Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker
All four are light twin or light single helicopters aimed at passenger transport, EMS, and utility work, but they differ in mission fit. The Airbus H130 is a light single-engine helicopter typically optimized for quiet passenger touring and high useful load in hot-and-high conditions; it generally offers the most spacious single-engine cabin and commonly seats a pilot plus up to six passengers, with a moderate range suited to regional hops. The Airbus H135 is a light twin designed for high dispatch reliability, IFR-capable operations, and EMS; it typically carries a pilot plus about five to six passengers (or medical interior) and delivers a similar moderate regional range, often with stronger all-weather/IFR utility than the H130. The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a light twin with a larger cabin class feel and strong cruise performance; it commonly accommodates one to two pilots plus six to seven passengers and tends to offer competitive range for corporate and public-service missions. The Leonardo AW109 Trekker is a light twin emphasizing speed and versatile landing gear options; it typically seats one to two pilots plus about six to seven passengers and offers comparable regional range, often paired with higher cruise speed for time-sensitive transport.
| Spec | AIRBUS H130 | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.00 | $ 6.33 | $ 6.29 | $ 7.40 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H130 | H135 | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Trekker |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 333 | 342 | 365 | 450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.71 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2299 | 3124 | 2535 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 640 | $ 861 | $ 931 | $ 1,125 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro | Genesys Aerosystems |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 128 | 136 | 148 | 152 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,450,000 | $6,150,000 | $7,500,000 | $6,950,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 | PW207C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 952 | 660 | 1100 | 735 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | 216.9 | 152 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 76 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 41.5 | 33.5 | 43 | 42.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 11.1 | 12.6 | 13.25 | 11.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 35.1 | 34 | 36 | 35.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 173 | 130 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 26.37 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 74 | — |