Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H225, Bell 525 Relentless, and Leonardo AW189 are all large, twin‑engine helicopters typically used for offshore energy, search and rescue, and utility transport, while the Daher TBM 960 is a single‑engine turboprop airplane oriented to fast business travel and owner‑pilot operations. In range terms, the TBM 960 generally goes farthest, commonly offering roughly 1,000+ nautical miles depending on reserves and payload, whereas the helicopters are usually in the several‑hundred‑nautical‑mile class, often around 450–600 nautical miles in typical transport configurations (mission equipment, cabin fit, and payload can shift this meaningfully). For passenger capacity, the H225 is usually the highest among these helicopters in offshore seating layouts, commonly around 19 passengers, with the AW189 often configured around the mid‑teens (about 16–18), and the Bell 525 also commonly in the mid‑teens to high‑teens depending on interior and weight. The TBM 960 typically carries one pilot plus about five to six passengers in a pressurized cabin, trading vertical‑lift flexibility for higher cruise speed and longer point‑to‑point range.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | — | $ 2.25 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Daher TBM | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 580 | 1730 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | — | $ 0.56 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 6675 | 2908 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | — | $ 744 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 160 | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 6.2 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 14390 | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 1800 | 850 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 49 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 61.58 | 35.3 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 18.18 | — | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | 54.5 | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 123 | 395 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | 13.4 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | — | 85 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 42.1 | — |