Heavy rotorcraft above the 2,000 kg unladen weight threshold are primarily used in offshore oil and gas operations, heavy-lift construction, military logistics, and large-scale search-and-rescue missions. The distinction from lighter helicopters is purely weight-based, so manufacturer type-certificate data confirming empty weight is the critical document for correct classification. Per-unit transaction values in this segment are among the highest in the civil aviation trade, and procurement often involves government or quasi-governmental buyers. FAA airworthiness requirements and bilateral aviation safety agreements between the US and the country of manufacture govern admissibility.

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