Helicopters
Airbus H120
A light single-engine helicopter for up to four passengers, with a flat-floor cabin, a 28 cubic foot rear hold and very low external noise.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Specifications checked against manufacturer and type certificate data · Last updated 14 September 2026
At a glance
Airbus H120 specifications
Figures are representative of the type; individual aircraft vary with configuration, load and conditions.
Where it fits
The quiet single for short island hops
The Airbus H120 began life as the Eurocopter EC120 B Colibri and took its current name in 2015. It is a light single-engine helicopter with one Safran Arrius 2F turbine, designed for one pilot and up to four passengers on short scenic or point-to-point flights.
Its external noise sits 6.7 dB below the ICAO limit, and it is one of the few helicopters that meets the US National Parks overflight noise requirements. Much of that comes from the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, with eight asymmetrically spaced blades.
Type certification came in June 1997 and Airbus ended production in 2017 after delivering 700. Every H120 flying today was built inside that window, and the desk tells you exactly which aircraft is on the quote.
Parties of more than four, flights in cloud, or long open-water sectors where a second engine matters. The H120 has one engine and is certified for VFR only (day, and night with a service bulletin embodied). For more seats the H130 is the better tool; for a twin certified for single-pilot IFR, the H135.
Missions
What the desk books it for
Airport to villa in the Cyclades
Short transfers from Athens or Mykonos to an approved landing site near the house or hotel, for up to four passengers with soft bags in the rear hold.
Mainland to the islands
Athens to Corfu is 214 NM and Athens to Rhodes 218 NM, both inside the 383 NM published range. That figure carries no reserve, so the desk plans fuel, wind and weather before it quotes.
Short hops across the Aegean
Mykonos to Porto Cheli at 105 NM and Mykonos to Bodrum at 111 NM, with the cross-border paperwork for Turkey filed alongside the trip.
Scenic flights where noise matters
Low external noise and large glazed surfaces make it a natural fit for daylight sightseeing over the islands, the Riviera coast or the landscapes of Kenya, flown in good weather.
Where it flies
Routes the desk flies on the H120
Sectors from our Athens and Mykonos route guides that sit inside the H120's published range. Each opens to the airports at both ends and what to know before you fly; the desk confirms the fuel plan and landing sites for the specific aircraft.
Cabin and baggage
Four seats, a flat floor and a rear hold
The cabin is unobstructed on a flat floor, with a volume of 75.57 cubic feet and large glazed surfaces that give every seat a view. Airbus quotes the layout as one pilot with three or four passengers, and the European type certificate lists one passenger in the cockpit and three in the cabin.
Luggage goes in a rear cargo compartment of 28.25 cubic feet. No total weight limit is published for it, so the desk and the operator plan the bags against the passenger weights before the flight.
Soft bags pack far better than hard cases. Tell the desk the count when you enquire, because on a helicopter this size the luggage, as much as the headcount, decides whether the trip stays on an H120 or moves up to an H130.
Performance and airports
Speed, weather and landing sites
Airbus data gives a fast cruise of 120 knots at the maximum takeoff weight of 1,715 kg, and a recommended cruise of 110 knots. The published range of 383 NM is flown at that recommended speed with no reserve, and endurance is 4 hours 19 minutes at 65 knots, also without reserve.
On Greek island and Riviera transfers the sectors are short, so range is rarely the limit. Weather is: the H120 is certified for day VFR, and for night VFR only with a service bulletin embodied, so low cloud or poor visibility can hold a departure.
Villa lawns, hotel pads and private sites each need approval before a helicopter can land there. The desk checks the landing site, the pilot's approvals and the forecast for the specific H120 before a quote goes out.
Compare the class
H120 against the other helicopters
How the H120 lines up against the other helicopters we cover. The H130 seats more and carries more baggage, the AS350 cruises faster, and the H135 and AS355 add a second engine; the H120's case is four seats, low noise and a longer published range than the other single-engine types in our set.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range | Cruise | Engines | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo A109C | Up to 7 | n/a | n/a | Twin turbine | 150 kg |
| Airbus H130 | Up to 7 | 327 NM | 128 kts | Single turbine | 39 cu ft |
| Bell 407 | Up to 6 | 337 NM | 133 kts | Single turbine | 16 cu ft |
| Airbus AS350 Ecureuil | Up to 5 | 340 NM | 136 kts | Single turbine | 35 cu ft |
| Airbus H135 | Up to 6 | 342 NM | 136 kts | Twin turbine | None |
| Robinson R44 | Up to 3 | 350 NM | 109 kts | Single piston | Under-seat only |
| Robinson R66 | Up to 4 | 350 NM | 110 kts | Single turbine | 18 cu ft |
| Airbus H120This aircraft | Up to 4 | 383 NM | 120 kts | Single turbine | 28 cu ft |
| Airbus AS355 Ecureuil 2 | Up to 5 | 395 NM | 120 kts | Twin turbine | 33 cu ft |
Chartering with Icarus Jet
How we charter the H120
We source H120s from operators vetted and approved for passenger transport, and the operator's name is on the quote. The desk checks the pilot's approvals, the landing sites at both ends and the weather minima for the flight before it checks availability, so the aircraft offered is one that genuinely fits the trip.
Quotes are all-in and itemised: aircraft and pilot, positioning, landing and handling, fuel and taxes, with nothing added after the flight that was not on the page. The number depends on where the nearest suitable helicopter is based, the dates and the landing sites, which is why we price your actual trip rather than publish a rate.
Questions
H120 questions the desk gets
How far can an H120 fly?
Airbus data gives 383 NM at the recommended cruise of 110 knots, at maximum takeoff weight on a standard day at sea level, with no reserve. Real flights keep a reserve, so the usable figure is lower. It still covers sectors such as Athens to Corfu at 214 NM, and the desk plans each leg against wind and weather.
How many passengers does an H120 carry?
Up to four. Airbus lists one pilot with three or four passengers, and the European type certificate allows one passenger in the cockpit and three in the cabin. Passenger and bag weights are planned with the operator before the flight.
What is the seating like?
The seats sit on a flat, unobstructed floor with large glazed surfaces, so every passenger has a view. It is a compact cabin of 75.57 cubic feet, suited to short scenic and point-to-point flights rather than long sectors.
How much luggage fits in an H120?
The rear cargo compartment holds 28.25 cubic feet. Soft bags work best, and the desk needs the count and rough weights when you enquire so the load is planned before the aircraft is offered.
Can an H120 fly at night or in cloud?
It is certified for day VFR, and for night VFR when a specific service bulletin is embodied. It is not certified for IFR, so it does not fly in cloud. If the forecast or the timing is tight, the desk will quote an IFR-certified twin such as the H135 alongside it.
Is the H120 still in production?
No. It was certified in 1997 as the Eurocopter EC120 B, renamed the H120 in 2015, and Airbus ended production in 2017 after delivering 700. The desk will tell you which aircraft is available for your dates.
Why is the H120 so quiet?
Its external noise is 6.7 dB below the ICAO limit, helped by a Fenestron shrouded tail rotor with eight asymmetrically spaced blades. It is one of the few helicopters that meets the US National Parks overflight noise requirements.
Related
Around the H120
Get your number
Charter the H120
Send the route, the dates and the passengers. The desk checks range and baggage against the trip, then comes back with the aircraft that genuinely fit and an itemised quote.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203. The desk is staffed 24/7.
Comparing aircraft? Browse the Aircraft Guides in the Aviation Library, 600+ guides on chartering and operations.