Airbus Helicopters H155 vs Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer vs Sikorsky S 76d
By category, the Airbus H155 and Sikorsky S‑76D sit in the medium twin class used widely for offshore and corporate missions, while the Airbus H160 is a newer-generation medium twin emphasizing efficiency and low noise. The Leonardo AW139 is generally considered a super‑medium twin with higher payload/cabin volume than typical medium twins, whereas the Leonardo AW169 is a lighter intermediate/light‑medium twin positioned below the AW139. The MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer is a light twin (NOTAR) often used for EMS, law enforcement, and utility work rather than heavy offshore lift. On range, the H160 and AW139 are typically the longest‑legged in this group, often around the mid‑400 to ~500+ nautical mile class depending on configuration. The H155, S‑76D, and AW169 commonly fall in a similar but slightly shorter band, often roughly the low‑to‑mid‑400 nautical mile class, again configuration‑dependent. The MD 902 is usually shorter‑range than the medium twins, commonly around the ~300+ nautical mile class. For passenger capacity, AW139 and H160 frequently seat the most in typical layouts (often around 12), H155 and S‑76D are usually around 10–12, AW169 commonly around 8–10, and MD 902 typically around 7–8.
| Spec | AIRBUS H155 | AIRBUS H160 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 11.06 | — | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 | $ 7.54 | $ 11.49 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H155 | H160 | AW139 | AW169 | MD 902 Exlplorer | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 423 | 460 | 573 | 440 | 317 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.74 | — | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.94 | $ 0.96 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 4012 | 3992 | 4701 | — | 3125 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,593 | — | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 | $ 988 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | Garmin G500H | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 144 | 155 | 165 | 140 | 131 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $14,800,000 | $14,000,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 | $7,250,000 | $14,900,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2C2 | HE Arrano | PT6C-67C | PW210A | PW207E | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 943 | — | 1679 | 1000 | 710 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 332 | — | 414 | — | 159 | 296 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | — | 65 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 46.9 | 39.4 | 54.7 | 48.1 | 40.6 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.3 | 13.1 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 12 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 41.1 | 45.2 | 54.7 | — | 33.9 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 235.2 | — | 282 | 222.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 88.3 | — | 120 | 49.5 | — | — |