Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Sikorsky S 92
The Airbus H135 is a light twin in the small-utility category, typically used for EMS, training, and short-haul missions. It has the shortest range of this group (roughly a few hundred nautical miles, depending on fit) and the smallest cabin, usually carrying about five to seven passengers plus crew. The Airbus H160 is a medium twin, bridging utility and offshore/VIP roles. It offers a notably longer range than the H135 and a larger cabin, commonly accommodating around eight to twelve passengers depending on layout. The Bell 525 Relentless is a super-medium twin aimed squarely at offshore transport. It generally provides long range (often in the ~500+ nautical mile class) and a higher passenger count, typically up to about sixteen in high-density seating. The Leonardo AW189 is also a super-medium twin focused on offshore and SAR. Its range is broadly comparable to the 525 in many mission profiles, with seating commonly around sixteen to eighteen. The Sikorsky S-92 is a heavy twin, optimized for long-range offshore and SAR. It tends to match or exceed super-mediums on range in many configurations and usually carries about nineteen passengers.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H160 | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | — | — | $ 15.57 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | H160 | 525 Relentless | AW189 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 460 | 580 | 651 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | — | — | $ 0.74 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 3992 | 6675 | — | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | — | — | $ 2,413 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 155 | 160 | 155 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $14,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | HE Arrano | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | — | 1800 | 1983 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 641 | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 39.4 | 61.58 | 57.8 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13.1 | 18.18 | 16.6 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 45.2 | 54.5 | 48 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | — | — | 395 | 775 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 25.77 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 7.58 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4.5 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 15.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 128 | 85 | 140 |