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Family · 3 variants1989+
AS350 B21989–2017AS350 B31997–2011H125 (AS350 B3e)2011+in production
Foto: Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Airbus Helicopters

Airbus AS350 B3

AS50
Light Turbine HelicopterDiscontinued1997–2011
Range
357 NM · 661 km
MTOW
2,250 kg
Cruise
140 kt · 259 km/h
Seats
6
6 seats (pilot included)
Used price
US$ 1.6M

The Airbus AS350 B3 is a light turbine helicopter produced between 1997 and 2011. Price: the Airbus AS350 B3 is out of production and, used, the market median is around US$ 1.6M. Median from Jet Tracker's price research as of 06/2026. It has a range of 357 nm, a cruise speed of 140 kt (259 km/h), 6 seats (pilot included). In Brazil there are 41 active units in the RAB-ANAC, excluding cancelled registrations. The AS350 B2 family (3 variants) totals 339 active units. There are 83 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 92 listings on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).

Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/12/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 11/7/2026).

Acquisition price · pre-owned market
92 active listings (global)Jet Tracker curation · 6 sources · 6/4/2026
US$ 1.6MR$ 9.0M
market medianaging ≈ −4.8%/yr+28% vs Light Turbine Helicopter median
Entry
US$ 1.2M
model year 2000
Best value
US$ 1.5M
model year 2004
Top of range
US$ 2.0M
model year 2011
Basis
Valuation
Bluebook + market
Minimum
US$ 775.0K
R$ 4.3M
Median
US$ 1.6M
R$ 9.0M
Maximum
US$ 2.3M
R$ 12.6M
Depreciation curve by year of manufacture
CAGR +5.0%/yr·2000→2011
Market median by vintage (USD). Light-blue band = min/max range observed across real listings. Points without reliable public listings (n ≤ 1) use Bluebook/curve interpolation and are flagged as lower confidence.
8 of 8 points with reduced confidence (n ≤ 1 listing observed). The estimate for these years comes from Aircraft Bluebook / market-curve interpolation, not from direct listings.
Landed in Brazil

Index ≈ ×1.14 to ×1.42 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization, IPI and ICMS.

Through a qualified importer
US$ 882.4K – 2.7M
R$ 4.9M – 15.4M · Agreement 75/91 · IPI + ICMS ~7 to 12%
Direct import
US$ 1.0M – 3.2M
R$ 5.7M – 17.9M · IPI + full ICMS ~25 to 32%

Market estimate: value + ferry + ANAC nationalization + taxes, no legal review. II, PIS and COFINS are 0% for aircraft (NCM 88.02); IPI is 6.5% (3.25% for air taxi) until Dec 31, 2026; ~4% ICMS only through a qualified importer (Agreement 75/91).

Cost per flight hour
Operate · owned
US$ 957/h
R$ 5.4K/h · Variable/h
Fixed/yr
US$ 208.6K
Total/h @ 200 hrs/yr
US$ 2.0K/h
Charter · 🌎 World
US$ 1.7K – 2.0K/h
R$ 9.5K – 11.2K/h
Charter · 🇧🇷 Brazil
US$ 1.7K – 2.8K/h
R$ 9.5K – 15.7K/h

Operate = direct cost/hour (fuel + maintenance + engine); excludes fixed costs (hangar, crew, insurance). World: hourly rate published by charter operators. Brazil: charter is quoted per leg, so the hourly figure is an estimate from route quotes.

How we read this price · 6 sources · researched 6/4/2026

Median and price range for pre-owned aircraft, compiled by Jet Tracker from asking prices in listings and the price guides in the sources below, checked on 6/4/2026. 5 of 8 model years have an observed listing. The rest are estimates from the market curve between model years and are flagged in the chart.

PTAX · R$ 5.6075 / US$ · 11/12/2026

Market estimates for guidance only, not a firm quote. Confirm the value with a broker/appraiser before any transaction.

Temporal identity

First flight
Mar 01, 1997
FAA cert.
May 07, 1998
ANAC cert.
Sep 15, 1998
Deliveries start
—
Units produced (this variant)
—

The AS350 B3 is the highest-performance version of the Esquilo, a light turbine helicopter from Airbus Helicopters built between 1997 and 2011 and registered under the ICAO code AS50. It offers 357 nm of range, 140 kt cruise speed, a 15,100 ft ceiling and a maximum takeoff weight of 2,250 kg, with 5 occupants in the typical configuration and up to 6 seats. The reference price when new was US$2.5 million. In Brazil, where the type is used for business transport and air services, this page gathers the spec sheet, the estimated operating cost and the registered fleet.

