Page 30 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE PILATUS

Pushing the Boundaries The PC 24 is the Swiss

Aircraft makers first
business jet
On track to offer segment leading performance By J K Chandra

swIss AIrcrAft mAker pIlAtus first aircraft will take place in 2017, once to have passenger seats that can be
will announce key launch customers EASA and FAA certification is obtained removed or added in quick time. The
and begin formal acceptance of orders earlier that year. forward area of the cabin also contains
for its PC-24 “super versatile jet”, at the Pilatus took into account the a fully enclosed, externally serviceable
(European Business Aviation Convention & feedback of its vast number of PC-12 private lavatory.
Exhibition (EBACE) convention in Geneva, operator’s while designing the PC-24. As To be certified for single pilot
Switzerland in May. a result rough and short-field mobility is operation, the PC-24 features an
The all new twin-jet is expected to likely to be exceptional, with the ability “Advanced Cockpit Environment”
cost approximately USD 8.9 million and to operate from unpaved runways that (ACE) system, which was developed in
sales and service representatives have have a minimum length of at least 2,690 partnership with Honeywell and Pilatus.
already been appointed for the new type feet (820 m). Power from two Williams On offer as standard equipment will be
in Canada, Mexico, and Eastern Europe FJ44-4A turbines, each producing a max a Synthetic Vision System, Autothrottle,
by Pilatus. take-off thrust of 3,400 lbf, helps the PC- Graphical Flight Planning, Traffic
Pilatus’s first ever business jet has 24 attain a top speed of approximately Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II),
taken a while in coming and hopes to 787 km/h. Maximum range with six and Localizer Performance with Vertical
follow on the footsteps of the successful passengers (1,200 lb payload) is stated to (LPV) guidance capability.
PC-12 turboprop which has sold over be 3,330 km. Touted as combining the versatility
1,200 aircraft till date. Construction of A standard pallet sized aft cargo of a turboprop, with the cabin size of a
the first PC-24 prototype is underway in door will offer increased flexibility for medium light jet, and the performance of
full swing, at Stans, Switzerland and the operators with cargo being carried a light jet., Pilatus will be hoping that the
type’s official roll-out will take place on inside the heated and pressurised cabin. PC-24 can attract sales from all these
August 1st, this year. Deliveries of the Customers can also select the option segments as well.
30 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS MAY / JUNE 2014 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM