Originally Posted by
nerf97
Thank you for this. This is actually what I heard about the R44 or the Robinson helis. 12 years use, 2,000 hours or 2,000 start cycles the operator will have to "return" the Robinson heli to factory for rebuilding or so. And will have to be repurchased at 50-60 % of the brand new price.
This is not accurate. It's 12 years or 2200 hours, whichever comes first, and I believe it's specifically 2200 collective hours for aircraft equipped to show it, which is even better. The overhaul does not have to be done at the factory and you do not "repurchase" your aircraft. Most of the cost is for supplies/parts, with the rest covering roughly 240 hours (factory estimate) of labor. The cost has nothing to do with the purchase price of the helicopter.