Enstrom 480b vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Piper M600 Sls
The Enstrom 480B is a light single‑engine piston helicopter mainly used for training and utility work. It carries about four to five people including the pilot and typically offers a short‑to‑moderate range on the order of a few hundred nautical miles, prioritizing low operating cost and hover capability over speed and distance. The Agusta/Leonardo AW189 is a much larger twin‑engine medium helicopter aimed at offshore, SAR, and executive/utility missions. It generally seats around 16–19 passengers (configuration dependent) and provides a substantially longer range than the Enstrom, commonly in the several‑hundred‑nautical‑mile class, while adding higher cruise speed, payload, and redundancy. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a twin‑engine light business jet designed for fast point‑to‑point travel, including operation from shorter or semi‑prepared runways. It typically carries 6–10 passengers (plus crew) and offers long range in the roughly 1,800–2,000+ nautical mile class depending on load. The Piper M600 SLS is a single‑engine turboprop personal/corporate aircraft with Garmin Autoland. It seats up to six (typically one pilot plus five) and delivers mid‑range capability around 1,200–1,500 nautical miles, balancing speed, efficiency, and simplicity.
| Spec | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Pilatus PC-24 | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 15.57 | $ 3.71 | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo | Pilatus | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | AW189 | PC-24 | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 651 | 2076 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.74 | $ 0.62 | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | 10 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 6 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,413 | $ 1,619 | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 440 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $2,413,000 | $11,800,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Useful Load (lbs) | — | 6680 | 2200 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 19 | 10 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 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 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | CT7-2E1 | FJ44-4A-QPM | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1983 | — | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 23 | ISA + 55 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 3435 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 260 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 57.8 | 52.2 | 29.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.6 | 17.4 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 48 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 395 | — | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 85 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 55.8 | 43.2 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | Flat Floor | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.1 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 23 | 12.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.8 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 17 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 90 | 20 |