Civil Helicopter Market - Size, Share, Industry Trends, and Forecasts (2025-2032)

By Type:

Based on the type, the market is segmented into heavy, medium and lightweight.

Trends in the Type:

• The trend towards rising need for long range and all-weather search and rescue capabilities drives the heavy type of helicopters.
• The trend towards long distance missions as well as disaster relief, and aerial work is propelling the need for heavy type of helicopters.

Medium type helicopter accounted for the largest revenue of 41.23% share in the year 2024.

• The medium type of helicopter offers payload and range with advanced technologies for applications such as medical and rescue services, energy services and security services.
• Additionally, helicopters have advanced situational awareness technologies and safety features to reduce crew workload as well as provide flexibility in increasing number of seats.
• Further, the operational efficiency to offer long-range operation for all weather conditions is driving the need for medium type helicopters.
• For instance, in November 2024, Leonardo sign framework agreement with GDHF to supply thirteen AW189 super-medium category helicopter for long range operations.
• Thus, as per the market analysis, the advance technology and increasing application in medical and rescue services among other fuels the medium type of civil helicopter market size.

Lightweight Helicopter is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• The light helicopter is designed for range of missions, including law enforcement, HEMS, and passenger transport.
• Moreover, the increased safety and operational efficiency in lightweight helicopter drive the civil helicopter market size.
• Further, the rising need for traffic surveillance, medical evacuations, news coverage, and search and rescue missions are propelling the need for lightweight helicopters.
• For instance, in October 2022, Airbus Helicopters partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries to deliver first light civil helicopter to gloria aviation. Additionally, the helicopter aims to support critical life-saving missions in Jeju.
• Therefore, as per the market analysis, the increased safety and operational efficiency and increasing application is anticipated to boost the civil helicopter market share during the forecast period.

By Engine Type:

Based on the engine type, the market is bifurcated into single and twin engine.

Trends in the Engine Type:

• The rising flight training, aerial photography, and sightseeing tours is propelling the need for single engine helicopters due to its fuel efficiency, and low operating costs in tun driving the civil helicopter market trend.
• The reliability and ruggedness of twin engines drives need in offshore oil and gas support and others in turn fuels the twin engine civil helicopter market trend.

Twin Engine accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2024 and is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• The helicopters with twin engines provide greater power and speed as well as carrying heavier loads and significant safety drives the twin engine type progress.
• Moreover, the rising need for search and rescue and law enforcement due to its speed, performance, and advanced avionics is driving the twin engine helicopter market adoption.
• Further, the emerging helicopter emergency medical services is boosting the need for twin engine helicopters.
• For instance, in December 2024, Airbus Helicopters delivered nine H145 helicopter which features twin engines to Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior of Bahrain. The helicopters are utilized for law enforcement missions and emergency medical services in the kingdom.
• Thus, according to the civil helicopter market analysis, the ability to provide greater power and speed as well as carrying heavier loads is fueling the twin engine civil helicopter market share.

By Application:

Based on the application, the market is bifurcated into commercial and private.

Trends in the Application:

• The trend towards quick and efficient ways to travel to a remote location is boosting the need for private helicopters.
• The trend towards flying over a city skyline or a natural landscape for enhancing the experience is fueling the need for private helicopters.

Commercial applications accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2024.

• The commercial application includes emergency medical services, search & rescue, law enforcement, forestry & wildlife conservation and others.
• Additionally, the advantages of adopting helicopters for commercial applications include tailored travel arrangements, exclusivity, time optimization, personalized and luxurious travel experience among others.
• Further, rising need in law enforcement, search & rescue and other is propelling the need for helicopter for commercial applications.
• For instance, Leonardo offers wide range of commercial helicopters such as AW119Kx, AW109 TREKKER, AW109 GRANDNEW and others for wide range of applications including security services, utility and passenger transport among others.
• Thus, according to civil helicopter market analysis, rising need in law enforcement, search & rescue and others is driving the commercial application segment.

Private application is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• Private helicopters are majorly used for corporate travel, emergency medical services and luxury aircraft solutions.
• Additionally, private helicopters offer convenience, speed, comfort, accessibility, and privacy in turn fueling the market progress for private applications.
• Further, the growing network of charter services catering to rising tourism sector is driving the need for civil helicopter industry.
• For instance, in January 2024, Heritage Aviation based out in India, order for H125 and H130 Airbus Helicopters. Additionally, government schemes such as UDAN and growing tourism sector is propelling the need for private helicopters.
• Therefore, as per the market analysis, growing network of charter services is anticipated to boost the growth of the market during the forecast period.

By End-User:

Based on the end-user, the market is segmented into corporate, security & surveillance, healthcare, training institutions and others.

Trends in the End-User:

• The growing tourism sector across globe is propelling the need for luxury helicopter transportation service which in turn drives the corporate industry.
• The simulation and training tools are utilized for reducing the risk during training which in turn boost fleet availability by saving flight hours in the air which is required for issuing helicopter licence.

Security and surveillance accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2024.

• Helicopters play a crucial role in defense operation by providing services such as transportation & logistics, reconnaissance and surveillance, combat and attack missions among others.
• Furter, the helicopters are utilized to monitor and combat unlawful activities as well as to detect oil-spills at sea is driving the need for helicopter in security and surveillance industry.
• For instance, in March 2023,Airbus deployed H125 helicopters law enforcement agencies based out in North America. The aim of deployment is to protect communities and ensure the safety of citizens
• Thus, as per the market analysis, rising need of helicopters in defense operation is driving the market progress.

Healthcare is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• The revolutionizing medical transportation and air ambulance services for providing quick medical response with the comfort and convenience of air travel is propelling the market progress in healthcare sector.
• Further, customized helicopters outfitted with cutting-edge medical technology and assisted highly qualified medical personnel is fueling the market development.
• For instance, in October 2024, according to total Croatia, Croatian Air Ambulance was utilized more than 700 times in duration of six months. The main reason for adopting HEMS was due to emergency heart surgery.
• Therefore, as per the analysis, the rising need for quick medical response is anticipated to boost the market during the forecast period.