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Pilatus Aircraft

Discussion in 'Turboprop Aircraft' started by Jet News, May 5, 2016.

  1. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    For 2016, Pilatus’ best-selling single turboprop PC-12 NG offers greater speed, better takeoff and climb performance, more cabin comfort, greater range, and a quieter cabin with no increase in fuel burn or operating cost. This boost in overall efficiency is exemplary of the core Pilatus tenet of being an environmentally conscious aircraft builder. The 2016 Pilatus PC-12 NG cruises at a new maximum top-speed of 285 knots (528 km/h) thanks to an aerodynamic optimization effort which analyzed every square inch of the exterior of the PC-12 NG to come up with a number of enhancements to reduce drag. Several subtle, but important changes contribute to the increased speed with no additional power. The under wing flap actuator fairings for example were redesigned for smoother airflow around them and the cabin entry door handle was changed to a flush fitting design. Gaps and joints around the flaps were sealed, and several antennas were repositioned to align with localized air flow patterns.

    The most noticeable change to the 2016 PC-12 NG is the standard five blade graphite composite propeller. Designed specifically for the PC-12 NG by Hartzell, this new propeller reduces cabin noise levels, improves takeoff and climb performance, reduces life cycle maintenance costs, and is easily repairable in the field. The propeller blades feature a nickel cobalt leading edge and are fabricated using aerospace-grade carbon fiber monocoque structural design. The thin blade shape is also optimized for low drag. The new propeller is certified for unlimited life. With a composite propeller, repairs are performed using epoxy, as opposed to filing away material on an aluminum propeller. In this manner, the composite blades are restored to factory-new dimensions at each overhaul interval. By the third overhaul cycle, the composite prop returns a significant value relative to the metal prop.

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  2. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus Aircraft recently reached a landmark in deliveries having handed over 1,400 PC-12s to customers around the world. The entire global PC12 fleet has flown some 5.6 million hours with PC12NGs accounting for 1 million of those hours. “This is an exciting milestone,” said Ignaz Gretener, vice president of Pilatus general aviation. “While much attention has recently been focused on the new PC-24 jet, the PC-12 is still the backbone of our general aviation business. We continue to invest in the PC-12NG and in our global support network.” The 1,400th aircraft went to a United States customer.

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  3. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus Aircraft have broken ground on a new 118,000 sq ft facility in the United States. The Swiss airframer has had presence in the United States before be it will be the first time having a facility this large. The new facility in Broomfield Colorado, is Pilatus North America's new headquarters and being built in anticipation of the Swiss company's PC-24 jet. Completion is expected to be in 2018 and will be located at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan airport housing sales, support and completions of both the PC-24 and the PC-12/NG single-engined turboprop.

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  4. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    For the 15th year in a row, readers of Professional Pilot magazine voted Pilatus Customer Service as the best in the industry. The annual survey goes out to nearly 9,000 operators of turbine aircraft around the world, and is a benchmark for how well Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) support their customers. Owners and operators of both jet and turboprop aircraft are asked to score their OEM service on a scale of 0 to 10 in the categories of response time, spares availability, cost of parts, speed in AOG service, technical manuals, technical representatives, and overall service satisfaction. Pilatus’ overall score in 2016 was 8.42. In addition, Aviation International News magazine reported that Pilatus retained its top ranking in the annual Product Support Survey, Newer Turboprops category. “We are very pleased to see that our continuous efforts to improve the level of service and support for operators of Pilatus aircraft is being recognized and valued”, said Piotr “Pete” Wolak, Vice President of Customer Support for Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd. “With the PC-24 entering service next year, we have an even higher goal to aspire to, and together with our global network of Authorized Pilatus Service Center partners we will take our customer support to the next level.”

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  5. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus announced that it recently sold 21 PC-21s with with majority of them being delivered to the French Air Force. Of the 21 PC-21s, 17 are for the French Air Force and two each for the Royal Jordanian Air Force and QinetiQ, a British company which operates the "Empire Test Pilots' School". Together, these orders are worth over 300 million Swiss francs and will help to ensure jobs at Stans.

