The supply of pre-owned single engine helicopters for sale has continued to shrink on slightly lower transaction volume. So saysToronto, Canada-based helicopter trading firm Aero Asset's inaugural Heli Market Trends Report for single engine pre-owned helicopters, which compares market performance for the first half of 2022 with the same period 2021.

“Retail sales volume decreased 10 per cent in the first six months of 2022, compared to 2021,” says VP of market research Valerie Pereira. “During the same period, supply for sale decreased by 65 per cent.”

106 units traded in the first half of 2022, valued at $200 million. The supply for sale in the second quarter of 2022 represented 64 units worth $134 million, and was down 65 per cent compared to same period 2021.

Compared to Europe, North American buyers demonstrated a robust appetite for deals, accounting for two thirds of all transactions in the first six months of 2022. Meanwhile, transactions to Europe dropped 50 per cent year over year, while still contributing 38 per cent of the single engine supply available for sale. North America accounted for 12 per cent of the total supply for sale, Latin America 19 per cent and the Asia Pacific region 17 per cent.

By far, VIP configured helicopters have accounted for most of the single engine deals so far in 2022, at 60 per cent. EMS configured supply for sale dropped to historic lows and utility configured supply available for sale dropped 75 per cent year over year.

The most liquid pre-owned market during the first half of 2022 was the Airbus AS350 B3/B3e/H125, followed by the Bell 407/GX/P/I and the Airbus EC130 B4/H130. All three models boast only three months of supply at 2022 trade levels. The least liquid pre-owned market during the same period was the Leonardo AW119K/Ke/Kx, with an absorption rate of 10 months.

This report covers single engine pre-owned helicopter models in production and variants with recent pre-owned sales activity. Its data does not include the sale of new aircraft, leases, sale-lease-backs, early buy-outs, sale to government or for part-out. The full report can be downloaded from the Aero Asset website.

The report also includes a conversation with Hector Tamarit Almagro, who has spent the last 22 years in the aviation industry, working with Pegasus Aerogroup and serving as its CEO since 2016. He has extensive international experience, living and working in Spain and in Chile, where he started Pegasus South America, a subsidiary company of Pegasus Aerogroup.

The next twin engine report will be released in early September and the next single engine report in January 2023.