Pilatus Reveals PC-24 Light Jet with Large Cargo Door

Accompanied by stage smoke and theme music from the Superman movie, Pilatus Aircraft unveiled its long-awaited new twinjet project, the PC-24, today at EBACE. “The PC-24 is unique. It’s the only aircraft combining the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a midsize jet and the field performance of a light jet,” said company chairman Oscar Schwenk.

First flight of the $8.9 million twinjet is scheduled for the third quarter of 2014, with certification expected in early 2017. The PC-24 airframe is all metal and is designed to take off from short (2,690 feet) and unimproved runways.

The jet’s standard seating configuration is for eight passengers, though an optional commuter layout can seat up to 10. It features a large rear cargo door like the PC-12 and the baggage compartment is pressurized.

Avionics are a Honeywell Primus Apex flight deck, but branded as the Pilatus Advanced Cockpit Environment. The most basic version includes four 12-inch displays, Honeywell SmartView synthetic vision, Tcas II, inertial reference system, Waas LPV approaches and graphical flight planning on the moving map.

Two Williams International FJ44-4A engines help the PC-24 climb to its maximum altitude FL450 in less than 30 minutes and achieve a high-speed cruise of 425 ktas at FL300. NBAA IFR range with an 800-pound payload at long-range cruise speed is 1,950 nm.