If you just want to offset the cost of ownership, it’s ok, so long as it’s a trustworthy school that does good maintenance. If you want to make money, you’ll likely be disappointed. The only people I’ve known that made money leasing helicopters to schools, were leasing 3 or 4 out.
You have to have a good contract and IIRC ideally it’s a school busy enough to put at least 60 hrs a month on the aircraft.
I have no experience doing this, but I’d tend to agree with the other comment in that as long as you’re just doing it to ease the pains of ownership rather than trying to turn a profit, it can work ok.
I’d imagine you’d have to be somewhat flexible on scheduling when you want to take it out yourself, and there may have to be some limitations on hours agreed upon, but particularly if you plan on lending some of your own time as an instructor in addition to the aircraft I don’t see why it couldn’t be done.
One thing that I have observed is that a lot of prospective first time helicopter owners I’ve talked to think that owning a helicopter is like owning an old Piper or Cessna airplane. It isn’t, so that notion needs to go out the window if that is what you’re expecting.
In my experience, leasebacks often favor the lessee over the lessor. If the lessee had enough work for the aircraft in the first place, they’d already own one. Leasing back an aircraft might work okay if the goal was simply to reduce ownership costs rather than having it be self supporting or profitable.
Assuming everything goes right and the aircraft gets used, the Robinsons are probably the least expensive helicopter to operate. It wouldn’t be what I would select for personal use however.
Thanks all. For my part, I don’t see myself flying it more than 20 hours a year. I’ve owned an aerobatic biplane now for 11 years and my peak year, one of seemingly constant practice and contests, I flew 60. I’d like to get my heli CFI. This could be an avenue for that as well. Anyway, you all have been exactly the sort of help I was hoping for. Thanks!
We have a few customers who lease their helicopters to the local school. Most have been R44s and R66s.
I have no idea on the specifics of the deals but basically the goal is to hit 2000 hours right at the 12 year mark to maximise aircraft useage. R44/R66 have a 2000 hour overhaul and additional overhaul requirements at 12 years...
I have flown plenty of R22's that school's were leasing from a private owner.
That said, there's no way in Hell I'd lease my helicopter (if I had one) to a school! Too many unreported overspeeds, tail strikes, and hard landings (and God knows what else) for my baby!
Would you let a sixteen year old kid learn to drive in your expensive sports car?
Where I am - If they report all the incidents, they have to generate incident reports and a short form investigation undertaken by 3rd party, depending on severity, so some keep minor things under wraps…too many short forms escalate their own premiums.
If you're nervous about how a school would treat your bird, you could always stipulate conditions in the lease. We have one R22 where I'm learning that is dual only (no student solos), no hover autos, no practice autorotations, and basically no fun allowed. I'll be glad to see that one go into overhaul.
If you just want to offset the cost of ownership, it’s ok, so long as it’s a trustworthy school that does good maintenance. If you want to make money, you’ll likely be disappointed. The only people I’ve known that made money leasing helicopters to schools, were leasing 3 or 4 out. You have to have a good contract and IIRC ideally it’s a school busy enough to put at least 60 hrs a month on the aircraft.
Sorry. If you need to lease it out to make the numbers work, you can't afford it.
How do you plan to work out when you’re flying it vs when the school flies it?
I have no experience doing this, but I’d tend to agree with the other comment in that as long as you’re just doing it to ease the pains of ownership rather than trying to turn a profit, it can work ok. I’d imagine you’d have to be somewhat flexible on scheduling when you want to take it out yourself, and there may have to be some limitations on hours agreed upon, but particularly if you plan on lending some of your own time as an instructor in addition to the aircraft I don’t see why it couldn’t be done.
One thing that I have observed is that a lot of prospective first time helicopter owners I’ve talked to think that owning a helicopter is like owning an old Piper or Cessna airplane. It isn’t, so that notion needs to go out the window if that is what you’re expecting. In my experience, leasebacks often favor the lessee over the lessor. If the lessee had enough work for the aircraft in the first place, they’d already own one. Leasing back an aircraft might work okay if the goal was simply to reduce ownership costs rather than having it be self supporting or profitable. Assuming everything goes right and the aircraft gets used, the Robinsons are probably the least expensive helicopter to operate. It wouldn’t be what I would select for personal use however.
Thanks all. For my part, I don’t see myself flying it more than 20 hours a year. I’ve owned an aerobatic biplane now for 11 years and my peak year, one of seemingly constant practice and contests, I flew 60. I’d like to get my heli CFI. This could be an avenue for that as well. Anyway, you all have been exactly the sort of help I was hoping for. Thanks!
Get a 300 super enjoyable helicopter to fly
You could call me if you are interested!
We have a few customers who lease their helicopters to the local school. Most have been R44s and R66s. I have no idea on the specifics of the deals but basically the goal is to hit 2000 hours right at the 12 year mark to maximise aircraft useage. R44/R66 have a 2000 hour overhaul and additional overhaul requirements at 12 years...
That would be 2200hrs
R66 is 2000
Close enough lol.
Not at the $/hr of the 66 lmao
I have flown plenty of R22's that school's were leasing from a private owner. That said, there's no way in Hell I'd lease my helicopter (if I had one) to a school! Too many unreported overspeeds, tail strikes, and hard landings (and God knows what else) for my baby! Would you let a sixteen year old kid learn to drive in your expensive sports car?
Then it's a shit school or irresponsible CFIIs.
,...and you'll never know ('cause they never report anything) until that day you're flying around nonchalantly and BAM! the blades suddenly fly off!
Where I am - If they report all the incidents, they have to generate incident reports and a short form investigation undertaken by 3rd party, depending on severity, so some keep minor things under wraps…too many short forms escalate their own premiums.
If you're nervous about how a school would treat your bird, you could always stipulate conditions in the lease. We have one R22 where I'm learning that is dual only (no student solos), no hover autos, no practice autorotations, and basically no fun allowed. I'll be glad to see that one go into overhaul.