What is HeliValue$, Inc.?
What types of appraisals does HeliValue$ perform?
What evaluation options are available?
What is an informal value consultation?
What is a formal desktop appraisal?
What is an "on-site" inspection and how is it a part of the appraisal process?
How much does an appraisal cost?
What information must be provided to HeliValue$, Inc to complete an appraisal?
What forms of payment does HeliValue$ accept?
Can I check the status of my appraisal?
How long does an appraisal take to complete?
Are HeliValue$' appraisals certified?
Do you appraise fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters?
Can I get an estimate of value on a specific machine being considered for purchase?
If I buy The Official Helicopter Blue Book®, will it calculate the values for me?
Can I determine the value of a used helicopter online?
Where do you get your numbers (values?) for appraisals?
What is the difference between a desktop appraisal and an on-site appraisal?
Do I need an "on-site" appraisal or will a desktop valuation suffice?
Which appraisal will my bank or lending entity prefer?
How often should I get my machine appraised?
Are there special times or circumstances which indicate an appraisal is needed?
What is a "high time" helicopter?
How do you depreciate a helicopter over time?
What effect does damage history have on a helicopter's value?
What is the wholesale value of this aircraft?
Can you do fleet appraisals including inventory and spare parts?
What does it cost to do an appraisal?
What is a residual value worksheet?
What is a free value consultation?
Will I get the same information online as in the paper edition?
Can HeliValue$, Inc. perform appraisals anywhere?
Does HeliValue$, Inc. have other services or products that may interest me?
How long has HeliValue$ been doing appraisals?
Can I advertise in HeliValue$' publications?
Why can't I find a particular model in the Blue Book?
Who is the industry leader in appraisals and appraisal standards for helicopters?
Why can't I find a particular model in the Blue Book?
What is HeliValue$, Inc.?
HeliValue$, Inc, established in 1978, is a company devoted to publishing the most respected timely, comprehensive and accurate helicopter values to helicopter owners and operators, leasing and finance institutions, and legal and governmental authorities for the purposes of due diligence, tax compliance, and value dispute resolution. These values can be found in our formal appraisals, inspection reports, and studies and audits, as well as in The Official Helicopter Blue Book®.
What types of appraisals does HeliValue$ perform?
HeliValue$ performs three types of appraisals: Past Value, Current Value, and Future Value (Residual) appraisals. Each of these appraisal categories can be provided as either Fair Market Values or as Orderly Liquidation Values. A Fair Market Value is the value a helicopter would most likely reach given a normal market situation (airworthy aircraft, willing buyer and seller, reasonable transaction time). An Orderly Liquidation Value is a price reduction sufficient to reduce the average "normal" inventory time by approximately half.
What evaluation options are available?
HeliValue$ can provide an informal value consultation or a formal desktop appraisal. We can also provide support for the last two appraisals with an on-site inspection.
What is an informal value consultation?
An informal estimated value range provided without the benefit of a detailed analysis of the helicopter components and installed equipment. A limited number of these value consultations are provided as a free service for Official Helicopter Blue Book® subscribers.
What is a formal desktop appraisal?
A precise value report (usually current fair market value) based on specific component times, installed equipment, and market conditions. Official Helicopter Blue Book® subscribers received substantial discounts on these fee-paid reports.
What is an "on-site" inspection and how is it a part of the appraisal process?
An integral part of due diligence, an on-site inspection verifies and extends the information provided in a desktop appraisal. Verification usually includes but is not be limited to analysis of component times, verification of serial numbers, log books, maintenance records, actual condition of helicopter, and examination of documents related to airworthiness such as the certificates of airworthiness and registration, Supplemental Type Certificates, and Forms 337.
How much does an appraisal cost?
A limited number of informal value consultations are generally free to current subscribers of The Official Helicopter Blue Book®. Our subscribers also receive substantial discounts for services and products. On-site inspections are billed out per day of inspections, travel time and direct expenses. Please refer to our current rates on the Evaluations tab for detailed costs, daily rates and discounts.
What information must be provided to HeliValue$, Inc to complete an appraisal?
First contact HeliValue$, Inc., directly to determine what level of service best suits your needs for a particular transaction or query.
A desktop appraisal will require the make, model, serial number and registration of the helicopter you want appraised. We will need a "runout sheet," which is a listing of all the helicopter's components with their times since new and overhaul, a listing of the helicopter's avionics and installed airframe equipment, any improvements made to the machine, any power-by-the-hour type programs in effect and the component(s) covered by them, and a description of the cosmetic condition of the paint, glass, upholstery and headliner material.
An onsite inspection will require all of the above information plus the location of the helicopter, a contact name and phone number(s) for the person who will authorize our visit to the helicopter's site.
