Valve Guide, in answer to your questions:
Code:
"Thanks biggles thats much clearer now. Do the bits that have not made 2200 hours need to be inspected at regular intervals which they would not need if they were replaced and had a fresh 12 years and 2200 hours? If so does that make it more expensive in the long run?"
The parts that have not been changed at the 12 year Inspection do not need special checks. They get checked at the 50 hours, 100hr and Annual inspection along with the rest of the aircraft.
There may be a marginal difference in costs over the long run (due to extra labour costs and inflation), but I don't think you'd notice it. In any event, the benefits of better cashflow, lower insurance premiums, less capital tied up should massively outweigh the extra labour costs over the 12 year time scale.
Where you WILL notice a difference will be in the re-sale value of the R44, and more specifically how easy it is to sell it.
A R44 with 1100 hours and 12 years to run will only appeal to private owner. Schools and commercial operators will not be interested. This makes it less desirable and will suppress the price.
But this is not necessarily a bad thing. If you've owned your R44 for 12 years, and flown 1200 hours in this time, and you spend (say) £50,000 on an Inspection, you'll still be able to sell it for over 100k if it still has 10 years and 1000 hours to go. Don't forget that a new R44 is now £300k or more!!
And there are plenty of potential private R44 owners who would jump at the chance of owning a helicopter with lots of years of life for 110k, even if they know they will have to buy some blades at some later stage.
Big Ls.