HI Uplift: Pre-owned single-engine heli supply ‘constrained’ – Aero Asset

The supply of pre-owned singles is constrained, says Aero Asset.

Tightening supply and strong liquidity characterise the market for pre-owned single engine helicopters in the first half of this year. Aero Asset’s latest trends report maps inventory levels becoming more constrained, supporting pricing stability and liquidity – despite softening demand.

“This report confirms the pre-owned single-engine market has become significantly more supply-constrained over the past year, as available inventory saw its sharpest contraction in five years, while retail sales declined far less,” according to Valérie Pereira, vice president of Market Research, Aero Asset.

“That’s a more favourable environment for sellers, with pricing holding firm despite the tighter supply,” Pereira tells us. Overall, the report gives buyers, sellers, operators and investors an objective, data-based view of where the market stands, she adds.

Pricing remained resilient during the first half of this year despite softer transaction activity. Median transaction prices fell modestly year on year (YOY). This reflects the continued balance between limited inventory and disciplined buyer demand rather than pricing pressure across the market, says Pereira. The sold-to-asking-price ratio also stayed strong, showing sellers achieved values close to market expectations.

12% below asking price

Singles sold on average about 12% below asking price. “This was a level consistent with a healthy negotiating environment where well-maintained aircraft continued to attract qualified buyers and transact within reasonable marketing periods,” says Pereira.

The clearest change since last year’s first half single engine report is precisely how much tighter supply has become. Inventory is down 52% YOY, pushing the absorption rate from 11 months last year (a four-year high) to just five months now (near a five-year low). So, aircraft are moving far faster than they were a year ago.

Aero Asset also detects a noticeable shift in where available inventory is located. “Last year, it was concentrated in Europe, accounting for 34% of the total and North America with 30%,” says Pereira. “This year APAC leads with 43% followed by Europe, which accounts for 36%. But North America has fallen to 17% – reflecting how fast North American buyers, who made 59% of all transactions, are absorbing supply.”

Rising 19% YOY

Compared with last year, pricing has stabilised rather than reversed, according to the helicopter brokerage and market intelligence firm. After rising 19% YOY last year, median asking prices are down just 2% this year. Liquidity rankings have shifted too. The AW119K was last year’s least liquid model (with a 2.4-year absorption) but it’s now third. Among the models Aero Asset tracks, the EC130 B4/H130 has taken over as least liquid (at about 1.3 years).

While Aero Asset’s report does not directly measure the impact of supply chain constraints, the company says the market trends are consistent with that dynamic. “Available pre-owned supply declined while delivery lead times for new helicopters continue to extend from approximately one to nearly two years, depending on the manufacturer and model,” said Pereira.

“When operators face long replacement lead times, they are naturally more reluctant to sell existing aircraft before securing a replacement. That reduces the number of quality helicopters entering the pre-owned market and contributes to the tightening supply we’ve observed over the past year.” While Aero Asset can’t quantify the direct impact of supply chain challenges, they are likely one of several factors influencing today’s market conditions.

Pereira shares another nuance from the report. Sales fell far less than supply – by about 20% compared with 52%). “So, this looks more like a supply squeeze than a drop in buyer interest with, for buyers, fewer aircraft to choose from,” says the vice president of Aero Asset. “For sellers, this provides better negotiating leverage. The AS350 B3/H125 illustrates this well – still the most liquid segment (75-day absorption) and up 12% YOY on asking price.” Read the full report here.

‘More emphasis on avionics’

Talking to Helicopter Investor recently, Robin Wendling, Bell Textron’s MD of Europe said the market for new single engine helicopters, like the Bell 505, is strong. “The demand for helicopters like the 505 remains resilient amongst private owners, business travel and VIP experiences, largely for their lower cost without the capability sacrifice,” he said. “The sector is also benefitting from customers putting more of an emphasis on modern avionics, reliability and manufacturer support.”

Meanwhile, as a snapshot indication of availability, today’s data from market intelligence firm AMSTAT reports today 238 single engine helicopters for sale or lease. The total fleet is listed as 10,402 units. That compares with its report for January 9th 2026, which identified 443 units for sale or lease out of a total fleet of 11,709 single-engine helicopters.