A residual (future) value report will require the make, model, serial number and registration (if available) for the helicopter you want appraised. We will need the acquisition price and delivery date, the configuration and type of usage (EMS, utility, offshore, etc.), estimated hours per year, any power-by-the-hour type programs in effect and the component(s) covered by them.
What forms of payment does HeliValue$ accept?
HeliValue$ accepts U.S. dollar checks, wire transfers, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Can I check the status of my appraisal?
Yes, request status by email, telephone call, or mail a request to HeliValue$. Contact Us
How long does an appraisal take to complete?
Desktop appraisals and residual value reports typically take one week, onsite inspections are approximately 2.5 to 3 weeks. Variances in this time frame depend on the complexity of the helicopter's records and the volume of HeliValue$' workload—for instance, end-of-year reports must usually be booked at least three weeks in advance.
Are HeliValue$' appraisals certified?
As the industry leader in helicopter appraisals, HeliValue$ guarantees its work to be consistent with the highest standards and qualities of industry accepted appraisal practices. We certify our own appraisals as we are the body which has set the standards for helicopter appraisal techniques, experience, market knowledge, and degree of compliance with generally-accepted equipment appraisal principals.
Do you appraise fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters?
Yes, usually as part of a fleet appraisal. We have relationships with several independent appraisers who are experts in fixed-wing evaluations.
Can I get an estimate of value on a specific machine being considered for purchase?
Yes, if you are a current The Official Helicopter Blue Book® subscriber, an informal value range is one of our free services.
If I buy The Official Helicopter Blue Book®, will it calculate the values for me?
Unlike some of the fixed wing services, with helicopters there are too many individual components, latest part numbers, service life limits and other variables to accurately calculate a Fair Market Value at any time after the publication date. The values in The Official Helicopter Blue Book® are "recent past historical sales" and may not reflect today's market.
Can I determine the value of a used helicopter online?
If you are a Blue Book subscriber, you will have access to the latest worldwide retail resale numbers online. You can easily determine the range of values based on the year of manufacture and where it fits into the low component time/high dollar, mid time/mid dollar, or high time/low dollar bracket.
Where do you get your numbers (values?) for appraisals?
We get our market activities from a number of independent and reliable sources. Our subscribers fill in the forms that are in each Blue Book on machines that they buy or sell. We are in daily contact with buyers and sellers worldwide. Plus, we talk to a number of financial institutions that finance or lease helicopters.
What is the difference between a desktop appraisal and an on-site appraisal?
The major difference is a verification of the actual components installed in the helicopter when compared with the printed records. On-site we can check the condition of the helicopter, look at the original records and actual components, and verify the helicopter's airworthy status.
Do I need an "on-site" appraisal or will a desktop valuation suffice?
The answer depends on your financing partner. Banks and lending institutions must practice due diligence. They may require an on-site as part of their due diligence.
Which appraisal will my bank or lending entity prefer?
Normally the first time you deal with a lender or add a new aircraft to your fleet, they will probably want to do an on-site. When it comes time to refinance or make major improvements, they may be satisfied with a "desktop" appraisal to update their equity position in the current market.
How often should I get my machine appraised?
As required. If your banker wants an update, definitely do it. If you reside within a taxing authority that looks at assets, you may want to have an appraisal done, especially if the taxing body has a tendency to overvalue a physical asset. If the helicopter is being put in a trust or estate, it is good to have an appraisal done.
Are there special times or circumstances which indicate an appraisal is needed?
Yes: Any time your banker needs one; when you have made a major investment in upgrading systems; when you have added new components such as major avionics or airframe equipment, or have overhauled major components; when you change the status of any power-by-the-hour programs on the helicopter; and upon completion of a major airframe inspection costing over $100,000.
What is a "high time" helicopter?
For valuation purposes, a "high time" helicopter is one that has less than 20% service life remaining on its major components. In common parlance (but NOT for valuation), high time can also mean one that has flown more hours than is normal for its application.
How do you depreciate a helicopter over time?
Very, very carefully. The value of a helicopter changes with the status of the component times and the utilization of a specific model as a work machine. It is very common to see an 8 or 10 year old helicopter selling on the used market for more than it sold for as a new helicopter. Several models of utility helicopters are currently selling for three times the factory list price of 20 years ago. You are far safer depreciating the helicopter by flight hour (use the HMC (Hourly Maintenance Cost) on our Component page, and then add the cost of the overhaul back to the helicopter's value each time a major drivetrain component is overhauled.) For better accuracy, call HeliValue$ and we can calculate a future (residual) value for a predetermined date.
What effect does damage history have on a helicopter's value?
Recent damage history (repaired) may prolong the inventory time, but rarely affects the dollar value. In fact, if the repairs are done by a factory-approved repair facility, they are usually considered as favorably as a factory-approved overhaul. Commercial operators know that in time all of the helicopter's components will be overhauled or repaired many times during its productive life. The only usual exception to this rule is a corporate buyer, who may object to any damage history at all (and who seldom considers a used helicopter).
