Aircraft overview

The Airbus Helicopters H160 is a medium twin engine helicopter developed by Airbus Helicopters as a clean sheet successor in the company’s civil and public service range. It first flew in June 2015, received EASA certification in 2020, and entered customer service in the early 2020s. Production is ongoing. The H160 is used for corporate and private transport, emergency medical services, offshore energy support, search and rescue, and parapublic missions. It matters in the market because it brought several Airbus design features into one platform, including Blue Edge main rotor blades, a canted Fenestron tail rotor, a biplane horizontal stabilizer, and the Helionix avionics architecture.

Performance & specifications

Typical published performance for the Airbus Helicopters H160 includes a cruise speed of about 155 knots and a maximum range of up to about 475 nautical miles, depending on configuration, reserves, payload, and operating conditions. Maximum takeoff weight is 13,338 lb. Useful load is configuration dependent, with Airbus published figures commonly around 3,880 lb. The helicopter is powered by two Safran Arrano 1A turboshaft engines, each in the roughly 1,300 shp class. Published ceiling figures include a service ceiling of 20,000 feet. Buyers should treat all mission performance numbers as planning references, since equipment fit, cabin interior, fuel policy, and hot and high operations can materially affect payload and range.

Cabin & avionics

The H160 is typically arranged for up to 12 passengers, with layouts varying by corporate, utility, EMS, or offshore role. Corporate interiors may use fewer seats with enhanced sound treatment and executive furnishings, while EMS and public service aircraft may include stretcher systems, medical equipment, hoists, searchlights, or mission consoles. The cockpit uses Airbus Helicopters Helionix, not Garmin Perspective or G1000. Helionix integrates large displays, four axis autopilot capability, flight management functions, and system monitoring intended to reduce pilot workload. Equipment level should be checked by serial number, mission kit, and certification basis.

Buying & value

The used Airbus Helicopters H160 market is still relatively young, so availability is limited compared with longer established medium twins. Buyers should focus on total time, engine cycles, remaining warranty or support coverage, software standard, avionics updates, maintenance program enrollment, and whether the aircraft has the mission equipment required for its next role. Common market distinctions are less about traditional variants and more about configuration: VIP and corporate transport, EMS, offshore transport, law enforcement, and search and rescue. The H160M Guépard is a related military development and should not be treated as a normal civil used market substitute. In value terms, the H160 usually positions as a modern, high specification medium twin for buyers prioritizing current generation systems and a relatively new production airframe.