Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Airbus Helicopters H175 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H145 and Leonardo AW169 sit in the light twin category, typically used for EMS, law enforcement, and short-to-medium missions; each generally carries about 6–8 passengers (depending on interior fit) and offers moderate range, with the AW169 often positioned with slightly more cabin volume while the H145 emphasizes compact operations and versatility. The Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger is also a light twin, commonly configured around 6–7 passengers, with similar medium-range capability optimized for regional point-to-point work. Moving up, the Airbus H175 and Leonardo AW139 are medium twins suited to offshore, SAR, and corporate transport; they typically accommodate roughly 12–16 passengers and provide longer range than the light twins, with the AW139 widely regarded as a benchmark all-rounder in this class. The Bell 525 Relentless is a super-medium twin aimed at longer offshore legs and higher cruise efficiency, usually in the mid-teens for passengers, with range generally comparable to or exceeding many medium twins. At the heavy end of this set, the Leonardo AW189 is a large/“heavy” twin optimized for offshore transport, commonly carrying about 16–19 passengers and offering the longest, most offshore-oriented range profile among these options.
| Spec | AIRBUS H145 | AIRBUS H175 | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 9.31 | $ 13.53 | $ 6.05 | — | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 18 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H145 | H175 | 429WLG GlobalRanger | 525 Relentless | AW139 | AW169 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 352 | 573 | 381 | 580 | 573 | 440 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.93 | $ 0.75 | $ 0.76 | — | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 18 | 6 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 4200 | 6797 | 2528 | 6675 | 4701 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,210 | $ 2,016 | $ 931 | — | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 130 | 149 | 154 | 160 | 165 | 140 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $10,200,000 | $17,900,000 | $7,700,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | |||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 18 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 21 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 18 | 6 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Engine | |||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2E | PT6A-67E | PW207D1 | CT7-2F1 | PT6C-67C | PW210A | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 894 | 1775 | 1100 | 1800 | 1679 | 1000 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 76 | — | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 216.9 | 641 | 414 | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Length (ft) | 44.8 | 59.2 | 43 | 61.58 | 54.7 | 48.1 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13 | 17.5 | 12.39 | 18.18 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 48.5 | 36 | 54.5 | 54.7 | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 166 | 423.8 | 130 | — | 282 | 222.5 | 395 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 46.8 | 81.9 | 74 | 128 | 120 | 49.5 | 85 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 26.37 | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | 7.58 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4 | 4.5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 | 15.5 | — | — | — |