Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Airbus H225 and Leonardo AW189 are twin‑engine helicopters, optimized for offshore, SAR, and utility missions with vertical takeoff and hover. Both typically carry around 16–19 passengers in high‑density seating (more in certain configurations), but their practical range is shorter than fixed‑wing aircraft: roughly 450–600 nautical miles depending on payload, reserves, and fit, with the H225 generally offering the higher gross lift and longer reach in many offshore setups. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet designed for fast point‑to‑point travel between airports. It typically seats 7–9 passengers in an executive layout, with a range around 1,700–2,100 nautical miles, making it well suited to regional and transcontinental missions with higher cruise speed than turboprops. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a pressurized twin‑turboprop with jet‑like cruise efficiency. It commonly seats 6–9 passengers, with range roughly 1,400–1,800 nautical miles, generally slower than the Citation but often economical on shorter to mid‑range sectors while using smaller airports than many jets.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Cessna Citation XLS+ | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 5.34 | $ 15.57 | — |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 21 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Cessna Citation | Leonardo | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | XLS+ | AW189 | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1906 | 651 | 1530 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.67 | $ 0.74 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | 19 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7540 | — | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,303 | $ 2,413 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 430 | 155 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,500,000 | $2,413,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 21 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | 19 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | — | No |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | — | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | No |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | — | 24000 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW545C | CT7-2E1 | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | 1983 | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | — | ISA + 28 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.5 | 57.8 | 47.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.2 | 16.6 | 13.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | 48 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 395 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | — | 47.1 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.5 | — | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.7 | — | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 18.5 | — | 14.9 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | 3.5 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 80 | 85 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — | 35.2 |