Third Quarter Newsletter

Turbine Helicopter Market Commentary

• The turbine helicopter market also experienced a continued slowdown in Q3 2025, marked by another decline in both available inventory and completed transaction activity. The average asking price across all turbine categories decreased by approximately 1% quarter-over-quarter, indicating a modest but consistent softening trend.
• Market sentiment remains cautious, with buyers becoming increasingly selective and price-sensitive. While overall demand has tapered, current-production turbine models—particularly those supported by strong OEM backing, parts availability, and active operator demand—continue to hold value better than older, out-of-production types.
• Across most weight classes, transaction timelines have lengthened as buyers weigh operating costs, component timing, and upcoming maintenance events more heavily in their purchasing decisions. Aircraft that are well-maintained, equipped with modern avionics, and maintained under factory or third-party support programs continue to generate the strongest market interest.
• Conversely, older turbine helicopters and those requiring major component overhauls are facing growing market resistance. Many of these aircraft are either remaining unsold for extended periods or trading at notably discounted prices relative to their Blue Book values. This widening performance gap between newer and legacy turbine models reflects a broader shift in buyer priorities toward operational efficiency and reduced maintenance exposure.
• Despite these headwinds, pricing across the turbine sector remains relatively stable compared to pre-pandemic volatility, with no significant signs of distress selling. The continued decline in available inventory suggests that, while demand has softened, supply remains constrained enough to prevent sharp downward price movements.
• Overall, the turbine helicopter market continues to exhibit measured weakening, characterized by lower trading volumes, marginal price erosion, and heightened differentiation between model generations. 

Light Single Turbine Helicopter Market Commentary

• The Light Single segment continued to experience broad market contraction in Q3 2025, with both inventory levels and transaction volumes declining once again this quarter. The average asking price for light single-engine helicopters fell by approximately 4% quarter-over-quarter, marking one of the most pronounced decreases among all helicopter categories.
• This continued softening reflects a combination of factors, including reduced private buyer activity, cautious fleet expansion among operators, and lingering uncertainty in secondary market pricing. Light singles—traditionally the most active segment in terms of volume—are now seeing slower turnover rates and extended listing durations, as both buyers and sellers adjust expectations to current market conditions.
• Despite the slowdown, demand remains steady for current-production models, particularly those with strong manufacturer support and lower operating costs, such as the Airbus H125, Bell 407, Bell 505, and Robinson R66 Turbine. However, older airframes, especially those approaching major maintenance intervals or featuring legacy avionics, are encountering heightened pricing pressure and are often selling below historical norms.
• Many operators continue to cite rising maintenance costs, limited parts availability for older models, and higher financing rates as contributing factors to reduced market liquidity. This has led to a widening gap in resale value between newer aircraft and legacy fleets.
• Overall, the Light Single segment remains highly competitive and price-sensitive, with buyers exercising greater scrutiny and negotiating leverage.

Light Twin Turbine Helicopter Market Commentary

• The Light Twin helicopter segment mirrored the broader turbine market’s cooling trend in Q3 2025, with both inventory and transaction activity declining again this quarter. Average asking prices fell approximately 4% quarter-over-quarter, extending the segment’s gradual downward pricing trend observed over the past several review periods.
• Market performance remains mixed, with modern twin-engine platforms such as the Airbus H135/H145 and Leonardo AW109 series continuing to demonstrate stronger value retention compared to older models like the AS355 series. Operators continue to favor aircraft with established manufacturer support, lower component costs, and flexible mission capability—attributes that help sustain residual values despite weaker overall market demand.
• Across most markets, buyers are proceeding cautiously, and transactions are taking longer to close as financing challenges and cost considerations weigh on purchasing decisions. In some cases, owners are opting to hold aircraft longer rather than sell into a soft market, further constraining available supply but doing little to boost pricing momentum.
• The light twin segment’s operational niche—serving EMS, utility, and VIP transport missions—remains stable, but competition among sellers has intensified. Aircraft in premium condition or recently upgraded configurations continue to command attention, while others require price concessions to attract interest.
• In summary, the Light Twin segment continues to reflect a balanced but subdued market, where demand is steady but selective, and pricing trends favor buyers.

