How to lease a helicopter — dry, wet, ACMI and short-term

Whether you need a Robinson R44 for a six-month tour season or a twin-engine medium for a long-term EMS contract, ChopperSwap lets you post a free Lease Request that reaches verified operators across EASA, FAA, TCCA and CASA jurisdictions in minutes.

Helicopter leasing splits into three structures: dry lease (aircraft only, your crew and your AOC), wet lease (aircraft + crew + maintenance + insurance under the lessor's AOC), and ACMI for short-term capacity. Choosing the wrong structure can cost more than the lease itself in tax, insurance and regulatory exposure — so the marketplace you use needs to surface the right operators, not just the cheapest hourly rate.

ChopperSwap was built specifically for that conversation. Operators listing aircraft for lease declare structure, minimum term, geographic restrictions, insurance baseline and crew availability up front, so you spend zero time on tyre-kicking calls.

And because the buyer side is free, you can post a Lease Request describing exactly what you need — type, region, term, start date, monthly hours — and the right operators come to you instead of the other way round.

Steps

  1. Decide your lease structure — Dry lease (you provide crew/AOC), wet lease (operator provides crew, maintenance, insurance) or ACMI for short-term capacity. The Lease Request form walks you through it.
  2. Browse aircraft already offered for lease — Filter the marketplace by intent=lease_helicopter and narrow by type, region and minimum term.
  3. Post a free Lease Request — If nothing fits, take two minutes to describe your requirement. The request is broadcast to every matching operator on ChopperSwap.
  4. Compare proposals side by side — Use the Compare tool to weigh hourly rate, monthly minimum, positioning fee, insurance level and crew experience across responding operators.
  5. Request documents and contract — Through the document vault you can pull the lessor's AOC, insurance certificate, and maintenance status before signing.

Why ChopperSwap

Real lease inventory

Generic classifieds focus on sales. ChopperSwap operators actively flag aircraft as available for dry / wet / ACMI lease.

Free to lessees

Browsing, comparing, posting Lease Requests and messaging operators are all free for the lessee — no broker fee, no commission.

Verified operators

Operators offering aircraft for lease have a verified company, declared AOC jurisdiction and visible safety record.

Cross-border ready

Multi-currency pricing and clearly tagged registry (EASA / FAA / TCCA / CASA) make cross-border lease negotiation straightforward.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between dry lease and wet lease?

Dry lease delivers the aircraft only — you provide crew, maintenance and insurance under your own AOC. Wet lease delivers the aircraft plus crew, maintenance and insurance under the lessor's AOC; you simply book the flying.

Can I lease a helicopter short-term for a single project?

Yes — ACMI and short-term wet leases (days to weeks) are common on ChopperSwap, especially for film, EMS surge and utility work. Post a Lease Request with your exact dates.

Is there a minimum lease term?

It depends on the operator. Many dry leases run 12+ months; wet/ACMI can start at a single rotation. The minimum is declared on each listing.

How are lease rates quoted?

Typically a monthly fixed fee plus hourly rate above a minimum block, with positioning fees separate. The Lease Request flow captures all three so quotes are directly comparable.

Can I lease a helicopter with crew for tours or charter?

Yes — many tour and charter operators wet-lease additional capacity for peak season. Filter for wet-lease availability or post a Lease Request.

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