Power by the hour -- any good?

[heloresearcher65]

I would like to solicit some customers' opinions on power-by-the-hour contracts. If you have a helicopter, an engine or even a fleet of helicopters on PBH-type maintenance arrangements I'd be interested to learn whether you think they are good value for money.

Do they help ensure that your aircraft are available when you need them?

Do they make business planning easier?

Whose are best?

Have you looked at any recently and either signed on the dotted line or decided they are not for you?

Any insights on all or any of these questions would be gratefully received.

[international hog driver]

PBTH contracts have been very good to us in several ways.

We have an open contract with the approved overhaul shop and have had 5 c-20/30/47s looked after.

It allowed us better manage our cashflow and circumvent some tax issues by spreading costs between the good years and bad ones.

It may have been a bit more costly to set up and operate however, there was no longer a need to shop around for parts as the overhaul shop maintained that responsibility and new that it was in their interest to not only provide a good service but the less shop visits to them meant more profitability.

Gearboxes, Blades and other rotating parts were not covered, only the engines.

It worked for us, but get to know the overhaul shop and is m.o. before you sign on the dotted line.

Check for availibility of loaner engines/dynamics should your shop visit turn into a major overhaul. We were ok however we know of one guy had both of his aircraft aog awaiting parts with no spares or loaners in the continent!

Worked for us basically on both operational and financial fronts.