Indicative 2015 market range$1.56m (€1.45m) to $1.87m (€1.73m)
Fixed annual planning base$102k (€94k)
Direct hourly planning cost$788 (€730) / h
An MD Helicopters MD 500ER costs approximately $1.56m (€1.45m) to $1.87m (€1.73m) to buy at 2015 market values. Owning one and flying 80 hours a year costs roughly $167k (€155k) annually, about $2,091 (€1,936) per flight hour all-in, made up of a $102k (€94k) fixed annual base plus $788 (€730) per hour flown. Over five years, purchase and operating costs total around $2.53m (€2.35m) before financing, depreciation and tax.
Ownership scenarios
Indicative cash costs before financing, depreciation and tax.
Annual use
Annual cash cost
Effective cost / h
Five-year cash outlay
40 h / year
$136k (€126k)
$3,394 (€3,143)
$2.38m (€2.2m)
80 h / year
$167k (€155k)
$2,091 (€1,936)
$2.53m (€2.35m)
120 h / year
$199k (€184k)
$1,657 (€1,534)
$2.69m (€2.49m)
180 h / year
$246k (€228k)
$1,367 (€1,266)
$2.93m (€2.71m)
What drives the real price?
Airframe and engine time, maintenance history, damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment can move a real transaction well outside a model-level estimate. A cheaper example with deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft after the first annual inspection.
What is included?
PlaneFit combines an annual fixed-cost base with a direct hourly estimate. The result is intended for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation scenarios. It is not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Insurance sits inside the fixed annual base rather than alongside it. To see how that single line breaks down by pilot experience and model year, read the MD Helicopters MD 500ER insurance cost guide.
The central ownership compromise
The MD 500ER combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 170 NM reported range and about 135 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
Test your own utilisation
The scenarios above assume 80 hours a year. This calculator opens on the MD Helicopters MD 500ER figures so you can change the hours, or any of the inputs, and see what it does to the cost per hour.
Estimated annual cash cost€152,400
Effective cost per flight hour€1,905
Five-year operating cash€762,000
Prefer to work from fuel burn and maintenance reserve separately? Use the operating cost calculator.
Common questions about MD Helicopters MD 500ER costs
How much does an MD Helicopters MD 500ER cost to buy?
An indicative 2015 market range for an MD Helicopters MD 500ER is $1.56m (€1.45m) to $1.87m (€1.73m). Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics and equipment move real transactions well outside a model-level estimate.
What does an MD Helicopters MD 500ER cost per year to own?
Flying 80 hours a year, budget roughly $167k (€155k) in annual cash costs, which works out at about $2,091 (€1,936) per flight hour all-in. That covers a $102k (€94k) fixed annual base plus $788 (€730) per hour of direct operating cost.
What does five years of MD Helicopters MD 500ER ownership cost?
Purchase plus five years of operating cost at 80 hours a year comes to approximately $2.53m (€2.35m) in cash terms, before financing, depreciation and tax.
