Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H225 and Leonardo AW189 are medium twin‑engine helicopters suited to offshore, SAR, and utility work, trading speed for vertical access. Typical range is roughly 450–500 nautical miles for the H225 and about 500–600 nautical miles for the AW189, with cabin seating commonly around 16–19 passengers depending on layout. The H225 generally offers slightly higher passenger density and heavy‑lift capability, while the AW189 is often positioned as a more modern, efficiency‑focused platform with flexible cabin configurations. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a light business jet optimized for fast point‑to‑point travel between runways, typically carrying about 7–9 passengers, with range around 1,800–2,100 nautical miles. It is substantially faster and longer‑legged than the helicopters, but requires airports. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop, usually seating 4–6 passengers, with range roughly 1,400–1,700 nautical miles. It is generally slower than the XLS+ but can access shorter runways and offers lower operating costs for smaller groups.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | XLS+ | TBM 960 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1906 | 1730 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7540 | 2908 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 4 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,303 | $ 744 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 430 | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,500,000 | $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 | 10 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 4 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | — |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 6.2 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 14390 | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW545C | TBM 960 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | 850 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.5 | 35.3 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.2 | — | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 123 | 395 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 42.1 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.5 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.7 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 18.5 | 13.4 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 80 | — | 85 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — | — |