‘Swiss Made’ – Cutting-edge Technology Paired with Precision Craftsmanship

Jayant Baranwal (Baranwal): How do you define “Crafted in Switzerland”?

André Zimmermann (Zimmermann): Pilatus enjoys an excellent reputation for its premium workmanship. This is reflected in numerous votes of confidence from within the aerospace sector. Praise is not the driving force behind our efforts. Our goal is rather to ensure the survival of a national heritage which the world knows by the name “Swiss Made”, cutting-edge technology paired with the precision craftsmanship of the highest order. “Crafted in Switzerland”, as we say.

Baranwal: Your aircraft originate from one of the coolest countries in the world. Are they tailored and accustomed for the extreme weather conditions which remain integral feature for many of the countries around the world?

Zimmermann: Pilatus started writing history as a producer of new aircraft types with the SB-2 Pelican built in 1940. It was designed especially for use in mountainous regions such as the Swiss Alps. The worldwide breakthrough came in 1959 with the Pilatus Porter PC-6. This multipurpose aircraft enjoyed huge popularity for its extraordinarily rugged frame and superb STOL characteristics – the ability to fly in and out of short runways. The PC-6 was built for customers around the world for a full 60 years. Few aircraft anywhere can match such a long production run.

Both PC-12 and PC-24 carry the DNA its predecessors and operated in the harshest regions of our globe. For example the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia operate over 40 PC-12 and 6 PC-24.

Baranwal: PC-12 NGX - Can you give us some background – from the concept to the successful flight?

Zimmermann: Launched in 2019, the latest version of the PC-12, called PC-12 NGX, incorporates an improved engine, smarter avionics and a completely redesigned cabin with larger windows, making this third generation of the PC-12 airframe the most advanced single-engine turboprop ever. Building on the experience gathered from the worldwide PC-12 fleet of over 1,700 aircraft with more than seven million flight hours plus Pilatus industry-leading support, the new PC-12 NGX brings the latest technology to the turboprop market.

Baranwal: How many PC-12 NGX are flying around the world as of today? What kind of feedbacks you have been receiving for the aircraft?

Zimmermann: Pilatus sold 439 PC-12 NGX. At the heart of the new PC-12 NGX is the PT6E-67XP turboprop engine by Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Our customers love the worldwide proven engine and its features like an Electronic Propeller and Engine Control System including Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) – a worldwide first in this market segment. In addition, the new propeller low speed mode results in a significant reduction in cabin noise for great passenger comfort. The new turboprop engine enables the PC-12 NGX to achieve a maximum cruise speed of 290 KTAS (537 kilometers per hour). The PC-12 NGX also adds advanced features like Prist^®-free fuel operation.

Baranwal: Can you give us some idea of cost versus benefit information of PC-12 NGX?

Zimmermann: The single-engine powered PC-12 NGX with its large cabin offers a level of comfort, performance, and versatility exceeding many aircraft costing twice as much. Operating costs are 30 to 60 per cent lower as compared to twin-engine jets and turboprops.

Baranwal: Do you think this can be a better bet for the potential customer of a helicopter who is looking for movements within smaller fields/smaller airports destinations?

Zimmermann: Pilots of twin turboprops and business jets would be justifiably proud of their ability to safely operate from a small airport with a runway of only 3,500 feet (1,067 meters). Business aviation is all about getting to places you can’t access on an airliner, and there are more than 11,600 paved runways around the world that are 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) or longer. But the PC-12 NGX is not like other business aircraft. At maximum gross weight, it needs just 2,485 feet (758 meters) of runway and can also operate on grass, gravel and dirt. This extra level of performance opens up your world of possible destinations.

“THE SINGLE-ENGINE POWERED PC-12 NGX OFFERS A LEVEL OF COMFORT, PERFORMANCE, AND VERSATILITY EXCEEDING MANY AIRCRAFT COSTING TWICE AS MUCH, WITH OPERATING COSTS 30 TO 60 PER CENT LOWER THAN TWIN-ENGINE JETS AND TURBOPROPS”

Of course you can land almost everywhere with a helicopter but you will never get the speed and comfort you get with the PC-12. Maximum cruise speed is 290 knots (537 kilometers per hour) and the maximum range is 1,889 nautical miles (3,498 kilometers). And the cost to operate are much lower compared to a helicopter.

Baranwal: PC-24 – This new jet-engine based aircraft seems to be a beautiful one. How come such a LEAP jump from turboprop-engine based aircraft to such a versatile and great looking jet-engine based aircraft?