Medium Helicopter Market Commentary

• The Medium helicopter segment showed relative resilience during Q3 2025, standing out as one of the few categories to record a modest 1% increase in average asking prices quarter-over-quarter. While both inventory and transaction volumes declined—continuing a broader market trend—the slight price uptick suggests underlying demand stability, particularly from mission-specific operators who rely on these platforms for offshore transport, utility, and public service operations.
• Demand within this class remains concentrated on current-production and late-model aircraft, such as the Bell 412EP/EPI, Leonardo AW139, and Sikorsky S76C++, which continue to benefit from active OEM support, solid parts availability, and strong operator confidence. These models are seeing the most consistent pricing performance, with limited downward pressure even as transaction volumes soften.
• Conversely, older, or legacy medium platforms, including specific variants of the early S-76 models, are experiencing extended listing times and a narrower buyer pool. Operators seeking to upgrade are often balancing replacement costs against evolving operational demands, which has resulted in selective purchasing rather than broad-based acquisition activity.
• The medium helicopter market remains structurally sound, supported by the segment’s versatility and mission-critical role across multiple industries. The minor price increases this quarter likely reflects both the limited supply of quality aircraft and continued global demand from offshore energy, search and rescue, and governmental sectors.

Super Medium Helicopter Market Commentary

• The Super Medium category once again exhibited exclusively off-market activity in Q3 2025, with no verifiable data available to measure changes in inventory, pricing, or transaction volume. This continues a multi-quarter pattern in which nearly all trades involving aircraft such as the Airbus H175 and Leonardo AW189, (in certain configurations) occur through private or fleet-level negotiations rather than public listings.
• While this lack of transparency limits quantifiable analysis, anecdotal industry feedback suggests that demand remains stable but selective, driven primarily by offshore operators and governmental agencies. These buyers typically engage in direct fleet acquisitions or long-term lease agreements, often at pricing levels that are not publicly disclosed.
• The absence of open-market transactions also indicates that supply is tightly held, with few operators willing to part with active aircraft amid continued demand for high-capacity, long-range performance in offshore and SAR missions.

Heavy Helicopter Market Commentary

• The Heavy helicopter segment maintained its steady but contracting trend in Q3 2025, with available inventory declining further while sales volume remained stable. Average asking prices were unchanged from the previous quarter, signaling a period of relative price stability despite ongoing reductions in market supply.
• This balance between fewer listings and consistent transaction levels suggests that demand continues to align closely with the limited number of aircraft available. The heavy segment—dominated by platforms such as the Airbus 332 / H225 and Sikorsky S-92 —remains primarily driven by offshore energy transport, heavy-lift, and government operations.
• Operators continue to prioritize mission readiness and reliability over price, which has helped maintain value consistency even amid broader market softening. However, with production of several heavy models having ceased in recent years, fleet modernization constraints and parts availability challenges may become a growing concern for certain operators.
• Despite these factors, the heavy helicopter market continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, with values holding firm thanks to ongoing demand from long-term contract operators and fleet managers. If supply continues to contract without a proportional drop in utilization demand, pricing could begin to trend upward shortly.

If by chance you are a helicopter owner or operator and are seeing something other than what we are publishing, please give me a call at 1-847-487-8258 or send me an email at jason.kmiecik@helivalues.com and I will be happy to discuss the market with you. If you have any sales you would like us to know about, I would also be happy to discuss them with you. Without your willingness to share information, we wouldn’t be here to keep the industry informed and up to date.

Subscribe NOW

Mfg.Model

Airbus

AS350B3e (H125)

AS355F/F1

AS355F2

AS355N

AS355NP

AS365N3/3+

BK117A4

BK117B1

BK117B2

BK117C1

EC120B (H120)

EC130B4

EC130T2 (H130)

Bell

212

407 Analog

407 GXi

429 w/Skids

429 w/Landing Gear

Enstrom

F-28A

F-28C

F-28F

F-280

F-280C

F-280F/FX

480

480B

Leonardo

A109E

AW119Kx

Schweizer RSG

300C-S300C

300CB

300CBi

Sikorsky

S76C+

Comments



Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease / Increase

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Decrease

Eagle Single Conversion Value Increase

Resale Value Decrease / Increase

Configuration Value Changes

Configuration Value Changes

Resale Value Decrease

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase / Decrease

Configuration Value Change

Resale Value Decease / Configuration Value Changes

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Resale Value Increase

Configuration Value Changes

Resale pricing adjustments are based on actual sales transactions and current market conditions such as overall trends in asking prices, increase or decrease in supply, demand, and sales volume. We obtain sales pricing data from owners and operators, lenders and lessors, brokers and equipment manufacturers worldwide.

While we do review all models each quarter, frequently traded models are updated as soon as they begin to show variation from the previously published values. Stay up to date on resale pricing changes by purchasing an annual subscription.