What is the wholesale value of this aircraft?
There is no large established dealer network where helicopters are bought and sold on a wholesale basis. The best approximation of "wholesale" would be at what price can it be sold in a shorter period of time, known within the helicopter market as an orderly liquidation value.
Can you do fleet appraisals including inventory and spare parts?
Yes. We do these regularly for both ongoing businesses and estate evaluations.
What does it cost to do an appraisal?
Please refer to the rate sheet on the Evaluation tab. The desktop fee applies to both desktops and on-site inspections. Additionally, on-site inspections are billed out per day of inspections, travel time and direct expenses. There are substantial quantity breaks in prices as well as significant discounts for Blue Book subscribers.
What is a residual value worksheet?
A residual value worksheet is an informal projection of retail resale values and/or orderly liquidation values (OLV) up to 12 years into the future. A limited number of these value consultations are provided as a free service for Official Helicopter Blue Book® subscribers.
What is a free value consultation?
The free value consultation is a "what-if" look at the general market, or at a specific model within it. This is another no-charge service provided to Blue Book subscribers. The published values reflect recent real market resale values. When the market is dynamic, changes can occur rapidly. You are a phone call away from knowing what is currently going on in the industry and in the marketplace.
We can also provide an estimate of value for an exact serial number, without writing a formal desktop appraisal, with as much information as you have available. A limited number of these value consultations are provided as a free service for Official Helicopter Blue Book® subscribers.
Will I get the same information online as in the paper edition?
Yes and no. The information and content will be identical in both media. Online pricing will be updated as the market changes. The paper edition is a fee-based product and is printed only upon your request. It is not updated unless you purchase another paper edition. We will, however, supply a PDF with the same information at no charge upon your request. This PDF is also available to our subscribers as a download from our website.
Can HeliValue$, Inc. perform appraisals anywhere?
Generally, yes. There have been occasions where the State Department has issued warnings about going to a specific country. We heed that warning. We have a network of qualified, independent inspectors throughout the world. These contacts allow us to do an on-site inspection anywhere in the world with less cost, travel time, and delays than if we sent our U.S. inspectors. An added advantage to local/regional inspectors is that we can often select those that are knowledgeable with the specific make and model and that are familiar with the local regulatory requirements.
Does HeliValue$, Inc. have other services or products that may interest me?
In addition to publishing The Official Helicopter Blue Book®, HeliValue$ publishes The Official Helicopter Specification Book and Perspectives: A Helicopter Resale History 1979-1999. The Spec Book lists physical descriptions and performance information on over 135 different models. It contains the same technical information as the spec page in the Blue Book, but has no pricing or component pages. Perspectives charts resale values by model over a 20-year period. On an individual, serial number-by-serial number basis, we also offer Asset Value Inspections, Pre-purchase Inspections, Contract Compliance Audits, Betterment/Detriment Studies, Current and Past Fair Market Values, Expert Witness Services, Depositions, Inventory and Equipment Evaluations, Disposal and Orderly Liquidation Values, Term of Loan/Lease Monitoring Programs, Residual and Replacement Value Projections, and Operations and Regulatory Records Keeping Audits.
How long has HeliValue$ been doing appraisals?
HeliValue$ has been performing appraisals for over 25 years. The first appraisals were written in 1980, shortly after publication of the very first issue of The Official Helicopter Blue Book®. Every year demand increases, as the roster of available evaluations grows.
Can I advertise in HeliValue$' publications?
Yes, The Official Helicopter Blue Book® online has limited advertising space available on the initial page for each manufacturer. Email or call Ed Mahood on the Contact page for rates and availability.
Why can't I find a particular model in the Blue Book?
A specific model may be removed from The Official Helicopter Blue Book® for lack of activity or sales transactions. There would be little or no data to arrive at a Worldwide Resale Price for that model. The lack of accurate sales information does not mean that model lacks value or could not be resold in the world market. A discussion about the recent activities and future value of an infrequently traded model is one of the many free services that come with a subscription to the Blue Book.
Who is the industry leader in appraisals and appraisal standards for helicopters?
HeliValue$ and its leading publication, The Official Helicopter Blue Book®, have been the gold standard for helicopter values since 1979.
Why can't I find a particular model in the Blue Book?
A specific model may be removed from The Official Helicopter Blue Book® for lack of activity or sales transactions. There would be little or no data to arrive at a Worldwide Resale Price for that model. The lack of accurate sales information does not mean that model lacks value or could not be resold in the world market. A discussion about the recent activities and future value of an infrequently traded model is one of the many free services that come with a subscription to the Blue Book.