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.
| Spec | AIRBUS H160 | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H160 | 525 Relentless | AW139 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 460 | 580 | 573 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 15 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3992 | 6675 | 4701 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 15 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 160 | 165 |
| 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 | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 17 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 15 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 15 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | HE Arrano | CT7-2F1 | PT6C-67C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Horsepower | — | 1800 | 1679 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 641 | 414 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 39.4 | 61.58 | 54.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | 18.18 | 16.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 45.2 | 54.5 | 54.7 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | 120 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 282 |