Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Airbus Helicopters H155 vs Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H145 is the light twin in this group, typically used for EMS, law enforcement, and short-to-medium missions; it carries about 8–10 passengers (depending on layout) and has the shortest overall range here, roughly in the 500–650 km class. The Airbus H155 sits in the medium category with more cabin volume; it commonly seats around 12–13 passengers and offers a moderate range, often around 800–900 km. The Airbus H160 is a newer medium twin aimed at higher efficiency and comfort; typical seating is about 12 passengers and range is generally around 800–900+ km depending on configuration. Leonardo’s AW139 is a widely used medium twin for offshore and utility work; it usually carries about 12–15 passengers and offers a solid medium range, commonly around 1,000–1,200 km with typical reserves. The Leonardo AW189 is the larger super-medium class option, optimized for offshore; it generally carries about 16–19 passengers and provides the longest range of this set, often around 900–1,000+ km, with mission capability depending heavily on payload and fuel configuration.
| Spec | AIRBUS H145 | AIRBUS H155 | AIRBUS H160 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 9.31 | $ 11.06 | — | $ 11.69 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H145 | H155 | H160 | AW139 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 352 | 423 | 460 | 573 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.93 | $ 0.74 | — | $ 0.69 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 4200 | 4012 | 3992 | 4701 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,210 | $ 1,593 | — | $ 1,929 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 130 | 144 | 155 | 165 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $10,200,000 | $14,800,000 | $14,000,000 | $15,900,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 21 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 19 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2E | Arriel 2C2 | HE Arrano | PT6C-67C | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 894 | 943 | — | 1679 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 332 | — | 414 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 44.8 | 46.9 | 39.4 | 54.7 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13 | 14.3 | 13.1 | 16.4 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 41.1 | 45.2 | 54.7 | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 166 | 235.2 | — | 282 | 395 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 46.8 | 88.3 | — | 120 | 85 |