Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Matt Thurber

The global preowned single-engine helicopter market saw a decrease in retail sales last year, according to sales and market intelligence firm Aero Asset, but their value climbed year over year (YOY).
For-sale supply dropped 26% last year, according to Aero Asset’s 2025 Annual Heli Market Trends Single-Engine edition, “while median transaction prices rose 5%.” Sales drop was 7%, value increase was 6%, and the absorption rate dropped to eight months by the end of the year. In 2025, the total number of preowned helicopters sold was 169 units worth $412 million. Supply for sale was down significantly at 111 units valued at $285 million—down 26% and 23%, respectively.
Sellers retained some pricing power last year, with median transaction prices up 5% and average days on market down 12%, the lowest level in five years, Aero Asset said. “Aircraft continued to transact close to asking price, with sold prices averaging 9% below ask.”
Activity was strongest in North America, which accounted for 56% of all single-engine helicopter sales, while Europe posted YOY growth at 8%, “the only region to post year-over-year growth in retail transactions.”
“Transaction volume softened in 2025, but tightening supply drove price growth,” said Valerie Pereira, v-p of market research. “The sharp contraction in supply pushed absorption rate lower, underscoring a continued demand for well-positioned single-engine assets.”

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