Aero Asset has released the latest information on third-quarter Helicopter market trends revealing that a total of 37% of pre-owned twin engine helicopter buyers were in this territory Q3, up from 31% in Q2.
Currently in the year to date (YTD), 85 twin turbine helicopters closed to retail buyers (across all weight classes) and twin engine supply for sale is down nearly 20% to 230 aircraft, the report highlighted.
The EC135/145 market continues to dominate resale activity, the report states. This is especially in the 2006 to 2014 year of manufacture segment. Much of the demand is driven by US air ambulance appetite for Pratt & Whitney Canada powered SP-IFR machines. The report highlights six EC135 and seven EC145 deals pending at the end of Q3.
Light twin helicopter supply is down 17% year-on-year and so is trading volume equating to a stable absorption rate.
Leonardo AW109 markets suffered a substantial drop in Grand & GrandNew preowned transaction activity. However, in contrast with YTD sales volume, Q3 is clearly an anomaly, the report states. Power retail sales volume remains stable.
Lower pricing triggered increased demand for the Bell 429, with three retail trades in Q3. However, a total of four retail trades YTD means the Bell 429 absorption rate remains higher than competing markets.
The report says that the Leonardo AW139 leads the preowned medium twin market, with five retail sales in Q3 and 10 YTD. Supply continued its decrease year on year to 22 aircraft for sale at the end of Q3. This equates to an absorption rate of just 14 months. Absorption rate has seen a significant drop YOY - good news for the manufacturer, which recently delivered its 1,000th AW139.
The Bell 412 market remains soft with zero transactions in Q3 and only three YTD, the report continues. Supply in the Airbus H155 market doubled in Q3 and absorption rate remains high with three years of supply at Q3 trade levels.
Sales volume in the Sikorsky S76C+/C++ market was flat in Q3. Sales volume is up YOY, but oversupply continues to hamper the C+ and the utility segments of this market.