Many factors affect the ticket price:
Acquisition price:
A helicopter is a relatively complex aircraft - not only in the control but also in the manufacture. This technical effort has a significant impact on the purchase price and operating costs of a helicopter. A new Robinson R44 currently costs around $ 500.000. Turbine helicopters can be calculated from around € 1 million.
Insurance:
Every aircraft requires statutory insurance, comparable to motor vehicle liability and passenger insurance. In addition, there is a kind of comprehensive insurance for the helicopter itself. Costs for this are usually € 1.000 per month - depending on the value.
Maintenance:
There is a maintenance plan for every Helityp, in which not only oil changes but also precisely defined work and tests are carried out. In addition, most components have an expiry time, ie they have to be replaced after a certain number of flight hours for safety reasons, regardless of whether they really show signs of wear or not. If defects are discovered, these must of course also be eliminated before the helicopter can be allowed to serve again.
Fuel:
The fuel consumption of a piston-powered Robinson R44 helicopter, for example, is around 1 liter of aviation gas (AVGAS) per minute, with one liter costing around € 2,40 (as of February 2020).
Education:
The training to become a professional helicopter pilot is around € 80.000 - € 100.000 and takes around 2 years. In addition, there are regular legally required training courses and further education as well as cost-intensive check flights.
Despite these high costs, you can enjoy a great helicopter flight for just a few hundred euros. And for significantly less than for an iPhone. In addition, this experience will remain unforgettable for you - while the new iPhone has not become new in a short time, but has become normal and will soon have to be replaced ...