Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H130 is a light single‑engine helicopter, typically configured for about 6–7 passengers and suited to short‑to‑medium missions, roughly a few hundred nautical miles depending on load. The Airbus H135 is a light twin, generally carrying around 5–7 passengers, with a similar short‑to‑medium range profile but with twin‑engine redundancy favored for EMS and urban operations. The Airbus H145 sits in the light‑intermediate twin class, commonly arranged for about 8–10 passengers and offering a modest step up in range and usable cabin. The Bell 525 Relentless is a super‑medium twin aimed at longer sectors, typically around 16 passengers with a range often in the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles. The Leonardo AW139 is a medium twin, widely used offshore and for SAR, usually around 12–15 passengers with comparable mid‑hundreds‑nm range. The Leonardo AW189 is a larger heavy twin, typically around 16–19 passengers and optimized for longer offshore legs, often reaching the upper end of the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles depending on configuration.
| Spec | AIRBUS H130 | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.00 | $ 6.33 | $ 9.31 | — | $ 11.69 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H130 | H135 | H145 | 525 Relentless | AW139 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 333 | 342 | 352 | 580 | 573 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.71 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | — | $ 0.69 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2299 | 3124 | 4200 | 6675 | 4701 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 15 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 640 | $ 861 | $ 1,210 | — | $ 1,929 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Helionix | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 128 | 136 | 130 | 160 | 165 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,450,000 | $6,150,000 | $10,200,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,900,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 15 | 19 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | Arriel 2E | CT7-2F1 | PT6C-67C | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 952 | 660 | 894 | 1800 | 1679 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | — | 641 | 414 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 41.5 | 33.5 | 44.8 | 61.58 | 54.7 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 11.1 | 12.6 | 13 | 18.18 | 16.4 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 35.1 | 34 | 36.1 | 54.5 | 54.7 | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 173 | 166 | — | 282 | 395 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 46.8 | 128 | 120 | 85 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | — | 25.77 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | — | 7.58 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | — | 4.5 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | 15.5 | — | — |