A few comments:
- Note, only the current production H130 (ex-EC130 T2) has the 1,500 kg sling capacity; the older EC130 B4 was limited to 1,160 kg
- The higher sling load is made possible by the H130's full use of the Arriel 2D donk, the H130 using 952 shp @ T/O & 856 shp continuous, as opposed to 847 / 728 shp in the H125. This also means that the H130 has better TR authority than the H125, a situation reversed from the EC130.
- Not sure whether the H130 is actually cheaper to operate: Conklin says $698/hr, vs. $678/hr for the H125
- One plus for the H130 is the left-hand side pilot seat (vs. RHS in the AStar), which provides improved ergonomics viz. the collective, and is more familiar to those utility pilots used to LHS ops
- Another plus is the improved confined operation tolerance offered by the Fenestron (in terms of tree branches, snow, etc,), though it's obviously not in the same league as NOTAR
- The H130's skids may also provide some protection against snag hazards in low level ops
- The H130 also offers a true crashworthy tank, only now being introduced as an aftermarket mod on the AStar
This article on Air Zermatt's use of the 130 might be of interest:
H130 finds new application in aerial work
I/C