Leonardo Aw189 vs Sikorsky S 76d

The Leonardo AW189 and Sikorsky S-76D both serve offshore transport, SAR-support, and corporate shuttle roles, but they sit in different weight and capability classes. The AW189 is a larger “super-medium” twin-engine helicopter, typically chosen when operators want more cabin volume, higher payload flexibility, and better endurance for longer offshore legs. The S-76D is a lighter “medium” twin-engine helicopter, widely used for premium corporate and short-to-medium offshore missions where speed, refinement, and operating economics are priorities. In range terms, the AW189 generally offers longer legs and more fuel/payload trade-off flexibility, making it better suited to extended offshore sectors or missions that benefit from extra reserves. The S-76D’s typical range is competitive for many routes but usually shorter than the AW189 when both are configured for comparable passenger loads. Passenger capacity also reflects the class difference. The AW189 commonly seats around 16 passengers in an offshore configuration (with higher-density layouts possible), while the S-76D commonly carries about 12 passengers in typical transport layouts, with some configurations varying by operator and mission equipment.