Pilatus PC-12 NGX wins Transport Canada certification, as UK sees first delivery
The Pilatus PC-12 NGX single-engine turboprop aircraft has received Transport Canada type certification and, in a separate development, the first model has been delivered to a customer in the UK.
Building on the experience gathered from a worldwide PC-12 fleet of more than 1,700 aircraft, the new PC-12 NGX brings the latest technology to the turboprop market, according to Levaero Aviation – the OEMs’s exclusive authorised Aircraft Sales and Service Centre for Canada. More than 100 PC-12s are now operating in Canada.
The latest model features an improved Pratt & Whitney PT6E engine, smarter avionics and a redesigned cabin with larger windows. Other features include an extension to the maintenance interval to 600 hours and an increase of 1,500 hours to the engine time before overalls (TBO), which currently stands at 5,000 hours. Also, hourly direct operating costs have been reduced by at least 9% and a new nose-to-tail maintenance programme introduced.
Improved Pratt & Whitney PT6E engine
Thomas Bosshard, CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, said: “The PC-12 NGX is a showcase for the advanced technology collaboration between Pilatus, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Honeywell. Together, we took the best and made it even better. What’s more, our customers do not have to wait years into the future to enjoy these benefits, the PC-12 NGX is here today.”
Meanwhile, last week (July 30th) the first Pilatus PC-12 NGX was delivered to a private customer based in North West England, according to Oriens Aviation, the OEM’s sales and service centre for the British Isles. Oriens Aviation CEO Edwin Brenninkmeyer said: “The PC-12 NGX is an outstanding performance turboprop. It represents excellent value for money, with an up to 1,800nm range and a maximum cruise speed of 290 knots. To date, 20 of the latest generation model have been sold worldwide, boosting the number of PC-12s flying worldwide to over 1,750.”
The ‘big airport’ experience
There is a strong emphasis on health and safety in air travel and passenger nervousness regarding the ‘big airport’ experience, said Brenninkmeyer. “These trends are reflecting the increased enquiries we are seeing among savvy entrepreneurs and business owners who want to keep their employees and families safe,” he added.
Brenninkmeyer praised the aircraft’s role in combating Covid-19. “The PC-12 has been amazingly heroic during the pandemic, showing its versatility all over Europe, repatriating passengers, transporting Covid-19 patients and PPE [Personal Protective Equipment],” he said
Pilatus PC-12 NGXs are now sold out for 2020, with Oriens’ next NGX delivery scheduled in mid-2021.
Meanwhile, last month the first of six Pilatus PC-24s, in medevac configuration for the Swedish Air Ambulance Organisation (SAAO), completed its maiden flight.
The PC-12 NGX – at a glance
- -Unveiled during last year’s NBAA Show
- -Improved Pratt & Whitney PT6E-67XP engine
- -Electronic propeller
- -Full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system.
- -10% more window area
- -Cabin features more headroom
- -The executive version features fully reclining seats and improved lumbar comfort
- -A low-speed propeller mode delivers reduced cabin noise
- -The cockpit features Honeywell’s Epic 2.0 avionics and a touchscreen avionics controller
- -Year 2021 unit price is $ 5.5m for a standard configured passenger aircraft.
Source: Oriens Aviation.
On its way to the UK: The first PC-12 NGX departs Stans, Switzerland, newly registered as G-MDSI, en route to northern England.
