctions blog is a good place to keep an eye open for a good deal on a personal helicopter. Some websites may require you to register before they will show you their list of seized helicopters for sale. This E-Zine article provides a comprehensive look at purchasing personal helicopters through auctions and offers good advice.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check out a few auctions before you buy. You may get excited by a great opportunity at the first auction, but don't get too eager.
• •  Decide what model, features and price range you want, and list your specific criteria on a helicopter sales websites. Let the sellers find you.
• •  Be careful if you are buying an 'as is' personal helicopter. Have a qualified helicopter mechanic check out the helicopter, and have him review the maintenance records.

If your company finds itself sending employees to remote places often, you might want to consider a helicopter rental or perhaps even buying a helicopter. There are many instances where using a helicopter makes more sense than driving or trying to find a commercial airline flight. For example, if your company needs to haul things to a remote area, a helicopter may be the most economical and efficient method of transportation.

Sometimes a personal helicopter that's been rented may suffice for your business needs. If not, you will have to consider purchasing or leasing a commercial-grade helicopter. At any rate, when you are making the most of helicopter sales, consider the following:

1. Do some research on where you might find helicopters for sale.

2. Realize there are advantages to renting/leasing, and there are advantages to buying.

3. Don’t forget the cost of instruction, operation and maintenance when estimating your costs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Figure out what helicopter prices are like for rentals and sales to see which fits your needs better

Sometimes it makes sense to rent, while in other instances buying is the right choice. Sit down with key decision makers in your company and discuss your needs. Factors that might influence this decision are frequency of trips, average distance of your trips and expertise of your staff in terms of pilots and mechanics.

I recommend: Read more about when it makes sense to rent or charter a helicopter on LimoRes.net. ALGLAS has information regarding things to consider when buying a helicopter.

Find helicopter prices that fit in your budget

Make sure to check for personal helicopter prices, as well as regular commercial helicopter prices. If your company needs are relatively small, a personal helicopter can suffice as your work helicopter and save you a lot of money in the process. Don't forget to think about how you will finance this purchase.

I recommend: Aircraft Shopper Online lets you search for helicopters online, including personal and commercial helicopters. Aerotrader has a tool called the Airplane Price Checker that allows users to check the average prices of airplanes and helicopters according to geographic location, specific makes and models and model year(s). Aerotrader’s Aircraft Loan Payment Calculator can help you figure out how much it will cost you to finance a helicopter purchase.

Consider a vendor that deals in used helicopter sales

Like buying a used car, when you buy used helicopters you can save you money. Make sure you have a mechanic inspect it before taking delivery of the helicopter.

I recommend: Cannon Aviation Group, has listings of many different models of helicopters for sale. Aviation Business Index has contact information for many helicopter dealers and brokers, many of whom sell only used helicopters or they sell both new and used helicopters.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are companies who offer management services, such as maintenance, parts, pilot service, instruction and guidance. If you buy a helicopter and find yourself struggling with these types of issues, contact your dealer. They will either be able to help you directly or can point you in the right direction for getting help.

Whether you sell helicopters or are looking to purchase one for your business, you should know helicopter sales key terms. There are many types and styles of helicopters that are available for a wide range of applications. In order to know just what your business needs, make sure you learn the meaning of terms like ultralight, tandem rotor, coaxial rotor, Bell Helicopter, NOTAR technology and effective transitional lift.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Ultralight

Ultralight describes small, lightweight helicopters. Manufacturers sell these in kits, and you put it together. Ultralights are significantly cheaper than traditional helicopters and generally weigh only 150 to 180 pounds.

I recommend: Read all about ultralight helicopters at Ultralight-airplanes.info.

Tandem rotor

A tandem rotor helicopter is one that employs the use of two main rotors, instead of one main and one smaller tail rotor. This rotor configuration offers a more complicated design than a single rotor design. This term applies to larger helicopters.

I recommend: Visit the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission website to read about tandem rotor helicopters and to look at helpful illustrations.

Coaxial rotor

A coaxial rotor helicopter has two rotors that rotate in opposite directions. The rotors mount one atop the other on the same mast. Helicopters with this design are extremely stable and adept at maneuvering in tight spots.

I recommend: CoaX Helicopters provides an excellent explanation of what a coaxial rotor helicopter is.

Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter is one of the biggest names in the helicopter manufacturing industry and is an important company to be aware of when buying or selling helicopters. Founded in 1935, Bell invented the tilt rotor helicopter and was the first helicopter company to receive commercial helicopter certification.

I recommend: Learn about Bell Helicopter and its several lines of helicopters at its website.

NOTAR

Developed by MD Helicopters, the no tail rotor (NOTAR) anti-torque system uses directed air to allow a helicopter to operate without a tail rotor and provides a smoother, quieter and safer ride.

I recommend: Read about NOTAR technology at the MD Helicopters website.

Effective transitional lift

Effective transitional lift describes the moment when a helicopter moves from hover mode to forward flight mode. This usually occurs at a speed of 15 to 20 knots.

I recommend: The Helicopter Page provides an in-depth definition of effective transitional lift along with a helpful illustration.