Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
The Airbus Helicopters H135, Bell 429 GlobalRanger, and Leonardo AW109 Trekker are light twin‑engine helicopters aimed at short‑to‑medium range missions with strong vertical-access flexibility, while the Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a single‑engine turboprop airplane designed for longer point‑to‑point travel from short or unimproved runways. In range terms, the helicopters typically sit in the several-hundred–nautical-mile class depending on fuel, payload, and reserves; among them, the AW109 Trekker often emphasizes speed and a relatively strong cruise/range balance, the Bell 429 is optimized for cabin utility and mission equipment, and the H135 is widely used for EMS and law-enforcement profiles with efficient regional legs. The PC‑12 NGX generally offers substantially greater range than any of these helicopters, commonly enabling trips around the 1,500+ nautical mile class with reserves, making it better suited to intercity or cross‑region missions. For passenger capacity, all three helicopters usually carry about six to seven passengers plus one or two pilots in typical layouts, whereas the PC‑12 NGX is commonly configured for about six to nine passengers plus one or two pilots, with more baggage volume and cabin comfort for longer flights.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 6.29 | $ 7.40 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Trekker | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 365 | 450 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 2535 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 931 | $ 1,125 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro | Genesys Aerosystems | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 148 | 152 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $7,500,000 | $6,950,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | — | — | Optional |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | — | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | — | No |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 13100 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 | PW207C | PT6E-67XP |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 1100 | 735 | 1200 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 152 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | — | ISA + 35 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 43 | 42.5 | 47.25 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13.25 | 11.5 | 14 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36 | 35.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 130 | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | — | 16.9 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 74 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | — | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | — | 4.25 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 40 |