Airbus Helicopters H175 vs Airbus Helicopters H215 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Aw189
Airbus’s H175 and H215 and Leonardo’s AW139/AW169/AW189 and Bell’s 525 all sit in the twin‑engine, IFR-capable medium class, but they split into light‑medium and super‑medium roles. The AW169 is the lightest in this group, typically configured for about 8–10 passengers and suited to shorter to mid-range missions. The AW139, a core medium twin, commonly carries roughly 12–15 passengers with solid all‑round range for EMS, SAR, and utility work. Moving up, the H175 and AW189 are “super‑medium” offshore-capable twins, generally arranged for about 16–19 passengers and optimized for longer overwater legs. The Bell 525 also targets the super‑medium offshore segment, with similar high‑teens seating and long-range intent, positioned as a modern, high-speed, long‑leg platform. The H215 (AS332 L1 derivative) is a heavier, more traditional medium/heavy twin; it can seat in the high teens and is often selected for utility, government, and transport missions where payload and robustness matter, with range typically competitive but mission- and tank‑dependent across all types.
| Spec | AIRBUS H175 | AIRBUS H215 | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 13.53 | $ 19.07 | — | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H175 | H215 | 525 Relentless | AW139 | AW169 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 573 | 468 | 580 | 573 | 440 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.75 | $ 0.91 | — | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 18 | 22 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6797 | 8903 | 6675 | 4701 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,016 | $ 2,708 | — | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 149 | 142 | 160 | 165 | 140 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $17,900,000 | $27,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 18 | 22 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-67E | Makila 1A1 | CT7-2F1 | PT6C-67C | PW210A | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1775 | 1820 | 1800 | 1679 | 1000 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 540 | 641 | 414 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 59.2 | 61.4 | 61.58 | 54.7 | 48.1 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 17.5 | 16.2 | 18.18 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 48.5 | 51.2 | 54.5 | 54.7 | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 423.8 | 473.9 | — | 282 | 222.5 | 395 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 81.9 | — | 128 | 120 | 49.5 | 85 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 7.58 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4.5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 15.5 | — | — | — |