Detailed specs

Performance

Engine
1x Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft
Engine type
Single-turbine 847 shp
Max speed
155 kt
Endurance
3 h
Fuel
540 L
Fuel
142.7 gal
Rate of climb
2,200 ft/min
Service ceiling
23,000 ft
Hover ceiling (IGE)
13,780 ft
Hover ceiling (OGE)
11,880 ft
Main rotor diameter
10.69 m

Cabin and comfort

Doors
4 doors + optional sliding rear doors
Seats
6
Optional air conditioning
Yes
Configuration
6 seats (1 pilot + 1 copilot + 4 rear), versatile reconfigurable cabin
Typical configuration
Crew 1 + Bench 5
Useful load
1,010 kg
Noise attenuation
Standard AS350 cabin, Fenestron NOT present
Baggage compartment
35 cu ft

Avionics and engines

GPS
Garmin GTN 750/650, common retrofit
Cockpit
VEMD (Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display) partial + secondary steam gauges
Autopilot
Optional 2-axis autopilot
Transponder
Garmin GTX 345 with ADS-B Out
Weather radar
Not available

Operating costs

Data source
aviacost.com, Airbus H125 (AS350 B3e) Ownership & Operating Costs Calculator (2026): variable $859/h, fuel burn 44 gal/h, total fixed $269,500/yr · aircraftloancalculator.com, The True Operating Cost of Airbus AS350 (2026): $1,400-$1,700/h at 100h; fuel 65-80 gal/h cruise; Arriel 2D TBO 3,500h, overhaul $72k-$88k (~$23/h); insurance $8k-$12k/yr; hangar $12k-$16k/yr · aircraftcostcalculator.com, AS350B3 (2B1): ~$2,301/h at 300 owner-operated hours, $9/gal fuel · Safran Helicopter Engines, Arriel 2B/2D specs and Support By the Hour (SBH) program · Operator/PPRuNe reported AS350 B3 cruise fuel burn ~180 L/h (~47.5 gal/h)
Fuel burn
50 gal/h
Last updated
2026
Rotor overhaul interval
4,000 h
Market price (low)
US$ 1,300,000
Engine overhaul interval
4,000 h
Market price (high)
US$ 2,800,000

External dimensions

Overall length
10.93 m
Wingspan
10.69 m
Height
3.15 m

Weights & fuel

Operating empty weight (OEW)
1,241 kg
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)
2,250 kg
Maximum payload
1,009 kg
Fuel capacity
540 L
Fuel capacity
967 lb

Cabin

Standard configuration
1 zone5 typical seats (pilot included) · 6 max1 crew5-seat bench

Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.

Cabin to scale: cross-section and profile
1,30 m1,65 m
front cross-section · person = 1.75 m
2,00 m long
Length
2 m
Width
1.65 m
Height
1.3 m
Volume
—
Baggage
—

Differences between variants

AS350 B2AS350 B31997–2011
RangeMTOWCruiseCeiling

Key changes

Detailed variants pending.

AS350 B3H125 (AS350 B3e)2011+
RangeMTOWCruiseCeiling

Key changes

Detailed variants pending.

History

  1. 1997First flight
  2. 1998FAA certification
  3. 1998ANAC certification
  4. 2005 - Landing on the summit of Mount Everest on May 14, 2005

    On May 14, 2005, Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle landed a modified AS350 B3 on the exact summit of Mount Everest at 8,848 meters (29,029 ft), the first time in history a helicopter landed on the highest point on Earth. Record homologated by the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) and never surpassed. The flight proved the hot/high capability of the Arriel 2B under borderline conditions (thin air, strong wind, temperature of -35°C). Modified B3 aircraft with reduced weight and special equipment.

    FAI
  5. 2011End of production
  6. 2014 - Evolved into the B3e (2011) and then rebranded H125 (2015)

    The AS350 B3 evolved into the AS350 B3e in 2011, adding an increased MTOW of 2,370 kg, improved VEMD, optional 7 PAX cabin and Arriel 2D (same 2B family but optimized). In 2015, after the 2014 unification of the Airbus Helicopters brand (formerly Eurocopter), the AS350 B3e was rebranded as the H125. The model remains in production in 2024 with 5,000+ cumulative units (entire AS350 family), the absolute Airbus civil bestseller.

    Airbus Helicopters

Brazil Fleet

419 registrations in the RAB across the AS350 B2 family (3 variants), all statuses

Full analysis: listing, mark reservations, charts and change log in the ANAC Monitor.

