We all know that time is money – especially when you’re working on a major construction project, like building a skyscraper or constructing a power line. Unfortunately, delays can result in skyrocketing costs. That’s why more and more companies are hiring helicopter construction services to cut down on expenses by streamlining operations and boosting efficiency.
Whether you need to conduct a preliminary assessment of your project site, transport crews to remote areas, or lift and place heavy construction materials with precision, a helicopter can provide speed and efficiency that traditional ground cranes simply can’t match.
So, what is the economic impact of helicopter services on major construction projects? And how can heavy-lift helicopters impact your bottom line? In this blog, we’ll explore the financial benefits of hiring a helicopter construction company to keep your project on time and on budget.
How Helicopters Reduce Project Timelines and Cut Costs
Major construction projects have a lot of moving parts. Unfortunately, time delays and unexpected expenses can throw a project off track fast. That’s why so many construction companies are turning to helicopters as an efficient, cost-effective solution.
Here are 3 key ways heavy-lift helicopters can keep your project and budget on track:
Quicker Transportation of Crews and Cargo (Even to Remote Areas)
Transporting personnel, materials, and construction equipment to remote or difficult-to-reach areas with limited road access can be a logistical nightmare – especially for ground crews using traditional ground cranes. It often requires crews to forge their own path, cutting down trees and building temporary roads so they can access the job site. Not only does this extra work add to your project timeline, but it costs significantly more in both labor and materials.
And, in crowded urban areas, ground cranes can impede traffic and disrupt the surrounding infrastructure. This frustrates city dwellers and causes additional project delays.
Construction helicopters are capable of flying crew members and cargo directly to your project site, bypassing the need for roads and lengthy commutes. They can land in rugged landscapes like mountaintops and in far away locations without needing to refuel, and they do not contribute to traffic congestion.
These streamlined logistics allow for more productive work hours and reduced downtime and delays, which can save you a significant amount of money.
More Efficient Heavy Lifting
Lifting and positioning heavy materials is one of the biggest challenges of major construction projects. It may require you to hire large, expensive cranes and spend extensive amounts of time on setup and teardown.
But did you know helicopters are capable of lifting more than 25,000 pounds? Most construction projects require lifting capabilities of around 2,000 - 6,000 pounds, but you can hire a heavy-lift helicopter (like a Sikorsky S-64E or S-64F Skycrane) for a project that requires you to lift up to 25,000 pounds of heavy materials, including:
- Concrete
- Large pipes
- HVAC units
- Septic tanks
- Pipeline sections
- Power line poles and equipment
- Radio transmission towers
- Large machinery
While setting up ground cranes can take days or even weeks, helicopters can be deployed quickly. They can begin lifting soon after arrival, which significantly reduces your crew’s labor hours, eliminates the need to rent cranes for weeks or months at a time, and vastly minimizes the required setup and teardown.
Enhanced Mobility and Pinpoint Precision
Traditional cranes can be tough to work with on tight job sites, especially when placing HVAC units or other large equipment on rooftops. They’re bulky, less flexible, and come with a higher risk of errors or damage – and the potential for costly mistakes.
Helicopters, on the other hand, offer 360-degree movement and can hover precisely over in-progress buildings and other structures. This makes them ideal for placing heavy gear in hard-to-reach spots, like rooftops, power lines, or cell towers.
Their aerial view and agility help reduce mistakes, improve safety, and avoid delays or costly fixes down the road.
How Helicopters Are Transforming Major Construction Projects
Helicopters aren’t just for firefighting operations, disaster relief missions, and sightseeing tours of the city. Their speed, precision, and accessibility make them invaluable tools for large-scale construction projects across a variety of industries like these:
Wind Farm Construction
Building wind farms is a complex process that requires the transportation of oversized parts – like heavy turbine blades and towers – to elevated, remote, and hard-to-reach locations.
Helicopters are capable of carrying and delivering these parts directly to the wind farm project site. This reduces the need for extensive roadwork and heavy ground equipment while making delivery faster and more cost-effective.
Plus, their ability to place bulky turbine parts with precise accuracy keeps wind farm construction projects on schedule with limited disruption to the surrounding environment.
Power Line Construction
Helicopters are ideal for accessing difficult terrain and constructing power lines where installation by ground crane would be slow and labor-intensive. Whether you need to replace old electric power transmission lines or upgrade an entire region’s power supply, a utility construction helicopter can help you with tasks like:
- Pouring foundation
- Setting poles
- Erecting towers
- Stringing wires
- Finalizing conductors
Pipeline Installation
Heavy-lift helicopters are also valuable for enhancing the efficiency of pipeline construction projects. They can lift and transport heavy pieces of pipeline in less than half the time, saving you significant money and resources while minimizing their environmental impact.
Utility helicopters can improve pipeline installation tasks like:
- Pouring foundation
- Placing monopole and lattice structures
- Hauling materials like pallets and concrete
- Transporting machinery
Offshore Construction
Helicopters are also essential for transporting crews and equipment to offshore platforms and rigs both safely and efficiently – even in the most challenging environments where boats aren’t practical. They can provide critical support for construction, drilling, maintenance, and emergency response operations.
Rebuilding After Natural Disasters
In the aftermath of natural disasters like hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, and floods, disaster relief helicopters can provide quick access to areas that are cut off from traditional means of support. Helicopters can transport vital equipment, supplies, and rescue personnel to disaster-stricken areas, while also delivering construction support to aid in rebuilding efforts.
Skyscraper Construction
Skyscraper construction projects face many logistical challenges, like maneuvering in tight spaces and working with extreme heights. Whether you need to place an antenna, transport a heavy steel beam, or install a hefty chiller on top of a tall building, a heavy-lift construction helicopter can carry and place these components with precision – all while reducing crane congestion and expediting your construction timeline.
See more real-life examples of helicopter-assisted construction projects, from the construction of the CN Tower in Toronto to the development of Montana’s world-class Big Sky Resort.
Faster Timelines. Lower Costs. Better Results.
Helicopter services offer major construction projects a powerful advantage. They reduce logistical challenges, minimize delays, and handle heavy-lift tasks that would otherwise require time-consuming ground crane operations.
Whether you’re building a wind farm, installing power lines, or tackling complex skyscraper projects, construction helicopters offer unmatched agility and precision so you can stay on schedule and on budget.
The economic impact of helicopter support in both remote terrain and dense urban environments is clear: fewer delays and significant cost savings. When every dollar counts, helicopter construction services are a smart, strategic investment.
Ready to Save Money on Your Construction Project?
Contact the heavy-lift helicopter construction experts at Helicopter Express today to learn how our helicopter services can save you time and money. When you work with us, you can rest easy knowing an entire crew is dedicated to the safety and efficiency of your project.
For the past 30 years, we’ve built our reputation as a trusted leader in helicopter lift services. Our highly skilled crew follows strict safety protocols, maintains top-tier equipment, and puts customer satisfaction at the heart of everything we do.
The result? Reliable, professional service that gets the job done right the first time.