Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Airbus H225 is the largest and most long‑range option of the three, positioned as a heavy twin‑engine helicopter for offshore transport, SAR, and utility missions. It typically carries the most passengers in an airline-style layout (often around 16–19, depending on configuration) and generally offers the greatest range, commonly on the order of roughly 700–900 km in typical mission fit. The Leonardo (Agusta) AW189 sits in the super‑medium class, also a twin‑engine design optimized for offshore and SAR, but smaller than the H225. Passenger capacity is usually in the mid‑teens (commonly about 12–16), with range generally comparable to or slightly below the H225 depending on tanks and payload, often roughly 700–900 km. The MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a much lighter twin‑engine helicopter aimed at corporate, law enforcement, EMS, and utility roles. It carries fewer passengers (typically about 6–8) and has a notably shorter range than the other two, commonly in the neighborhood of roughly 500–650 km.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 19 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 395 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 85 |