The Bell Helicopter Bell 212 is a medium turbine helicopter produced between 1968 and 1998. It has a range of 250 nm, a cruise speed of 100 kt (185 km/h), up to 14 passengers. Out of production; on the used market the median is around US$ 2.0M. In Brazil there are 25 units registered in the RAB-ANAC. There are 6 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 6 listings on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).
Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 9/22/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 9/7/2026).
market medianaging ≈ −2.5%/yr−43% vs Helicóptero Medium Turbine median
Entry
US$ 1.8 mi
model year 1971
Best value
US$ 1.9 mi
model year 1981
Top of range
US$ 3.5 mi
model year 1998
Basis
Listings
real listings
Minimum
US$ 1.8 mi
R$ 9.0 mi
Median
US$ 2.0 mi
R$ 10.2 mi
Maximum
US$ 3.5 mi
R$ 17.9 mi
Depreciation curve by year of manufacture
CAGR +2.6%/yr·1971→1998
Market median by vintage (USD). Light-blue band = min/max range observed across real listings. Points without reliable public listings (n ≤ 1) use Bluebook/curve interpolation and are flagged as lower confidence.
3 of 4 points with reduced confidence (n ≤ 1 listing observed). The estimate for these years comes from Aircraft Bluebook / market-curve interpolation, not from direct listings.
Landed in Brazil
Index ≈ ×1.07 to ×1.32 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization and ICMS.
Air taxi
US$ 1.9 mi – 3.9 mi
R$ 9.6 mi – 20.0 mi · ICMS Agreement 75/91 · ~4 to 5%
Private use
US$ 2.1 mi – 4.6 mi
R$ 10.8 mi – 23.6 mi · ICMS ~18 to 25%
Market estimate: value + ferry + ANAC nationalization + ICMS, no legal review. Federal taxes (II/IPI/PIS/COFINS) ~0% for aircraft (NCM 88.02); the weight is the state ICMS, higher for private use.
Cost per flight hour
Operate · owned
US$ 1.9 mil/h
R$ 10.0 mil/h · Variable/h
Fixed/yr
US$ 337.0 mil
Total/h @ 400 hrs/yr
US$ 2.8 mil/h
Charter · 🌎 World
US$ 2.5 mil – 3.0 mil/h
R$ 12.8 mil – 15.4 mil/h
Charter · 🇧🇷 Brazil
US$ 2.5 mil – 4.0 mil/h
R$ 12.8 mil – 20.5 mil/h
Operate = direct cost/hour (fuel + maintenance + engine); excludes fixed costs (hangar, crew, insurance). World US$2,500-3,000/hr for Bell 212 class (per-hour charter survey). Brazil: Flapper (accessed 2026-06-04) cites light twin AS350 ~US$1,800/hr and large twin EC145 T2 ~US$4,000/hr; Bell 212 (medium twin) sits mid-to-upper, est. US$2,500-4,000/hr; BR heli charter floor commonly quoted from R$10,000/hr (voejetsbra). BR figures are class-interpolated, not a direct 212 quote.
How we read this price · 4 sources · researched 04/06/2026
Pre-owned medium twin-turbine. Live asking (AvBuyer/GlobalAir, accessed 2026-06-04): 1981 @ US$1,870,000 (Brazil, 33,441h), 1978 @ US$2,100,000 (S.Africa, 17,378h), plus a 1978 'make offer'. Aircraft Bluebook (Summer 2021, via AvBuyer guide) ranges US$1.75M (1971) to US$3.5M (1999). Boltflight guide: used US$1M-3M, new US$4-6M. Median ~US$2.0M reflects mid-life airframes; min/max bracket the Bluebook curve floor-to-ceiling. DOC ~US$1,600/hr variable = fuel US$800-1,200 + maint US$200-400 (boltflight). Within heli_medium_turbine sanity band (US$1.5-12M).
IFR-certificado (depende de configuração e retrofit)
Operating costs
Fonte de dados
Aircraft Cost Calculator, Bell 212 Ownership Price & Operating Costs (https://www.aircraftcostcalculator.com/AircraftOperatingCosts/402/Bell+212) · Bolt Flight, Bell 212 Price And Operating Costs (https://boltflight.com/bell-212-price-and-operating-costs/) · GlobalAir, Bell 212 Specifications, Performance, and Range · Pratt & Whitney Canada, PT6T-3/-6 Twin Pac overhaul program (2023)
Fuel Burn Gph
110
Msrp 2024 Usd
—
Última atualização
2026
Hourly Operating Usd
1.850
Rotor Overhaul Period Hours
2.500
Current Market Price Usd Low
800.000
Engine Overhaul Period Hours
3.500
Current Market Price Usd High
2.500.000
External dimensions
Comprimento total
17,42 m
Envergadura
14,63 m
Altura
3,83 m
Weights & fuel
Peso operacional vazio (OEW)
2.962 kg
Peso máximo de decolagem (MTOW)
5.080 kg
Carga máxima (payload)
1.766 kg
Capacidade de combustível
814 L
Capacidade de combustível
1.457 lb
Cabin
Standard configuration
1 zona9 typical passengers · 14 maxAlta densidade (13)
Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.
