Helicopters are a type of rotorcraft in which the lift and thrust are supplied by rotors, and are powered either by a piston or turbo-shaft engine. Turbo-shaft engines are form of gas turbine propulsion designed to produce shaft power rather than jet thrust.
Referred to as civil helicopters; business helicopters, private helicopters and VIP helicopters; they are typically used for very short flights of less than 100 miles, at altitudes of less than 1,000 feet due to their range and ceiling operating window.
Helicopters provide the point to point accessibility to locations that private and business people desire; with the ability to land in city centers; such on the top of skyscrapers to open areas and heliports which heightens their popularity.
Popular types of use includes: Air medical, Law enforcement, Tourism, and Private and Business aviation.
Helicopters expand the capabilities of business, and provide the flexibility, accessibility, speed of travel that corporations and businesses desire.
With regards to the market outlook 4,800 to 5,500 new civil helicopters are projected to be delivered globally in the next five years from 2014. There are more than 33,000 civil helicopters registered worldwide.
In terms of global value the civil helicopter market as of 2015 is approaching $8bn USD per year.
Manufacturers of helicopters include the following companies:
Airbus Helicopters
Bell
Enstrom Helicopters
Leonardo Fenmeccanica
Robinson
Russian Helicopters
Sikorsky
