Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Aw189
In category, the Airbus Helicopters H135 and Leonardo AW109 GrandNew are light twin-engine helicopters commonly used for EMS, police, and short-hop corporate missions. The Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger is also a light twin, but typically sits toward the upper end of the light class with a roomier cabin. The Leonardo AW169 is a modern intermediate twin designed to bridge light and medium roles, while the Leonardo AW189 is a super-medium twin aimed at longer-range offshore, SAR, and high-utilization transport. For range, the H135 and AW109 GrandNew generally cover short-to-moderate missions, while the Bell 429WLG is broadly comparable and often slightly more oriented to longer legs within the light-twin segment depending on fuel fit. The AW169 usually offers a noticeable step up in range and endurance versus the light twins. The AW189 is the clear leader here, optimized for extended overwater and longer-distance operations. For passenger capacity, the H135 typically carries around 5–7 passengers, the AW109 GrandNew about 6–7, and the Bell 429WLG about 6–7 with strong cabin volume. The AW169 commonly seats around 8–10, and the AW189 around 16–19 in high-density layouts.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 6.05 | $ 7.31 | $ 11.84 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 429WLG GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | AW169 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 381 | 464 | 440 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 2528 | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,658 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 154 | 156 | 140 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $7,700,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $9,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 21 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 19 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 | PW207C | PW210A | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 1100 | 735 | 1000 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 152 | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 43 | 42.5 | 48.1 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 12.39 | 11.5 | 14.8 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36 | 35.5 | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 130 | — | 222.5 | 395 |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 74 | — | 49.5 | 85 |