AIR.ONE

Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw139

Airbus Helicopters’ H160, Bell’s 525 Relentless, and Leonardo’s AW139 are all modern twin‑engine medium helicopters, but they sit in slightly different weight and mission brackets. The H160 is often positioned at the lighter, efficiency‑focused end of the medium segment, aimed at corporate/VIP transport, EMS, and offshore support with an emphasis on low noise and operating costs. The AW139 is a widely adopted “super‑medium” workhorse used heavily for offshore, SAR, EMS, and utility roles, valued for mature support and flexible cabin configurations. The Bell 525 is a newer “super‑medium” design targeted strongly at offshore and high‑utilization missions, typically with the largest overall cabin volume of the three. In range, all are broadly comparable for medium twins, but the 525 and AW139 are generally associated with longer legs and heavier payloads for offshore missions, while the H160 is competitive but typically optimized for efficiency rather than maximum weight‑and‑range capability. For passenger capacity, typical layouts place the H160 around 12 passengers, while AW139 and 525 commonly accommodate about 15–16, depending on configuration and mission equipment.

SpecAIRBUS H160Bell 525 RelentlessAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139
Summary
Cockpit222
Min Crew222
Total Seats141817
Flight RulesIFRIFRIFR
ManufacturerAirbus HelicoptersBellLeonardo
Aircraft NameH160525 RelentlessAW139
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)460580573
Max Cabin Seats121615
OEM VerificationUn-VerifiedVERIFIEDUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)399266754701
Standard Cabin Seats121615
Flight Deck (Base Spec)EFISGarmin G5000HEFIS
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)155160165
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$14,000,000$15,000,000 $15,900,000
DOC / nm$ 11.69
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.69
Direct Operating Cost$ 1,929
Cabin
Cockpit222
Min Crew222
Total Seats141817
ConfigurationGreen Interior
Max Cabin Seats121615
Standard Cabin Seats121615
Engine
FADECYesDual-ChannelYes
ModelHE ArranoCT7-2F1PT6C-67C
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)400040005000
No. of Engines222
Horsepower18001679
Fuel Capacity (gal)641414
Dimensions
Length (ft)39.461.5854.7
Overall Height (ft)13.118.1816.4
Rotor Diameter (ft)45.254.554.7
Width (ft)25.77
Cabin Width (ft)7.58
Cabin Height (ft)4.5
Cabin Length (ft)15.5
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)128120
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)282