Airbus Helicopters AS332 L1

14-occupant turbine helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1983–1995 · See its reach on the 3D globe

Photo: Nxn 0405 chl at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · representative variant

Indicative 1989 market price€3.62m – €4.32m

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€562k

Five-year cash outlay€6.74m

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats	14
Realistic payload with mission fuel	1080 kg
Advertised range	396 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	265 nm
Cruise speed	136 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€236k
Direct cost per flight hour	€3230

The ownership trade-off

The AS332 L1 combines 14-seat helicopter capability with about 396 NM reported range and about 136 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

40 hours/year: about €433k per year ( €10818 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €562k per year ( €7024 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €691k per year ( €5759 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €885k per year ( €4916 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €507k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.

Where it fits well

136 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
396 nm advertised range creates a practical planning radius of about 265 nm with 4 occupants.
1080 kg realistic payload proxy and 14 seats define the usable cabin mission.

Limitations to price honestly

The AS332 L1 combines 14-seat helicopter capability with about 396 NM reported range and about 136 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€236k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
Component life and mission-specific landing permissions dominate real-world utility.

Recommended missions

Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
Recreational, training or personal travel where operating efficiency is more important than airline-like speed.