Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Sikorsky S 92
All four are large, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore transport, SAR, and utility missions, but they differ in maturity and typical seating. The Airbus Helicopters H225 and Sikorsky S‑92 sit in the established “super‑medium/heavy” end of the civil market and are widely used for offshore oil and gas and long‑range SAR; both typically carry around 19 passengers in high‑density offshore layouts and offer broadly similar practical ranges, commonly in the roughly 450–550 nautical mile class depending on fuel, payload, and reserves. The Leonardo AW189 is a slightly smaller super‑medium optimized for efficiency and lower operating cost; it is often configured for about 16–19 passengers and generally has a somewhat shorter practical range than H225/S‑92, though still suitable for most offshore sectors. The Bell 525 Relentless targets the same super‑medium offshore/utility space with a modern fly‑by‑wire design; typical configurations are around 16–19 passengers, with advertised range also in the same broad mid‑hundreds of nautical miles bracket, but real‑world capability depends on final certified weights and operator mission profiles.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | — | $ 15.57 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 525 Relentless | AW189 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 580 | 651 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | — | $ 0.74 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 6675 | — | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | — | $ 2,413 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 160 | 155 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 1800 | 1983 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 641 | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 61.58 | 57.8 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 18.18 | 16.6 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | 54.5 | 48 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 395 | 775 |
| 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 | 85 | 140 |