Zimmermann: Before we developed the PC-24, we started asking our PC-12 customers what they would like to see in the next Pilatus aircraft. The answers were always the same: Further and faster – whilst retaining the much appreciated strengths of the PC-12, such as the ability to use very short runways. It was a huge challenge for our development team, the result is the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet.

Baranwal: Can you give some information on the journey of PC-24 from the time it was conceived?

Zimmermann: The rollout of the PC-24 was on August 1, 2014, followed by the maiden flight in May 2015. The Super Versastile Jet was certified in December 2017, first deliveries started in early 2018. Since then, Pilatus delivered over 300 PC-24.

Baranwal: What kind of response market is giving back to PC-24?

Zimmermann: Our customers love the PC-24 and the concept behind it. Market demand is continuously very high.

Baranwal: How is this different to the competitions?

Zimmermann: The PC-24 is the world’s first business jet to be equipped with a cargo door as standard, with takeoff and landing performance that allows the use of very short and even unmade runways. The jet also boasts a spacious cabin with an interior which can be customised to accommodate individual customer needs. This is indeed a “Super Versatile Jet” – an aircraft designed for a wide variety of missions in line with specific requirements.

Baranwal: What yardsticks you keep in mind while executing and finalising the certain level of comforts PC-24 should offer to the potential customers?

Zimmermann: The PC-24 delivers the ultimate blend of passenger comfort, the finest interior craftsmanship and unmatched cabin customisation. The cabin provides enough room for six executive seats plus an extended aft divan. The divan provides an amenity usually only seen in much more expensive intercontinental business jets.

There is plenty of room for belongings, carried in a heated and fully pressurised cabin section, which is accessible at any time during the flight. With the PC-24’s best in class cargo capacity of 3,100 lbs (1,406 kg), you can bring it all. Numerous interior options and designs allow you to create a unique PC-24 to satisfy your own personal style.

Baranwal: Can you share the details on cost versus benefit out of PC-24 for the potential customers?

Zimmermann: Its cabin volume tops business jets costing almost twice as much, and operating cost are even lower.

Baranwal: What does it mean when you say “PC-24 goes where no business jet has gone before”?

Zimmermann: The outstanding short-field performance of the PC-24 opens up an incredible level of mobility. The combination of short runway capability and certification for operationon grass, gravel, dirt, and snow offers a distinct advantage, giving you the ability to use thousands of additional airports that traditional jets cannot. By accessing smaller airports closer to your destination, you’ll waste far less time on ground transfers and lengthy airport delays.

“THE OUTSTANDING SHORTFIELD PERFORMANCE OF THE PC-24 OPENS UP AN INCREDIBLE LEVEL OF MOBILITY. BY ACCESSING SMALLER AIRPORTS CLOSER TO YOUR DESTINATION, YOU’LL WASTE FAR LESS TIME ON GROUND TRANSFERS AND LENGTHY AIRPORT DELAYS.”

Fleets of PC-24s are operated, as already mentioned, by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the Australian Outback, and above the Arctic Circle in the North Slope Borough in Alaska. Whether you need to land on the grass runway at Venice’s Aeroporto Nicelli, or just want to turn heads at the Smiley Creek, Idaho backcountry strip, the PC-24 will take you there (and back!).

Baranwal: Should we call PC-24 midsize business jet? Which category does it cater to?

Zimmermann: The PC-24 is the only aircraft combining the cabin size of a midsize jet with the versatility of a turboprop and operating cost of a light jet. It’s a plane that simply doesn’t fit into any of the existing business jet categories. That’s why we had to create a new one: the Super Versatile Jet category.

Baranwal: Business Jets are often termed as Office in the Skies. What all PC-24 offers to its travellers while in flight – please elaborate a little?

Zimmermann: 13 extra large cabin windows flood the interior of the PC-24 with bright, natural light. The generously sized cabin, with its continuous flat floor, allows for an exceptional amount of headroom for both passengers and crew. The PC-24 also features a fully enclosed, externally serviceable private lavatory that is highly discreet and seamlessly integrated into the cabin.

Baranwal: Is PC-24 flown by single pilot or is supposed to be flown by two pilots?

Zimmermann: Pilatus aircraft are certified for single pilot operation. And the PC-24 is no exception to this rule.

The cockpit layout is efficient and intuitive. From the comfort of his seat, the pilot finds an environment that has been designed specifically to reduce workload and improve safety while providing full situational awareness under all circumstances. And of course the PC-24 can also be flown by two pilots!