Can any of you tell me where in the world I could rent an AS350B3 at £500/hr with a mechanic and field maintenance included?

I heard the other day that this was possible?

The comparison between a light fixed-wing and a turbine helicopter is totally bogus. A Cessna can be operated pretty much forever, as-is. On a helicopter, all the moving parts have to be replaced on a regular basis. The TT straps have to be replaced every 24 months, no matter what. Has the OP ever priced a set of TT straps, and the cost of replacing them every 24 months, forever? Or the cost of replacing the main and tail rotor blades on a regular basis? A helicopter isn't so much a capital investment as a money pit, requiring regular infusions of large amounts of cash. Any sane owner has to charge a very high rate just to break even.

How do you calculate that the costs are 10 time greater, that seems a bit extreme. Can you give a comparison on types and prices quoted. Just interested to see how you get to this big difference.

Regards

Because like has not been compared with like ...

The original example was for a single piston plank which in the UK could be about £130 an hour and a gas turbine light helicopter. If the turbine helicopter costs used by the OP in his/her comparison were an Agusta 109, then 10 times would make sense!!

Cheers

Whirls

Gomer TT straps is not a good example as it is only the 206 that has the 24 month life .
There is no way you could get a B3 for £500 , i used to let me BA out for £600 without pilot etc and that was v cheap !!!

Cost Comparison Not Realistic
 

That makes sense, Like for Like would be a much lower differential.

At the end of the day the Charter operator has to make a margin, if you dont make a profit then you dont stay in business for long. Any operator will know that you first have to pay for the aircraft (DOC), maybe that price includes the insurance, maybe not, that depends on who owns it and whether the owner insures it or it is insured through the operators insurance scheme. You then need to put fuel in it and pay a pilot to fly it.

JetRanger costs per flying hour: Say £300/£350 inc insurance for the hire/owner. Fuel (depends where you buy it) lets say for the sake of argument £90.00 per hour. Pilot, allow £60.00 (maybe a Day Rate will be applied subject to the task being undertaken). Allow for AOC charges and admin say £50.00 per hour. You are up to £500/550 per hour for the charter and that is before the operator puts a profit margin into the equation. Thus most JetRanger operators will be quoting based on between £550 & £650 per hour.

If you took the above and the figure quoted of £130.00 per hour for the fixed wing then at the top of the priricing band you are about 5 times more expensive. You then have to consider the versatility offered by the Helicopter, very often Point to Point and if not then generally at least a lot closer than the airfield required by the fixed wing. In general I do not think you can fairly draw a comparison between the two forms of flying.

The above is really just irrelevant number crunching. What it actually comes down to is that Helicopters are a lot more expensive to Maintain, Insure and Operate.

Well thats my thoughts anyway.:8

nigelh

Thank you for this. I guess the rumour was just that.

AOC Charges:
2012/13 £29,360.00
2011/12 £22,020.00
2010/11 £17,616.00
2009/10 £14,610.00
2008/09 £11,664.00
2007/08 £ 1,524.00
2006/07 £ 1,572.60
2005/06 £ 1,068.00
2004/05 £ 1,068.00

Not bad is it, worst recession ever, sterling badly devalued (all spares up 30%)
But hey we can increase your fees by 2,649% over 8 years.
:ugh::ugh::ugh:

One CAA inspector mentioned recently that the CAA have been very busy cutting down the running cost.
From a workforce of 7000 people a few years back they are now down to 1000 people.

That should make you feel warm and fuzzy surely.