Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Airbus Helicopters H175 vs Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless
All four are twin‑engine civil helicopters, but they sit in different weight and mission classes. The Airbus H160 is a medium twin aimed at premium corporate, EMS, and light offshore work, offering the shortest overall range of the group and typically seating around 12 passengers in an airline‑style layout (or fewer in VIP fit), with two crew. The Airbus H175 is a super‑medium twin designed largely around offshore transport, generally carrying about 16 passengers, with meaningfully more range than the H160 and a step up in payload and cabin volume. The Airbus H225 is a heavy twin optimized for long‑range offshore, SAR, and utility roles, commonly configured for roughly 19 passengers (and higher-density seating possible), and it pairs large cabin capacity with strong range and lifting capability. The Bell 525 Relentless is a super‑medium twin positioned closest to the H175 in category, typically accommodating about 16 passengers, with competitive range in the super‑medium segment and modern avionics/fly‑by‑wire architecture aimed at offshore and corporate missions.
| Spec | AIRBUS H160 | AIRBUS H175 | AIRBUS H225 | Bell 525 Relentless |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 21 | 18 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell |
| Aircraft Name | H160 | H175 | H225 | 525 Relentless |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 460 | 573 | 454 | 580 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 18 | 28 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3992 | 6797 | 11929 | 6675 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 19 | 16 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | Garmin G5000H |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 149 | 142 | 160 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $14,000,000 | $17,900,000 | $ 29,500,000 | $15,000,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 13.53 | $ 20.87 | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.75 | $ 0.99 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,016 | $ 2,963 | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 21 | 18 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 18 | 28 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 19 | 16 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel |
| Model | HE Arrano | PT6A-67E | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2F1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 3500 | 4000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Horsepower | — | 1775 | 2100 | 1800 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 684 | 641 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 39.4 | 59.2 | 63.4 | 61.58 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | 17.5 | 16.3 | 18.18 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 45.2 | 48.5 | 53.2 | 54.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 423.8 | 547 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 81.9 | — | 128 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | — | 25.77 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | — | 7.58 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | — | 4.5 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | 15.5 |