Page 31 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 Online Magazine
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FEATURE PILATUS
more light than the incandescent bulbs locations around the world that competing
employed in previous models of the aircraft. jet and turboprop aircraft can only fly over
“Seven decades spent engineering, from a distance.
building and maintaining aircraft, along Its Connected Flight Deck system
with what we’ve learned from those who is a set of four iPad applications that
operate our aircraft, has led us to one of interface with a wireless gateway system
our greatest achievements: the PC-12 NG onboard the PC-12 NG. Each application is
single-engine turboprop,” says Ignaz. designed to enhance the efficiency of data
“The aircraft embodies all the exchanged between the aircraft, pilot, and
knowledge, skill, and practical insight maintenance personnel.
we’ve gained over the years. It combines The apps enable fast and simple
the performance, durability, and reliability wireless updates of airport, navigation
of our trainers, like the PC-21, with the and terrain databases, off-aircraft flight
utilitarian implacability of the Pilatus planning and uploading directly to the
Porter PC-6, while providing superior flight management system, maintenance
pilot confidence and passenger comfort,” and diagnostic recording with email to a
TOP LEFT: The PC-12 NG he adds. service facility, and a moving map feature
gives its operators the ability The PC-12 NG offers C-suite elegance for passengers. Pilatus worked together
to safely access thousands and amenities, along with the capability with Honeywell, Jeppesen and Aspen
of locations around the of delivering aid to the most rugged Avionics to generate the iPad apps. The
world that competing jet and locations, such as the Australian outback. PC-12 NG’s trailing-link landing gear
turboprop aircraft can only fly The exceptional versatility of the PC-12 with 14” (35.6 cm) of travel is designed
over from a distance
NG creates an entirely new category for to provide pilots and passengers with
RIGHT: The PC-12 NG makes turbine aircraft. smooth, soft landings on even the
for an excellent surveillance In August last, India’s Tata Advanced roughest surfaces.
aircraft. It can stand off at Systems (TASL) signed an agreement with Another key to its versatility is the
distances the subjects under Pilatus for the manufacture and supply of massive (53” x 52”) cargo door and 2,850
surveillance cannot detect. its PC-12 ‘green aircraft’ aerostructures for lbs (1,292kg) payload capacity, allowing
Its fuel efficiency allows it to export from its Hyderabad facility. It includes the PC-12 NG to be loaded with anything
stay on station for more than assembly of complete airframe for the from standard-sized pallets of cargo, to
eight hours with standard fuel aircraft including integrated fuselage, wing, medical stretchers, or even a motorcycle
capacity. The PC-12 Spectre
option features a retractable cockpit, ailerons, fins and rudders. Portugal’s for a personal off-road journey.
EO/IR sensor lift in the tail OGMA also assembles the green aircraft and
of the aircraft, and a full- manufactures some components.
featured operator console in The PC-12 NG gives its operators
the pressurized cabin the ability to safely access thousands of
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