Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Sikorsky S 92
The Leonardo AW139 is typically positioned as a medium twin-engine helicopter suited to regional offshore, EMS, and utility missions. It generally offers the shortest range of the three and the smallest cabin, making it best when payload, footprint, and operating costs matter more than maximum distance or seating. The Leonardo AW189 sits in the super-medium category, bridging the gap between medium twins and heavy helicopters. Compared with the AW139, it usually provides a longer range and a larger cabin with higher passenger capacity, making it a common choice for longer offshore legs and higher-density transport without moving to a full heavy platform. The Sikorsky S-92 is generally considered a heavy, long-range helicopter. It typically offers the greatest passenger capacity and a large, comfortable cabin optimized for offshore oil and gas and other missions needing high payload and longer sector lengths. In broad terms, range and passenger capability tend to step up from AW139 to AW189 to S-92, with corresponding increases in size and operating complexity.
| Spec | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 11.69 | $ 15.57 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 17 | 21 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | AW139 | AW189 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 573 | 651 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.69 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 15 | 19 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 4701 | — | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 15 | 19 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,929 | $ 2,413 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 165 | 155 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,900,000 | $2,413,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 17 | 21 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 15 | 19 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 15 | 19 | 19 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6C-67C | CT7-2E1 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1679 | 1983 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 414 | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 54.7 | 57.8 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.4 | 16.6 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.7 | 48 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 282 | 395 | 775 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 120 | 85 | 140 |