AirCompAnalysis FEB22.qxp_ACAn 26/01/2022 10:47 Page 1
HELICOPTER COMPARISON
AIRBUS H125
BELL 505 JET RANGER X
Helicopter Comparison: Airbus H125 vs Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Mike Chase provides information on two popular single-engine light turbine helicopters with a view to pinpointing the Airbus H125 (formerly the Eurocopter AS350B-3e) and Bell 505 Jet Ranger X within the market.
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ver the following paragraphs, we’ll analyse the performance of the Airbus H125 and the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to see how they compare within the new and pre-owned helicopter market. We’ll consider a variety of productivity parameters (including payload, range, speed, and cabin size), along with the current market values. Are all single-turbine engine helicopters created equal? Currently, there are 40 single-turbine light helicopters in operation, and 18 have a Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) below 4,000lbs, while twenty-two exceed 4,000lbs MTOW. In this comparison we have chosen an aircraft from each side of the 4,000lbs bar, including the Airbus H125 (MTOW 4,960lbs) and the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X (3,680lbs). Despite this difference, both helicopters offer the same cabin volume (61 cubic feet). So what are the pros and cons of each, and to whom would each appeal?
Airbus H125
The original model within this series, the Eurocopter AS350B-3, was produced between 1998 and 2012, being replaced by the Eurocopter AS350B-3e model between 2013 and 2015. In 2016, Airbus renamed the AS350B-3e model the Airbus H125. The Airbus H125 can be configured for four or five passengers (plus one pilot seat). Featuring a new dualchannel FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine
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Control)-equipped Turbomeca Arriel 2D engine and a dual LCD-screen Vehicle and Engine Multi-function Display (VEMD), the H125 is an extremely popular model in today’s single-engine turbine helicopter market.
Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X has been in production since 2015. It is a short-range, light single-engine five-seat helicopter (including one pilot), and features a fully integrated Garmin G1000H glass cockpit with twin LCD screens, and a Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual-channel FADEC.
Fleet Data: Worldwide Appeal
As of this writing, there are 1,040 Airbus H125s, and 337 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters in operation worldwide. The Airbus H125 is owned by operators across 72 countries, with the United States accounting for 24% (252 units), and China 9% (97 units) of the total fleet. By comparison, the Bell 505 is owned by operators across 52 countries, with the United States accounting for 23% (76 units), and China 11% (38 units) of the total fleet. The largest Airbus H125 fleet owners are REACH Air Medical Services, LLC (USA) and Sky Helicopters, SA (Spain), with 15 units each. By comparison, the largest Bell 505 Jet Ranger X single fleet owner is EDIC Horizon International Flight Academy (United Arab Emirates), with 12. www.AVBUYER.com
