Toronto, Canada-based Aero Asset reports that, while the preowned twin engine helicopter market rebounded markedly in the third quarter from the pandemic and oil crash-induced deterioration of the second quarter, the overall market is down 17 per cent from the 2019 quarterly average.

“Twin engine pre-owned retail sales volume for the third quarter of 2020 was up 40 per cent from the second quarter, but down 17 per cent from the 2019 quarterly average,” reveals sales director Emmanuel Dupuy. “The third quarter supply for sale increased eight per cent from the second quarter, and 13 per cent overall from the 2019 quarterly average.”

Dupuy says the pipeline of twin pre-owned helicopter deals pending in the third quarter is a startling 60 per cent lower than it was during the same period in 2019. The third quarter was the fourth consecutive quarter of decline in size of the pipeline.

The Aero Asset report indicates the third quarter absorption rate was about the same as the second quarter last year, but remains at twice the 2019 low rate. While there was a rebound in the light twin engine market during the third quarter, the deterioration continued in the medium market, and there was positive stability in the heavy market.

The most liquid pre-owned markets in the quarter just ended were the Leonardo A109E Power and Bell 429. Overall, four of the 12 market segments didn't see any trades during the recent quarter. The least liquid market with trading activity was the H155.

Generally, retail unit sales were down five per cent and dollar volume was down 20 per cent to US$95 million. While there were more units on the market in the third quarter, the aggregate value of the supply declined over 20 percent to US$970 million.