Pilatus’s first business jet, the PC-24, got off to a flying start at the show yesterday with a letter of intent from Falcon Aviation Services, the Abu Dhabi-based helicopter and business jet operator.
FAS is the first operator to publicly commit to the twinjet, six months after its May launch at EBACE in Geneva, and six months before the Swiss airframer will formally open the orderbook at EBACE 2014.
The LoI – which does not specify a number of aircraft – was signed at a ceremony in Pilatus’s chalet during the show by Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, chairman of FAS, and Jim Roche, vice president government aviation at Pilatus.
“When Pilatus announced the PC-24 in May this year I immediately recognised the enormous potential for an aircraft with such unique specification and performance data in the GCC,” says Sheikh Sultan.
“With its hallmark cargo door, the spacious cabin and the flat floor it can easily be configured to fulfil a broad variety of missions for our customers.”
The first PC-24 prototype is under construction at Pilatus headquarters in Stans, and is scheduled to make its first flight in late 2014.
A total of three aircraft will be used in the flight test programme. Certification and first customer deliveries will occur in 2017.
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Source: Flight Daily News
