The ideal private jet owner is someone looking for an alternative to commercial airline travel for mid- or long-range trips. The ideal helicopter owner, by contrast, is someone who likes to stay close to home. A helicopter can fly only relatively short distances at a fairly slow pace by aviation standards—"low and slow" as they say in the industry—which means it does not shine as an alternative to jet travel. In large metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, however, helicopter travel has become an easier way to negotiate short distances. In the highly developed Northeast corridor, helicopter shuttles routinely take corporate executives between Boston and New York. "It’s easier to board at the East 34th Street Heliport, and then fly to the Boston City Heliport, than to drive to LaGuardia Airport, catch a shuttle or even a private plane, land at Logan and then drive into the city of Boston," says aviation consultant William Quinn of Cerretani Aviation, a Boulder, Colo.–based aircraft brokerage.

TOP VIEW On a per-mile or per-minute basis, helicopters represent one of the most expensive forms of travel. High maintenance costs, limited range and frequent complaints about noise make these aircraft the first choice for only a select breed of business travelers. For those who crave convenience and do not mind taking it low and slow, a private helicopter offers unprecedented flexibility and control.

Private jet owners who also use these shuttle services may find private helicopter ownership tempting. But they should first consider that it is expensive—and comes with a set of complications that even seasoned jet owners may not anticipate. "If you live near a small airport, and the places you like to go to have small airports, then you’re going to find that the price of entry is much lower with a fixed-wing jet or turboprop," Quinn says. Of course, for those who do not live or work near an airport, helicopter travel might be the fastest and most efficient way to go. Still, Quinn advises buyers to consider where they will land well in advance of the purchase. "One thing you have to be mindful of is that not all communities, even rural ones, are helicopter-friendly," he says. "I’ve seen people trying to use a helicopter in places where they end up creating so much noise that the regulatory folks get involved. By the time you try to get official permission to land or build a heliport, people are already angry."

According to Palmer, the same issues apply in densely populated urban areas, perhaps even more so. "I don’t land anywhere if there’s the slightest possibility of making someone uncomfortable," he says. That includes flying over highways where people might be tempted to look up rather than at the road. "You can cause accidents if you’re not careful."

The fact that helicopters are not rated for flight in inclement weather is another drawback. Some have no deicing or anti-icing equipment, which makes it necessary to cancel flights during freezing rain or any wet weather that might cause icy conditions or reduced visibility. What’s more, high heat tends to change landing conditions and flight conditions, particularly at higher altitudes, dramatically reducing the range of the aircraft.

Expenses Go Vertical
With these limitations in mind, potential buyers should first decide on the size of the helicopter they require, knowing that this bears most directly on cost. As with jets, the larger birds are more expensive—sometimes five times more than slightly smaller models. The most popular large twin-engine jet helicopter, the Sikorsky S-76C++, seats up to 12 and runs about $10 million. Few private owners will find many uses for such a large, expensive aircraft, unless they have a frequent, specific flight pattern, such as shuttling between two cities with several people or mountains of luggage in tow.

These costs may not seem high in relation to jet ownership, but buyers should keep in mind that a helicopter’s maximum range—even with a large Sikorsky—is less than 400 nautical miles, or 460 statute miles. Add fuel, several passengers and luggage, and that range decreases markedly. In high heat, when the air is thinner, range drops even more. In wet or inclement weather, when the helicopter needs to take on extra fuel in case of an emergency landing, the range shrinks further. On a per-mile or per-minute basis, helicopter travel is one of the most expensive forms of transportation. Travelers who know they will make trips of less than 300 nautical miles can reduce their purchase price by buying a much smaller aircraft, such as the Bell 407, which seats up to seven passengers and costs between $1 million and $2 million. Palmer’s Robinson R-44 is one of the least-expensive models and costs $400,000 new.

When he bought his first Robinson in 2005, Palmer had never piloted a helicopter, so he took private lessons from a flight instructor. "I didn’t want to spend time trying to hire someone and making sure they were available when I wanted to fly," he says.