The Pilatus PC-24 twin-engine personal jet is designed to
take off and land from very short and unpaved runways, making it easier to fly
into smaller airports.
When Pilatus introduced its first-ever jet in 2013, the
order book was full to capacity in less than two days. Now deliveries of the
PC-24 twin-engine personal jet are expected to start in February, with the
first one going to PlaneSense, a fractional operator based in Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. PlaneSense, which already operates the world’s largest civilian
fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops, has ordered six of the jets, which sell for
about $8.9 million.
The PC-24 is designed to be “super versatile,” the company
says, able to take off and land from very short and even unpaved runways. This
capability opens up many options for operators around the world, making it
easier to fly into smaller airports that may be closer to a traveler’s ultimate
destination. The jet’s spacious cabin seats up to 10. It can be flown by a
single pilot, and travels at speeds up to 489 mph for up to 2,244 miles. A
large cargo door is standard.
Pilatus displayed the second PC-24 prototype in Las Vegas at
the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention, held in
October. The aircraft is expected to be fully certified by both the European
Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration soon.
Pilatus, which is based in Switzerland, has been working to
develop its customer-service infrastructure to be sure there is plenty of
support for the new jet owners. A new customer-service facility that opened in
September will provide technical support and spare parts to customers
worldwide, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, the company says. Maintenance
workers in a global network of authorized service centers have been trained to
support the new jet.
The company also has developed a full-motion simulator and a
syllabus for pilot training, working with FlightSafety International, which
operates a network of training centers around the world. A re-opening of the
order book is expected to be announced sometime next year.
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