While the rest of the US economy is stymied in fear of a recession, the helicopter industry is blazing ahead!  The housing market and mortgage collapse are still rippling through the economy, decreasing consumer confidence.  Construction industry is at a standstill while building supply houses also remain idle.  A weak US dollar is not helping US exports.  Even the lending institutions are facing foreclosures of loans on properties costing them billions.   While most industries are recording record losses, the helicopter industry is breaking growth records!

A common market indicator of industry growth is the number of new helicopters being sold on the market.  In 2003/2004 the helicopter manufacturing industry was delivering between 400 and 450 new aircraft per year.  In 2007 sales are expected to reach 650 aircraft.  This is a 25% increase in sales in 3 years (During this same 3 years, the housing market has collapsed and the lending institution is on the verge of bankruptcy).  Manufacturers literally cannot build helicopters fast enough.  A representative of Bell helicopters was quoted as saying that the industry actually wants closer to 800 aircraft per year, but they just cannot build enough that fast.  Forecasters expect the demand to stabilize at around 900 new aircraft per year.

While the helicopter industry is a global market, the United States and Canada are the biggest players.  High energy prices are driving the costs of goods and services up which is actually helping the helicopter market!  Oil and gas producers (Shell, Textron, et-al) use helicopters to support offshore drilling and to research of new oil and gas fields.  With oil at a record $100 dollars per barrel, offshore drilling will continue for the foreseeable future.  And where there’s offshore drilling, there’s a helicopter transporting crew and equipment to service each and every platform.

Also, heavy traffic congestion plaguing the nation with road rage is actually keeping the helicopter industry going strong.  Corporate transportation is growing with no signs of stopping.  Busy executives are finding that even it these economic times they can be more profitable paying for a helicopter to move them to meetings instead of being stuck in traffic.  Another industry that’s beating the traffic congestion is helicopter emergency medical services.  As traffic congestion stretches the time required for ground ambulances to reach hospitals, helicopter EMS is becoming a more practical alternative in saving lives. 

While the rest of the nation is concerned about the future economy, the helicopter industry seems to be growing at a record pace.  The demand for new helicopters greatly exceeds supply as manufacturers literally cannot build them fast enough!!!!  So what does this mean for a prospective pilot?  Somebody has to fly them…