How a Helicopter Lift Is Planned: From Site Survey to Load Sign-Off
A helicopter lift is won in the planning. The full pre-lift process, from site survey and load engineering to the FAA-reviewed lift plan and load sign-off.
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Load charts, cost anatomy, and regulatory explainers for the estimators, engineers, and project managers who plan heavy lift work. Figures are verified and regulations are cited, so the numbers hold up when you take them into a bid.
A helicopter lift is won in the planning. The full pre-lift process, from site survey and load engineering to the FAA-reviewed lift plan and load sign-off.
US civil helicopters top out near 28,000 pounds on the hook; the Mi-26 lifts 44,000. The full capacity table, with the density altitude math behind every number.
Helicopter lift costs run $2,000 to $25,000+ per flight hour. This Total Lifted Cost analysis shows when rotorcraft beat cranes and when they do not.
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