Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Enstrom 480b
The Airbus H225 is a heavy twin‑engine helicopter designed for offshore transport, search and rescue, and utility missions. It typically carries around 16 to 19 passengers in an airline‑style layout and offers roughly a 450–500 nautical mile range depending on configuration, reserves, and payload. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet aimed at fast point‑to‑point travel; it usually seats 7 to 9 passengers (up to about 12 with optional seating) and can fly about 1,800–2,100 nautical miles, making it the clear leader in range and cruise speed among the three. The Enstrom 480B is a light single‑engine helicopter optimized for training, patrol, and utility work. It generally accommodates 4 to 5 people and has a typical range on the order of 250–350 nautical miles. In short, the H225 emphasizes lift and cabin capacity for rotary‑wing missions, the XLS+ emphasizes speed and long‑range corporate travel, and the 480B emphasizes simplicity, lower operating scale, and short‑range helicopter utility.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Cessna Citation XLS+ |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 5.34 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Cessna Citation |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | XLS+ |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1906 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.67 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7540 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,303 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 430 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,500,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW545C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.2 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.7 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 18.5 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 80 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 |