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ROTORWAY.ORG
The Independent Source for
Rotorway Helicopter Information
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Base Case
Accounts for all costs associated with owning a helicopter: New
helicopter, 10 yr 9% loan and investment lost opportunity, Linear Time Based
Depreciation, variable costs, maintenance, etc
DISCLAIMER: This a rough estimate as to the cost of operating an Exec162F and the R-22
and will vary with type of use, maintenance, local conditions, and Rotorway/Robinson
prices. This information is for comparison only and may be incorrect. Cost estimates marked by "*"
are approxmations. Cost estimates marked by a "1" include
prices from Rotorway International. Items listed for replacement are from the Rotorway
Maintenence Manual.
Notes/Assumptions:
1. Based on the below data you can see why FBO's typically charge around $150 - $190
per hour for R-22 rental and have to make sure the ships fly continuously.
2. 100 hours/year for individual owner means you fly 2 hours every weekend - in 20 years
of owning an airplane I've found this hard to do. Maybe you have more free time.
3. I have been unable to obtain any confirmed examples of Execs (like seeing the
logbook) with more than 500 hours TTSN. Rotorway tells me they are many ships flying beyond 500 and 1000 hours.
4. The cost of money below assumes a conservative 5% interest rate lost opportunity.
Reality is my $52,000 Rotorway is now an $80,000 Rotorway because the company stock I sold
to pay for it is worth 50% more now than last September.
5. You could save on cost of money and insurance if you pay cash and self insure the hull.
6. The maintenence estimates are very conservative since it's unlikely that nothing ever
breaks. I'm told that R-22's are ocassionally known for needing transmission rebuilds
prior to TBO - at $30k - $40k and frequently Lycomings need to have the top-end rebuilt
prior to TBO.
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ESTIMATED OPERATING COST
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Exec162F
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R-22
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| Estimated price of helicopter (with Comm
Radio and Transponder): |
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$64,350 |
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$154,260 |
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| FIXED ANNUAL COSTS: |
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- Depreciation - Robinson claims no depreciation but that is
not realistic. I'm assuming an Exec is worth close to zero in resale value by 2000 hours,
the residual on an R-22 is $34k (per Robinson)
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100hrs/year = 3,217.50 500hrs/year = $16087.00 |
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100hrs/year = 7,713.00 500hrs/year = $38,565.00 |
- Cost of money - Assumes 10 yr, 9% interest loan (probably
conservative) and 10% down. This money could be in the bank earning 5% interest so that's
added in as well.
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$8,803.68/yr
+ $3,200/yr = $12,003.00/yr |
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$21,104.16/yr + $7,713/yr = $28,817.16/yr |
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$1,500 |
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$1,500 |
- Hull Insurance - You can forgo this if you pay cash
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$5,500 |
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$5,500 |
| FIXED COST PER YEAR: |
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$22,220.00 (100hrs/yr) $35,090.00 (500hrs/yr) |
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$43,530.16
(100hrs/yr) $74,382.16
(500hrs/yr) |
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| MAINTENENCE COSTS: |
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| Annual Inspections - For the Exec it's
assumed you do these yourself and the parts costs are included below. For the R-22 I base
it on an A&P's estimate with no problems found (unlikely) |
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$1800 x 20 =
$36,000 |
| Replacing Life-Limited Components |
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- 100 Hour - Drive chain, spark plugs, fuel filter, misc
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$6501 x 16 = $10,400 |
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- 250 Hour - Cam gear, Idler pulley bearing, tail rotor
belts/bearings, main rotor drive pin
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$3311 x 4 = $1324 |
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- 500 Hour- Rebuild cylinder heads, tail rotor overhaul &
blade assy, throttle cable, hoses, radiator cap, water pump/alt belt, secondary shaft
lower bearing, main drive belt, misc bearings/belts, teeter block bearing, mainshaft
bearing weldment. (Includes 250hr kit, 100hr kit)
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$2,2441 x 2 = $4,488 |
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- 1000 Hour - Complete engine overhaul, complete rotorhead
overhaul, mainshaft R&R, tail rotor slider assy, misc. parts, exhaust header,
engine pulley, main sprocket/hub, secondary pulley assy, upper bearing
assy, secondary
shaft, fuel pump, fuel press. reg., rotor hub plate (Includes 500,250,100 kit)
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$11,0001 x 1 |
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- 1500 Hour - M/R blades, 500 hour kit
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$8,0001* x 1 |
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- 2000 Hour Overhaul - Majority of the Exec needs
to RCO'd so I'll assume you "retire" it at this point. I assume you sell the
R-22 for residual value
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| RESERVE PER HOUR: |
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$17.60 |
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$18.00 |
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| DIRECT OPERATING COST: |
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- Fuel @ $2.00 per gallon and 8.0 gph for average use
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$16.00 |
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$16.00 |
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$.60 |
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$.60 |
- Periodic Inspections, Labor @ $40 per hour (Annual for R22
comprehended above, I'm assuming your time is free for the Exec. If
you pay an A&P this will be big bucks!)
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- Unscheduled Maintenance, Parts and Labor @ $40 per hour
(factored out for now)
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| DIRECT OPERATING COST PER HOUR:
(Assumes Labor is free for the Exec)
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$16.60 |
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$16.60 |
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| TOTAL OPERATING COST: |
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- Fixed Cost per Flight Hour Based on 100
Hours per Year
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$222.20 |
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$435.30 |
- Maintenence Reserve Per Hour
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$ 17.60 |
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$ 18.00 |
- Direct Cost per Flight Hour
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$ 16.60 |
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$ 16.60 |
| TOTAL OPERATING COST PER HOUR ASSUMING
100/yr: |
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$256.40/hr |
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$469.90/hr |
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- Fixed Cost per Flight Hour Based on 500
Hours per Year
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$70.18 |
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$148.76 |
- Overhaul Reserve Per Hour
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$17.60 |
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$18.00 |
- Direct Cost per Flight Hour
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$16.60 |
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$16.60 |
- TOTAL OPERATING COST PER HOUR ASSUMING 500/yr:
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$104.38/hr |
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$183.36/hr |
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