Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169
The Airbus Helicopters H145 and Leonardo AW169 sit in the light–intermediate twin category, typically configured for about 6–9 passengers, and are commonly used for EMS, corporate, and utility missions. In general terms, their practical ranges are in the mid-hundreds of nautical miles, with the AW169 often positioned with somewhat more cabin volume and growth margin, while the H145 is known for efficient short-to-medium sectors and high utilization. The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a light twin, usually arranged for roughly 6–7 passengers in executive layouts (higher in utility seating), and offers a similar “mid-hundreds of nautical miles” range profile, favoring regional hops, public safety, and corporate transport. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is a lighter, faster executive-oriented twin, typically around 6–7 passengers, and generally offers comparable mid-range legs, optimized more for point-to-point passenger transport than heavy utility. The Leonardo AW139 is the clear step up into the medium twin class, typically accommodating about 10–15 passengers depending on interior, and generally delivers the longest range of this group, suited to offshore, SAR, and higher-capacity transport.
| Spec | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 9.31 | $ 6.29 | $ 7.31 | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H145 | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | AW139 | AW169 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 352 | 365 | 464 | 573 | 440 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.93 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 4200 | 2535 | — | 4701 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,210 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 130 | 148 | 156 | 165 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $10,200,000 | $7,500,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2E | PW207D1 | PW207C | PT6C-67C | PW210A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 894 | 1100 | 735 | 1679 | 1000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 152 | 414 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 44.8 | 43 | 42.5 | 54.7 | 48.1 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13 | 13.25 | 11.5 | 16.4 | 14.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 36 | 35.5 | 54.7 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 166 | 130 | — | 282 | 222.5 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 46.8 | 74 | — | 120 | 49.5 |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | — | — | — |