Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 530f

The Airbus Helicopters H130 is a light single‑engine helicopter typically positioned for passenger transport and tourism/VIP roles, offering the most cabin volume and comfort of the three. It commonly seats the pilot plus up to six passengers (configurations vary), and it generally provides a moderate mission radius—often on the order of a few hundred nautical miles depending on payload, reserves, and conditions. The MD Helicopters MD 500E is a lighter, smaller‑cabin light single‑engine helicopter often used for utility, training, patrol, and light charter work. Passenger capacity is usually lower than the H130, commonly around the pilot plus four passengers, and its typical range is also in the few‑hundred‑nautical‑mile class, varying widely with equipment and fuel configuration. The MD Helicopters MD 530F is in the same family as the 500E but optimized more toward hot‑and‑high performance and utility/mission capability. Seating is similar to the 500E in many configurations (often pilot plus up to four passengers), with range broadly comparable, again dependent on fuel and mission fit.