Open Analytics

Lineage

Model with no documented lineage in the manufacturer's line.

Curiosities and highlights

Benefits

OGE hover of 11,880 ft, the hot/high champion of the category

The AS350 B3 has an out-of-ground-effect hover ceiling of 11,880 ft at MTOW 2,250 kg, hot/high performance superior to any single-turbine competitor in the category (Bell 407, R66, Bell 206). Operators in Andes mining (Chile, Peru, Bolivia), alpine rescue (Switzerland, France, Italy), Heli-Ski (Canada, Alaska) and operations at Brazilian altitudes (Brasília, BH, Goiás) choose the B3 for its hot/high safety margin. The only single-turbine that operates comfortably at DAs >9,000 ft.

Arriel 2B engine brings 15% more power vs. the B2

The B3's Arriel 2B delivers 847 shp vs. 732 shp for the B2's Arriel 1D1, a 15% difference that translates into better performance, payload and altitude. FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) replaces manual control, simplifying operation at extreme altitudes/temperatures. TBO of 4,000 hours (vs. 3,500 for the Arriel 1) reduces direct operating cost. An engine 'easy on the pilot' in precise hover and takeoff from short/high-elevation runways.

Limitations

Single-engine VFR, outside Petrobras offshore

Like every AS350, the B3 is certified VFR single-engine, outside Petrobras offshore requirements (which require twin-engine IFR-CAT A). The Brazilian offshore market has standardized on the AW139, S-76 and H225 since 2010. The AS350 B3 stays in onshore utility, mining, EMS, police, ENG, executive. The technical limitation is unique to single-engines and does not prevent relevant commercial onshore operations.

Curiosities

Heli-Ski in Canada and mining operations

The AS350 B3 dominated the global Heli-Ski segment; operators such as CMH Heli-Skiing (British Columbia, Canada), Last Frontier (Alaska) and Heli-Ski Iceland operate fleets exclusively of B3s at DAs up to 12,000 ft. In Brazil, miners Vale, Anglo American and CSN use B3/H125s for dam inspection, transporting geologists to remote mines in Pará/MG/MT and logistics support on isolated projects. Hot/high capability is decisive.

CMH Heli-Skiing

Catalogued accidents

Sources: NTSB, CENIPA, Aviation Safety Network

12/22/2024· BR· Rio de Janeiro
PR-WCQ
Fatal · 4

Sightseeing flight. Loss of control while maneuvering near a hill; impact with the hillside. CENIPA investigating microburst and settling-with-power hypotheses.

Official report ↗
2/11/2019· BR· Barueri
PR-SOM
Fatal · 2

Engine failure en route from Campinas to São Paulo after 20 min of flight. Poor maintenance: engine compressor not replaced since 1988, expired parts, oil not changed in 3 years. The emergency landing ended in a collision with a truck on the Rodoanel beltway.

Official report ↗
12/29/2012· BR· RIO DE JANEIRO
PP-BRJ
Serious

Engine failure in flight

7/21/2012· BR· BARRO DURO
PR-RVC
Minor

Rotor occurrence

1/10/2010· BR· SÃO PAULO
PP-MAW
Serious

Loss of control on the ground

1/22/2006· BR· ANGRA DOS REIS
PR-CAV
Fatal · 1

Loss of control in flight

Airbus AS350 B3 for sale now

Listed aircraft with a page on Jet Tracker, from the lowest asking price up. Asking is not the closing price; portals and the reading date are on each page.

Registrations in Brazil

258 operational aircraft owned by companies in the ANAC registry (RAB), across the AS350 B2 family (3 variants). Each opens the profile with owner, operator, status and history.