Cabin to scale: cross-section and profile
front cross-section · person = 1.75 m
Length
2,62 m
Width
2,44 m
Height
1,32 m
Volume
220 cu ft
Baggage
40 cu ft
History
1968 - Derivado civil do icônico UH-1 Huey do Vietnam
O Bell 212 nasceu em 1968 como versão twin-engine civil/militar do UH-1 Iroquois (Huey), helicóptero icônico do conflito do Vietnã (16.000+ unidades produzidas, mais de 7.000 perdidos em combate). Bell pegou o airframe consagrado do UH-1H (single-engine T53) e equipou com sistema único PT6T Twin-Pac (2 motores PT6 acoplados em uma gearbox), primeira vez que esse arranjo foi feito em escala civil. Certificação FAA em 1971. Mais de 1.700 unidades produzidas em 30 anos.
1998 - Substituído pelo Bell 412 (1981+) com rotor 4-pás
Bell desenvolveu o Bell 412 em 1979-1980 como evolução do 212, mesmo airframe e PT6T Twin-Pac, mas rotor de 4 pás (vs. 2 pás teetering do 212), reduzindo vibrações em 30% e aumentando velocidade para 122 KTAS. Bell 412 entrou em produção em 1981 enquanto 212 continuou em paralelo até 1998 (atendendo demanda de operadores que preferiam o 2-pás simples). Mais de 700 Bell 412 produzidos. Família 212/412/UH-1Y total: 25.000+ unidades militares e civis combinadas.
Bell Textron
1998End of production
Market position
Market position analysis pending.
Brazil Fleet
Variant histórico, Bell 212.
Bell 212 (1968-1998, twin-engine), frota BR estimada 5-10 aeronaves operacionais hoje, perfil offshore antigo + governo. Aeronaves todas 25-50 anos. Mercado pre-owned: US$ 500k-1.5M.
Model with no documented lineage in the manufacturer's line.
Curiosities and highlights
Benefits
PT6T Twin-Pac, sistema único de redundância acoplada
O motor Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 Twin-Pac é arranjo único: 2 motores PT6A independentes acoplados a uma única gearbox combining. Em caso de falha de um motor, o segundo continua entregando potência via mesma gearbox, redundância sem necessidade de gearboxes separadas como em twin convencional. Combined power 1.800 shp limitado pela gearbox a 1.290 shp para preservar vida útil. Sistema usado também no Bell 412 e Bell 222, patente Bell/PWC.
Workhorse offshore antes da era AW139/S-92
Antes da chegada do AW139 (2003) e S-92 (2004), o Bell 212 era um dos workhorses globais offshore, Petrobras, Pemex, Shell, BP operavam frotas grandes em plataformas offshore. Capacidade 13 PAX, twin-engine PT6T para safety, range 250 nm para alcançar plataformas distantes. Substituído gradualmente por AW139/S-92 que oferecem velocidade maior (165 KTAS), cabine moderna e melhor performance hot/high. Bell 212 fica em offshore secundário e operação shallow water.
Limitations
Velocidade modesta (100 KTAS) e cabine ruidosa para padrão moderno
O Bell 212 é design dos anos 60, velocidade de cruzeiro 100 KTAS é 35-40% inferior a twins modernos (AW139 165 KTAS, S-76D 145 KTAS). Cabine ruidosa por isolamento básico da era. Em operações de longo curso (offshore distante, missões SAR longas) a diferença de tempo de voo é significativa: 250 nm leva 2:30h em 212 vs. 1:30h em AW139. Combinado a custos operacionais semelhantes (USD 1.850/h em 212 vs. USD 2.500/h em AW139), economia marginal não compensa tempo perdido.
Curiosities
FAB operou Bell 212 em Esquadrões Pelicano e Falcão
A Força Aérea Brasileira operou Bell 212 designados como CH-58 (versão SAR/utility) entre 1980-2010 nos Esquadrões Pelicano (busca-e-salvamento) e Falcão (transporte tropas). Marinha do Brasil operou versões UH-12 e UH-13 derivadas. Quase todas as unidades militares brasileiras já foram aposentadas e substituídas por H225M Caracal (Helibras), H145M e Bell 407. Operadores civis brasileiros nunca tiveram frota grande de Bell 212, modelo era caro de operar para market local.
The Bell Helicopter Bell 212 is out of production, so there is no factory price. On the used market the median is around US$ 2.0M, varying with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab.
What is the range of the Bell Helicopter Bell 212?+
The maximum range is 250 nm (250 NM · 463 km).
How fast is the Bell Helicopter Bell 212?+
Cruise speed is 100 kt, equivalent to 185 km/h.
How many passengers does the Bell Helicopter Bell 212 seat?+
The Bell Helicopter Bell 212 seats up to 14 passengers, crew not included.
How many Bell Helicopter Bell 212 are there in Brazil?+
There are 25 units registered in the RAB-ANAC (data as of 9/22/2026).
Who operates the Bell Helicopter Bell 212 in Brazil?+
7 distinct operators operate 25 units of the Bell Helicopter Bell 212 in the RAB-ANAC: 20 in air taxi (RBAC 135) and 5 in private operation (RBAC 91), concentrated in RJ and MG (data as of 9/22/2026). Name, fleet and base of each operator are on this model's Analytics tab and in the operators directory.
How much does it cost to operate a Bell Helicopter Bell 212 per hour?+
Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 2,789 per flight hour at 400 h/year, of which US$ 1,947 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 337,000 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance), under Jet Tracker's default assumptions (Southeast Brazil, in-house crew, 400 h/year). Run your own scenario on this model's Costs tab.
