Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Aw169
In category terms, the Airbus H135 and Leonardo AW109 Grand New/Trekker are light twin helicopters, optimized for fast, compact operations such as EMS, police, and corporate shuttle. The Airbus H145 and Leonardo AW169 sit in the larger intermediate twin category, offering more cabin volume and higher useful load for EMS, offshore support, and multi-mission work. The Leonardo AW119Kx is the outlier as a light single, typically chosen for lower operating cost, training, utility, and missions where twin-engine redundancy is not required. On range, the H135 and AW109 variants generally cluster in the mid range for light twins, with typical mission ranges roughly around 300–500 nautical miles depending on tanks, payload, and reserves. The AW119Kx is often comparable or slightly variable based on fit, while the H145 usually extends somewhat beyond many light twins thanks to fuel and efficiency options. The AW169 commonly offers the longest practical reach in this group, frequently pushing toward the upper end of the 400–500+ nautical mile bracket in typical configurations. For passenger capacity, the H135 and AW109s usually seat about 6–7 passengers, the AW119Kx about 6–7, the H145 around 8–9, and the AW169 typically around 8–10, depending on interior and mission equipment.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H145 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 9.31 | $ 7.31 | $ 7.40 | $ 6.76 | $ 11.84 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | H145 | AW109 Grand New | AW109 Trekker | AW119Kx | AW169 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 352 | 464 | 450 | 515 | 440 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.99 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 4200 | — | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 1,210 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,125 | $ 885 | $ 1,658 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | EFIS | EFIS | Genesys Aerosystems | Garmin G1000H | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 130 | 156 | 152 | 131 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $10,200,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $6,950,000 | $3,850,000 | $9,450,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | Arriel 2E | PW207C | PW207C | PT6B-37A | PW210A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 894 | 735 | 735 | 917 | 1000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 152 | 152 | 160 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 44.8 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 48.1 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 14.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36.1 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 166 | — | — | — | 222.5 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 46.8 | — | — | — | 49.5 |