Pilatus has reopened the orderbook for the PC-24 business jet, five years after the initial batch of 84 aircraft sold out within 36h. The superlight business jet has also secured European and US steep-approach certification, allowing owners and operators of the Williams International FJ44-4A-powered aircraft to perform landings under strict conditions, including using the 5.5° approach angle and short runway at London City airport.

The Swiss airframer unveiled the PC-24 at EBACE in 2013 – marking its entry into the business jet market.

Delivery positions in this latest round are set for late 2020 and 2021, says Pilatus, and the aircraft will carry a price tag of $10.7 million. The first 84 PC-24s were priced at $9.2 million.

Pilatus PC-24

BillyPix

The superlight type entered service in February 2018 with fractional ownership company PlaneSense. The aircraft, registration N126AF (MSN101) "has already flown over 1,100h in 15 months of operation", says Pilatus.

The Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based operator – one of Pilatus's oldest and largest customers with a fleet of 36 PC-24 single-engined turboprops – has since taken delivery of two more PC-24s from a total order for six aircraft.

Pilatus says it has handed over 30 examples in total, with the global fleet logging over 3,000h. The company, based in Stans, plans to deliver 40 PC-24s in 2019 and 50 units in 2020.

The response to the PC-24 has been "phenomenal", says Pilatus chairman Oscar Schwenk. "From day one, there has been keen interest from various customer segments all over the world," he adds.

Feedback from the first 30 PC-24 operators "is extremely positive", Schwenk says, with customers pointing to its "versatility, spacious, quiet cabin and incredible performance". He adds: "These remarks, plus the high degree of attention which the aircraft commands all confirm our chosen PC-24 strategy."

The aircraft has secured European and US approval to operate on unpaved runways including dirt and gravel. Post-certification efforts to allow the aircraft to operate on other surfaces, including grass, is currently under way, says Pilatus.

Find all the latest news, pictures, video and analysis from EBACE 2019 on our dedicated page.

Source: Flight International

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