Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piper M600 Sls
The Airbus H225 is a large twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, SAR, and utility missions. It typically offers the greatest passenger capacity of this group, commonly around 16–19 passengers depending on cabin layout, with a practical range on the order of roughly 450–500 nautical miles. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a lighter twin‑engine helicopter in the corporate/EMS/law‑enforcement class, usually carrying about 6–8 passengers, with a shorter range of roughly 300–400 nautical miles. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet designed for fast point‑to‑point travel, typically seating about 7–9 passengers, and it has the longest range among these four at roughly 1,800–2,100 nautical miles depending on payload and conditions. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop airplane positioned as a high‑performance personal/business aircraft, generally carrying 5–6 passengers, with range typically around 1,200–1,500 nautical miles. Overall, the helicopters trade speed and range for vertical access, while the jet maximizes speed and distance and the turboprop splits the difference with lower operating complexity.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 5.34 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Cessna Citation | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | XLS+ | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1906 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.67 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7540 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,303 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 430 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,500,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | Refreshment Centre |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW545C | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | 260 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.5 | 29.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.2 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 165 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 43.2 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.7 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 18.5 | 12.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 80 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | 20 |