Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Sikorsky S 92
The Airbus H225 and Sikorsky S-92 are heavy twin‑engine helicopters built for offshore, search‑and‑rescue, and utility transport. Both typically carry around 19 passengers, with practical ranges roughly in the 500–650 nautical mile class depending on configuration and reserves; the H225 is often cited with slightly longer maximum-range figures, while the S‑92 is widely used for consistent offshore mission profiles. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a much lighter twin helicopter aimed at law enforcement, EMS, and corporate missions. It generally seats about 6–8 passengers and has a shorter range, commonly around 300–400 nautical miles. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a twin‑engine fixed‑wing business jet rather than a helicopter, optimized for fast regional travel and short/rough field capability. It typically seats about 6–10 passengers in executive layouts (more in commuter configurations) and offers a much longer range than the helicopters, roughly around 1,800–2,000 nautical miles depending on payload and conditions.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Pilatus PC-24 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 3.71 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Pilatus | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | PC-24 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 2076 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.62 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 10 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 6680 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 1,619 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 440 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $11,800,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 10 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 6 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Flushing | — |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — |
| Cargo Door | — | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Optional Refreshment Center | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 23500 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | FJ44-4A-QPM | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | 760 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 23 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 3435 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.2 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.4 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 775 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 55.8 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | Flat Floor | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.6 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 23 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.8 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 17 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 90 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 |