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Aero Asset releases new research on preowned heli market

Aero Asset, a Toronto, Canada-based helicopter brokerage firm, has published its second-annual Preowned Helicopter Market Trends report, focusing on 2019. The firm states that, based on its new report, global market conditions continued to improve last year, amidst a slowdown in light- and medium-twin retail sales volume. The report, which covers twin engine helicopter markets, is a product of Aero Asset’s proprietary intelligence and market research.

Overall, the report found that preowned sales of US$444 million were down five per cent from 2018, while the estimated value of available preowned helicopters in the marketplace dropped 18 per cent to US$1.14 billion. Global absorption rate for preowned twin helicopters, according to Aero Asset, ended 2019 at one year, nine months, down three and a half months from 2018 yearend.

“Clearly, the most active market during 2019 was the Airbus H145 which at the end of Q4 2019 had seven months of supply available for sale at 2019 trade levels,” said Valerie Pereira, research director, Aero Asset. “The market that saw the biggest improvement in liquidity last year was the H225, with a drop in absorption rate of three years six months to an 18 month of supply at 2019 trade levels.”

Aero Asset’s market report ranks preowned helicopter markets from most to least active in 2019, based on their absorption rates, 2019 preowned sales and active fleet size. It covers twin engine helicopter models still in production and recent variants with preowned sales activity. The report covers all weight classes and configurations, including VIP, offshore, utility and EMS.

During 2019, Aero Asset found that mean trading values rose for the Airbus H135 and H155 models along with the Leonardo AW109 Grand New, while pricing in other markets dropped.

Aero Asset states light-twin supply for sale fell 20 per cent in 2019, driven by EMS operator demand for MEGHAS & IFR equipped H135 & H145. The firm continues to explains, that although light twin sales volume declined slightly year over year (YOY), market conditions improved with supply at 2019 trade level falling 20 per cent last year and 40 per cent since Q1 2018.

Medium-twin supply and retail sales volume fell slightly in 2019, according to Aero Asset, which also notes that although supply at 2019 trade level was stable YOY, medium-twin absorption rate remains 45 per cent lower than Q1 2018. The firm states preowned supply at the top end of most medium-twin markets has dropped significantly.

Heavy-twin supply on the market is up slightly YOY, according to the new report, but retail sales volume is up as well to 10 units sold in 2019, a 300 per cent increase YOY. Aero Asset states supply at 2019 trade levels dropped substantially to 21 months at the end of Q4 2019, showing a continued improvement of this asset class.

The Aero Asset team is attending HAI Heli-Expo 2020 in Anaheim, California, to discuss the background and specifics of the company’s second annual Preowned Helicopter Market Trends report.