Cheapest Helicopter: The cheapest helicopters in the world are light-weight personal helicopters like “Helicopter Umo” (Helicopter UM-1) or “Mosquito Helicopter”, which are designed for amateur fliers. These helicopters are designed for personal use and do not have advanced features like high-tech commercial helicopters.
Models like the Mosquito helicopter cost around $20,000 to $40,000 (approximately Rs 16-33 lakh). The weight is light and they have the capacity to seat 1-2 people. They run on small engines and are designed for limited speed and range. These helicopters can be purchased assembled and their maintenance is also easy.
Apart from this there is “Composite-FX XE”, which is a single-seater helicopter. If you buy it in kit form, it costs around Rs 32 lakh and if you buy it as a fully prepared helicopter from the factory, it costs around Rs 48 lakh. Due to its price and simplicity in construction, it is counted among the cheapest helicopters. Apart from this, “Helicycle” is also another affordable helicopter which costs around Rs 56 lakh.
Rules for buying a helicopter
- Before purchasing a helicopter, permission has to be obtained from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India. The type of helicopter, its safety features, and other technical requirements are examined by the DGCA.
- After getting permission, it is necessary to register the helicopter. This process is done through DGCA and in this the ownership of the helicopter is confirmed.
- It is also necessary to obtain NOC from the Home Ministry, which takes into account the potential safety and usage issues of the helicopter. This certificate is important from security point of view.
- To use a helicopter, flying permits and guidelines have to be followed. Flying a helicopter requires a certified pilot and technical staff recognized by the DGCA.
- For helicopter landing, permission and fees have to be paid at various places. This fee varies according to the states and requires permission from the airport authority.
