FAA: No More Issues Putting PC-12s on Part 135 Tickets

NATA and Pilatus Aircraft have resolved a compliance issue with the FAA that was preventing air charter operators from adding “legacy” Pilatus PC-12s—defined as S/Ns 101 to 888—to their Part 135 certificates. The issue arose when individual FSDOs had differing interpretations of FAR 135.163(f), which outlines electrical power requirements for single-engine aircraft carrying passengers under IFR.

“We have been assisting the FAA with a standard approach to calculate electrical loads and develop load shedding procedures on PC-12 legacy aircraft in case of GEN 1 failure,” NATA said. After working with Pilatus and NATA, the FAA has “standardized” an interpretation of the rule and operator guidelines for a GEN 1 failure via Information for Operators (InFO) 17011.

“A GEN 1 failure is considered to be an emergency operation,” the InFO states. “This requires: immediate action that includes exiting and the further avoidance of icing conditions and landing as soon as possible at the nearest suitable airport; [and] monitoring the electrical load on the remaining generator. Although the airplane will automatically shed loads, it may still be necessary to manually reduce electrical loads to prevent exceeding the GEN 2 output of 115 amps.”

“We appreciate the FAA leadership’s willingness to listen to all perspectives…and thank the agency for reaching a decision that all parties find acceptable,” said NATA president Martin Hiller.