As demand for new helicopters surpasses the manufacturers’ ability to deliver, marketing consultant HeliValue$ said that prices are increasing dramatically for virtually all used helicopters. This year many used helicopters could sell for more than new copies of the same model. In fact, this has already occurred with the Bell 407.

A number of factors are responsible for this phenomenon. Sales activity started when government agencies began to recognize that aging ex-military craft were unreliable and expensive to keep flying. When it became apparent that an economic recovery was well under way, governments found budgetary solutions to replacing the old with the new.

The value of the helicopter in the wake of a series of natural disasters last year contributed to demand. Demand for oil, gasoline products and natural gas is also having a positive effect on the helicopter industry as the requirement for vertical-lift transport has grown.