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  6. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Advent gains STC for PC-12 Anti-skid Braking System

    Advent Aircraft Systems eABS anti-skid braking system has been STC’d by the U.S. FAA for the Pilatus PC-12, the company announced yesterday. The STC applies to all PC-12s equipped with a Waas-enabled GPS, including those with the Honeywell Apex avonics system or Garmin or IS&S GPS units. The eABS weighs just 27 pounds installed, comes with all required installation hardware and requires no changes to the existing PC-12 brake system. List price for the PC-12 eABS is $50,604, not including installation at an Advent-authorized dealer. (AIN)

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  7. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus Aircraft is looking to end production of the versatile PC-6 turboprop. That program is quite old now and with the company's attention being fixed on the PC24 business jet, they will look to end production in 2019. Above 500 of the multi-role Pilatus Porters have been produced at the manufacturer’s Stans headquarters since 1959. Even though production is ending in 2019, there will be support provided for existing customers probably through to the next 20-years. “Due to the age of the PC-6 and other certification parameters, it is no longer possible to provide this ongoing development in the scope we would wish,” Pilatus said. “Also in connection with our PC-24 jet, for which series production is currently gearing up in Stans, and which requires our full attention, we have decided that the PC-6 no longer fits our product portfolio, and that, after 60 years, it is now time to cease production.”

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  8. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus is moving swiftly to getting the PC-24 fully certified by the end of the year. Pilatus CEO Marcus Bucher highlighted this at the NBAA in Las Vegas during a press conference. The first customer aircraft should also be handed over towards the end of the year.
  9. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus PC-24 Executive Jet... such a gorgeous aircraft!

  10. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Here is the first customer-bound PC-24 executive jet doing some tests. This one will be going to Plane Sense in the United States.

  11. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Now that the Pilatus PC-24 has started deliveries, Flight Safety is starting PC-24 Pilot and maintenance training in Dallas at its training/learning center. The Pilatus PC-24 simulator at the facility was recently approved by both EASA and the FAA. “We are pleased to announce the start of training for the new Pilatus PC-24 aircraft in Dallas,” said FlightSafety executive vice president David Davenport. “FlightSafety and Pilatus worked closely together to ensure owners and operators of the PC-24 receive the highest-quality training.” Flight Safety provides training for a number of airframers such as Bombardier, Airbus Helicopters, Embraer, Dassault, Bell Helicopter, Pilatus and Gulfstream.

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  12. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus PC-12NG seen conducting short take off at Locher Airfield.

  13. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Maiden flight of the PC-24 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)

  14. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Under the contract concluded with the British company QinetiQ in 2016, Pilatus is to provide two PC-21s to the “Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS)” based in Wiltshire, in the south of England. Operated by QinetiQ, ETPS functions as a training centre for flight test engineers and test pilots, and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. On 17 July, Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus, presented a traditional Swiss souvenir to Steve Wadey, CEO of QinetiQ Group Plc to commemorate the delivery and handover of their first PC-21 trainer aircraft. The second PC-21 will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018 and will be used for test pilot training courses commencing early in 2019.

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  15. Jet News

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    New PC-12 Flight training facility at London Biggin Hill. Oriens Aviation which is the PC-12 sales distributor in the UK seems to be opening up even more offering for this turboprop single with new training at Biggin Hill from January 2019. The EASA PC-12 rating course caters to a wide range of experience, ranging from PPL (A) with instrument rating and a minimum 200 flight hours to the most experienced pilots. “We know that a big obstacle for Pilatus PC-12 operations in the UK is the lack of pilots,” said Oriens CEO Edwin Brenninkmeyer, adding that with the PC-12 classified as a single-pilot, high-performance airplane, traditional flight schools in the UK are lacking such expertise. “This is why we are pleased to team with Oysterair and its experienced pilot instructors.”

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  16. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    The new Steelman Aviation Pilatus PC-24

  17. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus PC12 by CEO of HP

  18. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    The PC-24 by Pilatus is proving to be a very popular aircraft. The airframer recently announced that it reopened the orderbook once again for the super versatile jet and already more than half the allotment has been sold. They gave a set of 80 units and one day after 40 units had been sold. When the orderbook was opened originally at EBACE 2014 they sold 84 units in 1.5 days.

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  19. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    The guy that lead Executive AirShare is now going to head up sales at Pilatus Aircraft for the PC12 and the new PC24 in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Keith Plumb was the former President, CEO, and Co-founder of Executive AirShare. KCAC Aviation has now established a sales office at the DuPage Airport (DPA) in Western Chicago. "Having regional representation based in this four-state area will help KCAC better serve its customers, especially with the introduction of the Pilatus PC-24," KCAC general manager Mark Riley said. "Keith is well versed in both the turboprop and jet markets and…his passion for building relationships, coupled with his relentless pursuit to go above and beyond for his customers, represents the same philosophy that has propelled KCAC forward for 53 years".

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  20. Jet News

    Jet News JF News Editor Staff Member

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    Pilatus Aircraft had an interesting setup for the PC-24 at the recently concluded EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh, WI . Aimed at showcasing the versatility of the PC-24 from the various unpaved surfaces the aircraft is built to operate from, the display was sure to be a conversation piece on its own.

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