PP-AKRPP-ALPPP-BAHPP-BAVPP-CCVPP-CLSPP-CMTPP-CPBPP-DAVPP-EFMPP-EJJPP-EJKPP-EJLPP-EJMPP-EJSPP-EJTPP-EJUPP-EMHPP-EODPP-EOEPP-EOIPP-EOJPP-EOVPP-EOXPP-EOYPP-EOZPP-EPNPP-ESNPP-ESPPP-ESQPP-FSPPP-FZBPP-HGRPP-HZBPP-IEFPP-IEGPP-INDPP-JAVPP-JFOPP-JJJPP-JULPP-LATPP-LMFPP-LSBPP-MBMPP-MEVPP-MHDPP-MHEPP-MHIPP-MIGPP-MLMPP-MMTPP-MPFPP-MRDPP-MRMPP-MSGPP-OANPP-OBMPP-OJLPP-PGTPP-PITPP-PMGPP-SANPP-SAUPP-SAVPP-VHJPP-WADPP-WAYPR-ABQPR-ACIPR-AFHPR-ATTPR-BBBPR-BBYPR-BCGPR-BIIPR-BLKPR-BLUPR-BNUPR-BOAPR-CAFPR-CATPR-CBPPR-CLRPR-CMEPR-CMSPR-CTNPR-DAOPR-DEBPR-DFJPR-DGBPR-DLPPR-DOFPR-DPMPR-DTMPR-EANPR-EBHPR-EBQPR-EBRPR-ELOPR-EPCPR-EPLPR-ESEPR-FADPR-FBVPR-FROPR-GAPPR-GCJPR-GDSPR-GMTPR-GPMPR-GRAPR-HAEPR-HASPR-HCTPR-HDPPR-HDRPR-HEMPR-HFAPR-HFIPR-HGHPR-HGLPR-HGRPR-HJNPR-HLLPR-HLPPR-HLUPR-HMEPR-HNBPR-HPMPR-HSCPR-HSRPR-HTAPR-HTFPR-HTVPR-IMMPR-IPCPR-JBJPR-JJBPR-JLLPR-JRCPR-JVZPR-KIAPR-KLIPR-LEEPR-LLMPR-MGJPR-MJYPR-NIAPR-OFAPR-OIOPR-OJMPR-OPMPR-OSPPR-PMDPR-POLPR-PSAPR-PSBPR-PUBPR-PVBPR-RCTPR-RGAPR-RGOPR-RIVPR-RVCPR-SCGPR-SCLPR-SHPPR-SISPR-SPDPR-SPEPR-SPGPR-SPHPR-SPIPR-SPKPR-SPSPR-SZVPR-TBJPR-TNGPR-TOCPR-URGPR-VGPPR-VMBPR-WMGPR-WNPPR-YDJPR-YFFPR-YITPR-YJSPR-YPIPR-YYYPS-ALEPS-AMBPS-ARBPS-ARSPS-ATHPS-BDFPS-BLFPS-BOSPS-EFTPS-EIIPS-ELIPS-FCGPS-FDRPS-GEAPS-GERPS-GOAPS-HAMPS-HBMPS-HCLPS-HCMPS-HRMPS-HSLPS-IIBPS-IPIPS-JAEPS-JBJPS-JJFPS-JORPS-MDIPS-MGDPS-MPCPS-PCGPS-RENPS-SDSPS-SMTPS-UTAPS-VCBPS-YDFPT-FCGPT-FERPT-FRNPT-GASPT-GGOPT-GMSPT-HAGPT-HYLPT-HYYPT-HZFPT-HZGPT-HZHPT-HZLPT-HZSPT-HZYPT-MCLPT-MCPPT-SRJPT-TOSPT-YDSPT-YJFPT-YMVPT-YNNPT-YRAPT-YSIPT-YTFPT-YTUPT-YUNPT-YYU

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Airbus AS350 B3 cost?

The Airbus AS350 B3 is out of production, so there is no factory price. On the used market the median is around US$ 1.6M, varying with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab. Reference value as of 06/2026.

What is the range of the Airbus AS350 B3?

The maximum range is 357 nm (357 NM · 661 km).

How fast is the Airbus AS350 B3?

Cruise speed is 140 kt, equivalent to 259 km/h.

How many passengers does the Airbus AS350 B3 seat?

The Airbus AS350 B3 has 6 seats in total, counting the pilot seat: up to 5 passengers.

How many Airbus AS350 B3 are there in Brazil?

There are 41 active units in the RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/12/2026): operational, mark reservation or suspended, excluding cancelled registrations. The AS350 B2 family (3 variants) totals 339 active units.

Who operates the Airbus AS350 B3 in Brazil?

28 distinct operators operate 31 units of the Airbus AS350 B3 in the RAB-ANAC: 11 in air taxi (RBAC 135) and 20 in private operation (RBAC 91), concentrated in SP, MG and PR (data as of 11/12/2026). Another 5 units are under registration reservation (tail number reserved, not yet operating). Not included in that count: 5 units run by public bodies (police, fire departments or government). Name, fleet and state of each operator are on this model's Analytics tab and in the operators directory.

How much does it cost to operate the Airbus AS350 B3 per hour?

Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 2,000 per flight hour at 200 h/year, of which US$ 957 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 208,600 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance), under Jet Tracker's default assumptions (Southeast Brazil, in-house crew, 200 h/year). Run your own scenario on this model's Costs tab.

Guides and articles about this model