Page 28 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE PILATUS PC-24
FEATURE PILATUS PC-24

Jet Set

Pilatus aims to become number one in the jet category with its new PC-24 By Jay Menon

NEARLY A DECADE AGO, WHEN PILATUS later, the order book showed “sold out offer the short, soft-field versatility of the
asked its PC-12 customers what they through the end of 2019”, with the Swiss PC-12, a 51-in. by 49-in. rear cabin door,
would like to see in the next aircraft from aircraft manufacturer taking orders for 84 the cabin volume of a midsize aircraft and
the company’s stable, the answers were of its utility business jets. They would have the cruise speed of a light jet.
the same: “We want something further sold more, but for a deliberate decision “A total of three prototypes will
and faster, retaining the much appreciated not to accept orders for deliveries from be produced for the PC-24 test flight
strengths of the PC-12, such as the ability 2020 or afterwards. programme. The maiden flight of the
to use very short runways.” “We have decided to wait until a later first prototype, which was presented at
For the development team at the date to announce plans for the opening of the rollout, will go ahead in spring 2015.
75-year-old company, based in Stans, the order books for PC-24 deliveries from Final certification and start of deliveries
Switzerland, it was a huge challenge. After 2020,” says Schwenk. to customers are planned from 2017,”
several permutations and combinations, On Aug. 1, a team of 24 horses, chosen Schwenk says.
the engineers unveiled an aircraft with to symbolise the number appearing in Pilatus believes the aircraft will
exactly those qualities today: the PC-24. the PC-24 product name and its future find a market with cargo, medevac,
“It’s an engineer’s plane...Very mission profile as a ‘workhorse’, pulled commuter and even government special
importantly, the PC-24 is a completely new the first prototype out of the production missions operators, along with its PC-
development –not a ‘me too product’,” halls. The new jet aircraft sports an eye- 12’s historical customer base of high-
says Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman of catchingly elegant design in Swiss style, net-worth individual owner-operators, air
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. featuring chrome and gold-coloured charter operators and small companies,
And this was proved when the twin jet Alpine flowers. among others.
project, described by the makers as “the The world’s first ever business jet to
world’s first super versatile jet (SVJ)”, come equipped as standard with a cargo
was unveiled at the European Business door, the performance specification of PC-
Aviation Convention and Exhibition 24 allows it to operate in and out of very
(EBACE) in May, 2013. short runways or even unmade strips.
One year later, at EBACE in May 2014, Pilatus believes the PC-24 will carve out The PC-24 has been engineered
Pilatus opened the order book for its new a new niche it calls the “Versatile Jet to be “off-road” compatible from
Super Versatile Jet. One and a half days segment”, since the all-new model will the beginning
28 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2014 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM