Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw169
The Airbus H135 is a light twin in the smallest category of this group, typically used for training, EMS, and short-hop corporate missions. It generally offers the shortest range here (roughly in the 300–350 nm class) and a typical passenger capacity of about 5–6 plus one or two pilots, depending on interior and mission kit. The Airbus H145 moves up within the light twin class but with a larger cabin and higher useful load; it commonly carries around 7–9 passengers (or fewer with medical fit) and has a similar-to-slightly-better practical range (often around the mid‑300 nm class). The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is a fast, light twin oriented to VIP transport; it usually seats about 6–7 passengers and tends to offer a longer range than H135/H145 in many configurations (often around 400–500 nm, auxiliary tanks dependent). The Leonardo AW169 sits in the intermediate/light‑medium class, offering the biggest cabin and capacity here, commonly around 8–10 passengers, with range typically comparable to or better than the H145 and often competitive with the AW109 depending on tanking and payload.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H145 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 9.31 | $ 7.31 | $ 11.84 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | H145 | AW109 Grand New | AW169 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 352 | 464 | 440 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.99 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 4200 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 6 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 1,210 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,658 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 130 | 156 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $10,200,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $9,450,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 6 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 6 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | Arriel 2E | PW207C | PW210A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 894 | 735 | 1000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 152 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 44.8 | 42.5 | 48.1 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13 | 11.5 | 14.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36.1 | 35.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 166 | — | 222.5 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 46.8 | — | 49.5 |