When a Ground Crane Is the Better Choice
A crane wins when a pick exceeds the 28,000 lb civil helicopter ceiling, must be held while it is bolted, goes under cover, or sits beside open, firm ground.
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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.
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A crane wins when a pick exceeds the 28,000 lb civil helicopter ceiling, must be held while it is bolted, goes under cover, or sits beside open, firm ground.
Documented US steeples run 2,600 to 23,000 lb, all inside the civil fleet. The crane still wins, because a steeple set has to be held in place while it is bolted.
$2,000–$25,000+ per flight hour is a broad planning range. Worked examples compare complete helicopter and crane costs.
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