Helicopter costs

If its just for personal use its cheaper to rent one.

If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

That's like asking how long is a piece of string or is there any difference between a Kia Piquanto or an Audi A8. What type of helicopter (manufacturer, version, age), what type and number of engines (turbine or piston, one or two), area of intended operation? Is he a licenced helicopter pilot or will he need professional crew? How many crew are needed? If it's more than occasional use then it's 2 or 3. Pilots will also require training courses. Add on hangarage and ground handling, deprecation and so on.

A lot of people with frighteningly little knowledge bought helicopters during the Celtic tiger era. A number of crashes and serious incidents occurred including a near mid air in Dublin airport due to some of the clowns who had their hands on them. One very wealthy man and his crew died because his crew didn't want to say no to him when bad weather closed in. Not saying your friend is one of those but you would need way more research than a line or two like you have written. Sorry to be harsh but it's tough love.

Friend, there is no budget option with helicopters. Also does he know he would have to be rated on the type he purchases or leases. Has he got an instrument rating? Has he got a few weeks spare to do the course and all the recurrency training? Would low experience mean heavy insurance weighting or refusal? Does he need the heli to be capable of IFR flight? Is he aware that almost no helicopter has de icing capability and we get lots of airframe icing in Ireland? 'For the sake of argument he has a heli licence ', don't you know, you're asking the question? Sorry but you're being way too simplistic. Your friend needs some serious research or a consultant.

Would you go for a spin with him in this budget option helicopter?

Helicopters can't glide to a landing of some form if the engine goes...OK there's autorotation but that's not the same...

I have no idea of costings but if someone said half a mill to me I'd say "sounds in and around it"

Jaysus, if he can't afford his own internet connection, he definitely can't afford a chopper. 🙂

Businesses usually least their vehicles. Ireland has a massive aircraft leasing business.

this is not necessarily true, it is becoming more popular

If you have the cash to do it, buying makes more sense

if you don't you take the hit and lease, but it costs

That is why Ryan Air is in the position it is