Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Boeing Bbj Max 9 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H225, Bell 525 Relentless, and Leonardo AW189 are all super‑/large‑medium twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, search‑and‑rescue, and VIP transport, while the Boeing BBJ MAX 9 is a long‑range business jetliner in an entirely different category focused on intercity and intercontinental missions. In range, the BBJ MAX 9 is by far the longest‑legged, typically capable of several thousand nautical miles depending on fit and reserves, whereas the helicopters operate on the order of a few hundred nautical miles, with offshore‑optimized profiles often around 400–500 nm. Among the helicopters, the H225 generally sits at the top end for heavy-lift and longer offshore legs, the Bell 525 competes closely with modern systems and similar mission radius, and the AW189 is slightly smaller with competitive but typically somewhat shorter range. For passenger capacity, the BBJ MAX 9 can carry dozens of passengers in airline form and usually a smaller, customized VIP load in business configuration, while the H225 and 525 commonly seat roughly 16–19 passengers in high-density layouts and fewer in VIP, and the AW189 is typically around 16–19 as well, often optimized for 16–18.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Bell 525 Relentless | Boeing BBJ MAX 9 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | — | $ 15.74 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 12 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Boeing | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 525 Relentless | BBJ MAX 9 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 580 | 6376 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | — | $ 1.97 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 35 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 6675 | 77120 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 8 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | — | $ 7,396 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 160 | 470 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $107,700,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 10 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 35 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 8 | 19 |
| Configuration | — | — | Green Interior | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 9 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 24000 | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2F1 | LEAP-1B | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 | On-Condition | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 1800 | — | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 15 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 28000 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 61.58 | 138.4 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 18.18 | 40.3 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | 54.5 | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | — | 395 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | 11.6 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | 7.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | 107.2 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | 1485 | 85 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 117.9 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | Flat Floor | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 10.7 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 100.6 | — |