AS50The Helibras Esquilo HB350 B is a light turbine helicopter built from 1981, now out of production. Price: the Helibras Esquilo HB350 B is out of production and, used, the market median is around US$ 1.1M. 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), 7 seats (pilot included). In Brazil there are 20 active units in the RAB-ANAC, excluding cancelled registrations. There is 1 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 1 listing on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).
Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/9/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 10/30/2026).
Index ≈ ×1.16 to ×1.43 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization, IPI and ICMS.
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).
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.
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. 3 of 5 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$ 5.5127 / US$ · 11/09/2026
Market estimates for guidance only, not a firm quote. Confirm the value with a broker/appraiser before any transaction.
The Esquilo HB350 B is the light turbine helicopter assembled by Helibras in Brazil since 1981, identified by the ICAO code AS50. It cruises at 140 kt, has a range of 357 nm, a service ceiling of 15,100 ft, and a maximum takeoff weight of 2,250 kg. The cabin seats up to 6, with 5 in typical configuration. This page includes the complete technical specifications, the estimated operating cost per flight hour, and the model's aircraft registered in Brazil.
Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.
Helibras (Helicópteros do Brasil S.A.) was founded in 1978 as a joint venture between the Brazilian government, Aérospatiale (later Eurocopter, today Airbus Helicopters) and private Brazilian companies, the first industrial-scale helicopter factory in Latin America. Headquartered in Itajubá, southern Minas Gerais (MG), in a region with an aeronautical tradition near Inatel/CTA. The first AS350 B Esquilo was delivered to the FAB in December 1978. Today a 100% Airbus subsidiary.
In 2008, the Lula government signed a USD 2.3B contract with Helibras/Airbus for local production of 50 H225M Caracal helicopters (rebranded EC725) in Itajubá, the first time Helibras produced heavy helicopters (11,000 kg MTOW). The program expanded the factory and jobs. The H225M fleet operates with the FAB (designation H-36 Caracal), Navy (UH-15) and Army (HM-4) on SAR, troop transport and special operations missions. The program doubled Helibras capacity.
Helibras produced more than 850 helicopters between 1978-2024, all variants of the AS350/H125 Esquilo family, plus the H225M Caracal (heavy military line 2010+) and H145M support. 'Made in Brazil' aircraft count toward Airbus Helicopters' global statistics. The active Brazilian Esquilo fleet exceeds 600 units: Military Police, Armed Forces (FAB H-50/Helibras, Army HA-1, Navy UH-12/UH-13), ENG, EMS, executive. 100% domestic support and MRO via Helibras.
Helibras developed the militarized HB350M 'Fennec' version (Eurocopter designation) or 'Esquilo Armado' (Brazilian designation) for the FAB (designation H-50) and the Brazilian Army (HA-1). Equipment: pylon for a 7.62mm MAG machine gun, 70mm SBAT rocket launcher (domestic rocket pods), Mistral air-to-air sights, optional FLIR. The Brazilian military HB350M fleet exceeds 100 units. The domestic standard light military helicopter.
Brazilian HB350/H125 operators have a unique competitive advantage: parts, MRO, modifications, training and technical support 100% domestic via Helibras Itajubá MG. Maintenance cost in BRL eliminates USD/EUR currency exposure, a differentiator in times of a weak Real. Lead time for overhaul of engine, rotor and dynamic components is ~30 days vs. 60-90 days for operators who depend on imported MRO. Direct ROI in fleet uptime.
In 2014, Airbus Helicopters elevated Helibras Itajubá MG to 'Center of Excellence' for Latin America and the Caribbean, producing aircraft for export to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and Caribbean countries. An inverted business model: Helibras became an exporter for the Airbus network, not just a producer for Brazil. More than 100 'made in Itajubá' aircraft exported since 2014, generating foreign currency and sustaining domestic high-tech employment.
Sources: NTSB, CENIPA, Aviation Safety Network
Undetermined
Loss of control in flight
Loss of control in flight
Rotor occurrence
Landing short of the runway
In-flight collision with obstacle
Loss of control in flight
Other
Loss of control in flight
Engine failure in flight
12 operational aircraft owned by companies in the ANAC registry (RAB). Each opens the profile with owner, operator, status and history.
PP-EHYPP-EHZPT-HLMPT-HLTPT-HLUPT-HNFPT-HNLPT-HNMPT-HNPPT-HNYPT-HYCPT-HYD
The Helibras Esquilo HB350 B is out of production, so there is no factory price. On the used market the median is around US$ 1.1M, varying with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab. Reference value as of 06/2026.
The maximum range is 357 nm (357 NM · 661 km).
Cruise speed is 140 kt, equivalent to 259 km/h.
The Helibras Esquilo HB350 B has 7 seats in total, counting the pilot seat: up to 6 passengers.
There are 20 active units in the RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/9/2026): operational, mark reservation or suspended, excluding cancelled registrations.
13 distinct operators operate 18 units of the Helibras Esquilo HB350 B in the RAB-ANAC: 8 in air taxi (RBAC 135) and 10 in private operation (RBAC 91), concentrated in SP, CE and RJ (data as of 11/9/2026). Not included in that count: 2 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.
Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 1,849 per flight hour at 200 h/year, of which US$ 944 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 181,100 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.