Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are large, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, SAR, and utility missions. Both typically carry around 16–19 passengers in high‑density seating, with practical ranges in the roughly 400–500+ nautical mile class depending on fuel, reserves, and cabin fit. The AW189 is widely fielded today, while the 525 is positioned as a newer, high‑performance entrant in the same “super‑medium” category. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a twin‑engine light jet, optimized for fast point‑to‑point travel and operations from shorter or semi‑prepared runways compared with many jets. It commonly seats about 6–10 passengers and offers a typical range around 2,000 nautical miles, making it a different tool than the helicopters: much longer range and speed, but requiring runways. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop, generally configured for about 5–6 passengers, with typical range around 1,400–1,600 nautical miles. It’s more economical than the PC‑24 but slower, and it trades the helicopters’ vertical‑lift flexibility for fixed‑wing efficiency and range.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Pilatus PC-24 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 | PC-24 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 | 2076 | 1406 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 10 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — | 6680 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 6 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 | 440 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $11,800,000 | $3,081,400 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.57 | $ 3.71 | $ 2.19 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.74 | $ 0.62 | $ 0.55 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,413 | $ 1,619 | $ 603 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 | 6 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 10 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 | 6 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | — | 1 Enclosed Flushing | No |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | No | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | FWD | MID |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 9.3 | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Optional Refreshment Center | Refreshment Centre |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 23500 | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | FJ44-4A-QPM | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 | — | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | 260 |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 23 | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 3435 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 57.8 | 52.2 | 29.7 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — | 5.1 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — | 23 | 12.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.6 | 17.4 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 | — | 165 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 55.8 | 43.2 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | Flat Floor | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 3.8 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 17 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 90 | 20 |