Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Cessna Citation Xls
The Airbus H225 is a heavy, twin‑engine helicopter built for vertical lift missions such as offshore transport and search and rescue. Compared with the fixed‑wing aircraft, its practical range is shorter, typically on the order of a few hundred nautical miles depending on payload and reserves, but it can carry a relatively large group for a helicopter, commonly around 16–19 passengers in transport layouts. The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is a pressurized, twin‑turboprop airplane positioned for efficient regional and special‑mission flying. It generally offers longer range than the H225 and can stretch to roughly 1,500–2,000+ nautical miles depending on configuration. Typical seating is about 6–9 passengers in executive layouts, though higher‑density arrangements are possible. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a light business jet aimed at faster point‑to‑point travel. It usually provides similar or somewhat greater range than the King Air on many missions, commonly around 1,700–2,100 nautical miles, with typical capacity around 7–9 passengers plus crew, prioritizing speed and comfort over rough‑field versatility.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Cessna Citation XLS+ |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 5.34 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Cessna Citation |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | XLS+ |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1906 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.67 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7540 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,303 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 430 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,500,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW545C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.2 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.7 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 18.5 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 80 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 |