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Free Talk Live => The Show => Topic started by: Pilot_MKN on June 05, 2010, 01:37:52 PM

Title: Police Helicopter Costs
Post by: Pilot_MKN on June 05, 2010, 01:37:52 PM
After the caller mentioned the helicopter idling, I pulled up some stats for a common helicopter model used by many police departments:

Bell Jet Ranger 206B III

Fuel & Lubricants
Fuel [28 gal per hour]                  117.88
Lubricants [3% of fuel cost]             3.53

Airframe & Direct Maintenance
Inspection                                   20.13
Overhaul                                       6.42
Unscheduled Maintenance              24.50

Parts
Inspections                                    2.56
Retirement                                   35.23
Overhaul                                      18.53
Unscheduled                                 33.89

Powerplant Direct Maintenance
Overhaul                                       53.50
Line Maintenance                             4.33

Total Average Cost Per Hour           $ 320.50

Note: Jet Fuel Cost for Panama City Florida as of June 5, 2010 : $4.21/Gallon
Note: Labor Rate assumed at $65.00 per hour

Source: Textron Product Specification Manual for the Bell Jet Ranger

(Important Note: Per FAA regulations, government owned aircraft DO NOT have to undergo the same inspections as privately owned aircraft. So, its possible they maintenance costs would be somewhat lower for a police department, but being the government who knows.
Title: Re: Police Helicopter Costs
Post by: voodoo on June 06, 2010, 02:18:00 PM
(Important Note: Per FAA regulations, government owned aircraft DO NOT have to undergo the same inspections as privately owned aircraft. So, its possible they maintenance costs would be somewhat lower for a police department, but being the government who knows.

What FAR?

Gov-owned, non-FAA-registered are under agency maintenance programs, but those would be limited to DoD and DoT Coast Guard airframes.  Others, like police airframes, are FAA-registered.  I've never seen a government exception to FAA regulations (not to say it doesn't exist).

But, even with exceptions, getting off a scheduled MX program would be foolhardy (not surprising, though, with fools running it) as, if they ever hope to sell the airframe, it's going to have to come back into compliance at sale.  If the airframe does not have the pedigree, it will be unusable (or, at least, very expensive) to meet conformity for any certificated operator.
Title: Re: Police Helicopter Costs
Post by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on June 06, 2010, 03:19:13 PM
You're forgetting labor for the pilot and copilot and I'm sure a few other things that make it far more expensive than that to operate police helicopters.
Title: Re: Police Helicopter Costs
Post by: Pilot_MKN on June 07, 2010, 08:27:01 PM
I couldn't quote you the exact FAR, I just know that's something that one of my professors hammered into our heads ( I'm at a government run flight school at a public university)
Title: Re: Police Helicopter Costs
Post by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on June 10, 2010, 11:16:30 PM
When I was 15 and in lifeguard training they had the emergency copter fly over to our lake and talk about it.  If I recall correctly the pilot said at the end of the day it costs between $1000 and $2000 to operate the helicopter per hour.

That was about a decade ago though, but I honestly think that is what he said.  I'm not 100% on it though...  It also might be more expensive to operate emergency choppers than simple police patrol choppers.
Title: Re: Police Helicopter Costs
Post by: Pilot_MKN on June 11, 2010, 11:52:55 AM
Remember, the Coast Guard is using helicopters specifically designed for the military. Any concerns about efficiency are thrown out the door. Military aircraft are beyond outrageous in terms of their maintenance and fuel burn.

In fact, the nickname of the C-5 Galaxy (largest transport aircraft in use by the US Military) is FRED, Fucking Ridiculous Economic Disaster
Title: Re: Police Helicopter Costs
Post by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on June 11, 2010, 04:10:46 PM
It was just an LA County helicopter.  Not Coast Guard.