Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Airbus H225 is a heavy twin‑engine helicopter, best suited to vertical lift missions such as offshore transport and SAR. It typically carries around 16–19 passengers (higher in dense seating) and has a practical range on the order of roughly 400–500 nautical miles, trading speed and range for hover/VTOL capability. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft focused on simple, rugged operations. It commonly seats 9–14 passengers and offers a range generally around 900–1,000 nautical miles depending on payload and reserves. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop in the personal/corporate category. Seating is typically 4–6 (up to about 6 passengers plus pilot), with range roughly in the 1,400–1,700 nautical mile class. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light business jet designed for corporate shuttle and mixed runway capability. It usually seats about 6–10 passengers and has a range typically around 1,900–2,000+ nautical miles, offering the longest legs and highest cruise speeds of the group.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 2.25 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Daher TBM | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | TBM 960 | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1730 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 2908 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 744 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G3000 | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 330 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | No | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Galley Location | — | MID | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | 9.3 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | 23500 |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | No |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | TBM 960 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 850 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 3435 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 35.3 | 52.2 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | — | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 123 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 13.4 | 23 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | Flat Floor |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 90 |