Leonardo Aw189 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piper M600 Sls vs Sikorsky S 92

The Leonardo AW189 and Sikorsky S-92 are medium twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore transport, SAR, and utility work, while the MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a lighter twin‑engine helicopter typically used for EMS, law enforcement, and corporate missions. The Piper M600 SLS is the outlier: a single‑engine turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft optimized for owner-operators and business travel rather than vertical lift. In range, the Piper M600 SLS generally offers the longest point‑to‑point capability (roughly 1,000+ nautical miles depending on reserves and configuration), reflecting fixed‑wing efficiency. Among the helicopters, the S‑92 and AW189 are broadly comparable long‑leg platforms for their class, typically in the several‑hundred‑nautical‑mile range, while the MD 902 usually has the shortest range, also in the several‑hundred‑nautical‑mile bracket but generally less than the larger offshore twins. For passenger capacity, the S‑92 is typically highest (commonly around 19 passengers in transport layouts), the AW189 is next (often up to about 16–19 depending on fit), the MD 902 is smaller (commonly about 7–8), and the M600 SLS seats about 6.