Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Airbus H225 is a heavy twin‑engine helicopter, best suited to offshore, SAR, and utility missions where vertical lift matters more than speed. Its practical range is roughly 450–700 nautical miles depending on payload and reserves, and it typically carries about 16–19 passengers (with higher-density seating possible in utility layouts). The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet optimized for short‑to‑midlength corporate trips, cruising much faster than the others listed. It offers about 1,800–2,100 nautical miles of range and usually seats 7–9 passengers in a business cabin. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop, positioned as a fast, efficient owner‑flown or small‑team aircraft. Range is about 1,400–1,700 nautical miles, with seating typically 4–6 passengers plus a pilot, depending on configuration. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet with a unique “rough‑field” capability, bridging business jet speed with access to shorter or less‑prepared runways. It offers roughly 1,800–2,000 nautical miles of range and commonly seats 6–8 passengers (up to about 10 in higher-density layouts).
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | XLS+ | TBM 960 | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1906 | 1730 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | — | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7540 | 2908 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,303 | $ 744 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 430 | 330 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | — | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 6.2 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 14390 | 23500 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW545C | TBM 960 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | 850 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — | 3435 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.5 | 35.3 | 52.2 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.2 | — | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 123 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 42.1 | 55.8 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | Flat Floor |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.5 | 4 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.7 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 18.5 | 13.4 | 23 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 80 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — | 90 |