Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Pilatus Pc 24 vs Sikorsky S 92
The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a light twin‑engine helicopter primarily used for police, EMS, utility, and short‑range corporate shuttle work. Its typical practical range is on the order of a few hundred nautical miles, and it generally carries the pilot plus roughly four to seven passengers depending on configuration and fuel/load tradeoffs. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a twin‑engine light business jet designed for point‑to‑point regional and transcontinental trips, including operation from shorter or semi‑prepared runways. It offers substantially greater range than either helicopter—typically around the low‑to‑mid‑thousands of nautical miles—and usually seats about six to ten passengers in executive layouts (with higher counts possible in dense seating). The Sikorsky S‑92 is a large twin‑engine medium/heavy helicopter aimed at offshore transport, search and rescue, and VIP/airline‑style shuttle missions. Its range is also a few hundred nautical miles (often extended with auxiliary tanks), but it carries far more people than the 902, commonly around 12 to 19 passengers in transport configurations.
| Spec | Pilatus PC-24 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 3.71 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 21 |
| Manufacturer | Pilatus | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | PC-24 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 2076 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.62 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 10 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6680 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,619 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 440 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $11,800,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Flight Rules | — | IFR |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Enclosed Flushing | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 |
| Crew Rest | No | — |
| Jump Seat | No | — |
| Cargo Door | Yes | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 21 |
| Galley Location | FWD | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 10 | 19 |
| Lavatory Location | FWD | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 9.3 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | Optional Refreshment Center | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 19 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 23500 | — |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | FJ44-4A-QPM | CT7-8A |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 23 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | 3435 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Type | — | JetFuel |
| Horsepower | — | 2520 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 52.2 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | 55.8 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | Flat Floor | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5.6 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 5.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 23 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 17.4 | 17.8 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 3.8 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 17 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 90 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 775 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 140 |