How Much Does Helicopter Fuel Cost Per Hour?

The Short Answer: What You’ll Actually Pay

Helicopter fuel costs vary dramatically based on the aircraft size and engine type, ranging from as little as $40 per hour for small piston helicopters to over $4,600 per hour for the largest military transport helicopters.

For most recreational and commercial helicopters, you’re looking at fuel costs between $100 and $800 per hour of flight time. Let’s break down what influences these costs and what you can expect for different helicopter types.

Understanding Helicopter Fuel Types

Before diving into costs, it’s important to know that helicopters use two different types of fuel:

AvGas (Aviation Gasoline): This is a high-octane gasoline fuel used in piston-powered helicopters, dyed blue for easy identification, and commonly known as 100LL (100 octane Low Lead). Smaller helicopters like the Robinson R22 and R44 use this fuel type.

Jet A Fuel: This is a kerosene-based fuel used in helicopters with gas turbine engines, which is clear in color and smells like diesel. Most helicopters that carry five or more passengers run on Jet A fuel.

Current Fuel Prices: What to Expect

In the lower 48 United States, fuel prices typically range from $4.60 to $5.34 per gallon for 100LL AvGas and $3.90 to $4.54 per gallon for Jet A fuel. However, these prices can vary significantly based on location.

The real eye-opener comes when you look at remote locations. In remote Arctic regions like Barrow, Alaska, prices can soar to $11.40 per gallon for 100LL and $5.90 per gallon for Jet A. In extremely remote areas where fuel must be transported by helicopter, prices can reach $30-$50 per gallon or more.

Popular Helicopters and Their Hourly Fuel Costs

Let’s look at real-world examples of what different helicopters cost to operate per hour, based on average fuel prices:

Small Piston Helicopters:

• Robinson R22: Burns about 8 gallons per hour, costing approximately $40 per hour in fuel
• Robinson R44: Burns about 15 gallons per hour, costing approximately $75 per hour in fuel

Light Turbine Helicopters:

• Bell 206 JetRanger: Burns about 27 gallons per hour, costing approximately $113 per hour in fuel
• AS350 B3 Astar: Burns about 50 gallons per hour, costing approximately $210 per hour in fuel

Medium Turbine Helicopters:

• Bell 212HP: Burns about 100 gallons per hour, costing approximately $420 per hour in fuel
• Sikorsky S-92: Burns about 180 gallons per hour, costing approximately $755 per hour in fuel

Heavy Lift Helicopters:

• Boeing Chinook CH-47: Burns about 400 gallons per hour, costing approximately $1,680 per hour in fuel
• Mil Mi-26: Burns about 1,100 gallons per hour, costing approximately $4,620 per hour in fuel

Why Fuel Isn’t Your Only Cost

Here’s where things get interesting: fuel typically represents only 10-20% of the total operating cost of a helicopter. When operating a helicopter for 20 hours per month, one operator calculated total monthly costs of $11,216, which included lease payments of $5,200, insurance of $2,250, fuel of $1,200, and maintenance costs of $2,566.

This worked out to a total operational cost of $560.80 per hour, even though fuel alone was only $60 per hour. The lesson? Fuel is significant, but it’s far from the whole story.

Additional Costs You Should Know About

Beyond fuel, helicopter owners face expenses including hull and liability insurance, hangar or tie-down fees, maintenance operating costs, anticipated landing and parking fees, oil consumption, and potential pilot costs.

Maintenance is particularly expensive. Routine 100-hour inspections can cost $2,200 each, and unexpected repairs throughout the year can add thousands more to your annual budget.

How Long Can a Helicopter Fly on One Tank?

Most helicopters are designed to hold enough fuel for 1.5 to 3 hours of flying, plus a 20-minute reserve. This design philosophy balances range with weight considerations, as fuel is heavy and affects the helicopter’s center of gravity.

Refueling: How Long Does It Take?

Portable helicopter refueling pumps typically deliver 15 gallons per minute, while airport fuel trucks can deliver up to 50 gallons per minute. A typical fuel stop, including landing, shutdown, refueling, and preparation for takeoff, takes around 10-20 minutes.

The Bottom Line

Helicopter fuel costs range dramatically from $40 to over $4,600 per hour depending on the aircraft size and type. For most private owners and small operators, expect fuel costs between $100-$400 per hour. However, remember that fuel is just one component of helicopter operating expenses.

The key to understanding true costs is calculating all annual expenses and dividing them by your planned flight hours. This gives you a complete picture of what helicopter operation really costs.

If you’re considering helicopter ownership or operation, do your homework on all costs—not just fuel. The freedom and capability helicopters provide come at a premium, but for many, the investment is absolutely worth it.