AS350 / AS355 cabin door configurations

[Kulwin Park]

Question: Why do so many operators choose to have the long extended cabin door on the pilot's side (R/H) with suicide door configuration, and have the standard door on the L/H side with sliding door?

Is this a factory standard layout? I would've thought that every AS350/355 operator would've wanted dual sliding doors like a new EC130-T2 for great access for passengers & operational access for carrying equipment in the back.

Curious as to know why people choose the long doors over the short Airbus doors.

[Nubian]

Question: Why do so many operators choose to have the long extended cabin door on the pilot's side (R/H) with suicide door configuration, and have the standard door on the L/H side with sliding door?

Is this a factory standard layout? I would've thought that every AS350/355 operator would've wanted dual sliding doors like a new EC130-T2 for great access for passengers & operational access for carrying equipment in the back.

Curious as to know why people choose the long doors over the short Airbus doors.

Because that door is the standard on the 350, and so is it on the other side as well. Sliding doors either side is an option.
Sliding door on the left is a very common configuration though.
As for cabin loading rotors running, you’d like to keep the pax on one side instead of both.

Another thing with having sliding door on the right side, is that the floor window is a bit smaller than the ones you can get with the standard door.

[helisdw]

The choice of AS350 / 355 door configuration will also affect whether you can have a cargo pod / 'cheek' installed (https://www.airbushelicopters.ca/optional-equipment/cargo-pods-squirrel-cheeks-2/). As the cargo pod is not compatible with a sliding door then should you require the additional storage space you will have to opt for a 'standard' door.

The reduction in floor window size with a right sliding door that Nubian mentioned is most apparent in the rear quadrant so the sling load typically takes longer to appear in view when you are slowing down and also with shorter lengths of line. Popping the pilot's door open (or removing it altogether) helps immensely!

[ApolloHeli]

Question: Why do so many operators choose to have the long extended cabin door on the pilot's side (R/H) with suicide door configuration, and have the standard door on the L/H side with sliding door?

Is this a factory standard layout? I would've thought that every AS350/355 operator would've wanted dual sliding doors like a new EC130-T2 for great access for passengers & operational access for carrying equipment in the back.

Curious as to know why people choose the long doors over the short Airbus doors.

Seeing as it hasn't already been mentioned, it's also preferable to load pax from the LH side so that they're kept away from the T/R located on the right side

[ECL_FTE]

Question: Why do so many operators choose to have the long extended cabin door on the pilot's side (R/H) with suicide door configuration, and have the standard door on the L/H side with sliding door?

Is this a factory standard layout? I would've thought that every AS350/355 operator would've wanted dual sliding doors like a new EC130-T2 for great access for passengers & operational access for carrying equipment in the back.

Curious as to know why people choose the long doors over the short Airbus doors.

In North America, the factory layout is sliding door on both sides (that's the standard on the production line in Columbus MS). For aircraft coming out of the French production line in Marignane, the standard is left hand side sliding door only. The right hand side is extended cabin door.

[Nubian]

In North America, the factory layout is sliding door on both sides (that's the standard on the production line in Columbus MS). For aircraft coming out of the French production line in Marignane, the standard is left hand side sliding door only. The right hand side is extended cabin door.

You're mixing standard with what the preferable option the customers are ordering.
Standard doors (what you call ''extended'') is specified in the limitations section in the FLM, which also lists the different options you can order. It might be that the customers in the US prefer the sliding doors option on both sides, but it is still an option. They are incompatible with the squirrel cheeks, so plenty of machines without sliding doors in Canada.
In Europe, Africa and Asia, the most common model I've come across is the option with sliding door on the left, with the odd dual side ones and the really odd ones where you only have it on the right hand side. Flown plenty of standard doors where the majority had cheeks though (which are really great, after they came out with the forward hinged mod for the doors) For utility configuration, sliding door on the right is the least favourable option.

[Helitech2316]

You're mixing standard with what the preferable option the customers are ordering.
Standard doors (what you call ''extended'') is specified in the limitations section in the FLM, which also lists the different options you can order. It might be that the customers in the US prefer the sliding doors option on both sides, but it is still an option. They are incompatible with the squirrel cheeks, so plenty of machines without sliding doors in Canada.
In Europe, Africa and Asia, the most common model I've come across is the option with sliding door on the left, with the odd dual side ones and the really odd ones where you only have it on the right hand side. Flown plenty of standard doors where the majority had cheeks though (which are really great, after they came out with the forward hinged mod for the doors) For utility configuration, sliding door on the right is the least favourable option.
AHI MS builds all AS-350s standard with LH & RH sliding doors, unless the customer orders otherwise.

[Nubian]

AHI MS builds all AS-350s standard with LH & RH sliding doors, unless the customer orders otherwise.

No doubt, but that's not my point in response to the OP's original question. Answers are given above already. ref. AFM Section 2.

[Kulwin Park]

Thank you ppruners.
Some interesting facts and opinions stated there.
I suppose sliding doors are also more expensive to maintain, acting as a downside to having them too.