A good look at the Pilatus PC-24 – a jet that can land and take-off from rough airfields and provide world-class aero-medical transport.
The Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet is more than just another business jet. It's a jet that can land on dirt and grass runways, carry cargo and passengers, and undertake aeromedical missions. Below is a review of the aircraft after a recent visit to the US Aircraft Expo that came by Renton, Washington State, USA.
OK, what can the Pilatus PC-24 actually do? Well, with its 501 cubic foot/14.20 cubic meter cabin, the PC-24 can cruise at 440 knots with two Williams International FJ44-4A jet engines, each putting out 3,420 pounds of thrust. It’s a mighty jet that can take off and land in less than 3,000 feet (914 meters) in optimal conditions – but the PC-24 is designed to handle less than optimal conditions.
The PC-24 can land and take off on gravel strips and grass runways. The aircraft is intended to, in the words of Pilatus chairman Oscar Schwenk as shared by FlightGlobal, combine "the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a medium-light jet, and the performance of a light jet."
According to the Pilatus brochure, the aircraft can haul 2,500 pounds (1,134 kilograms) to a range of 1,182 nautical miles (2,189 kilometers). The PC-24 can go 1,800 NM carrying only six passengers. It’s also worth noting that one pilot can fly the PC-24 in visual flight rules (VFR), and instrument flight rules (IFR) in private and commercial (FAR Part 135, EASA Part-CAT) uses.
Yes, the PC-24 comes with many comforts. For instance, the PC-24 has a lavatory and sink carefully stashed, plus space for an ice cooler up front. Like an airliner, the PC-24 has a light and a vent for each seat – plus an emergency oxygen mask.
The PC-24 can be flown with a single pilot. The front office also has a good autopilot that can be set to altitude, auto throttle, heading, and navigation, for starters. Pilatus has also added a Synthetic Vision System to show the terrain and towers ahead in a head’s down display. Plus, there is a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS II) to prevent midair collisions.
If that isn’t smart enough, according to Pilatus, there is now the means to provide great assistance to landing with the Pilot-Defined Visual Approach function. The pilot can;
Easily set up an autopilot and auto-throttle coupled visual approach to any runway, and precisely track a left-hand, right-hand, or straight-in pattern down to the runway threshold. This is a handy feature for operations in smaller, remote airports, which the PC-24 is designed to use.
It's a lot like the US Navy’s Precision Landing Mode (PLM), making it easier to make aircraft landings, but I digress.
Finally, it's notable that the pilot who brough the PC-24 to the US Aircraft Expo’s stop at Renton, where the author got a tour, was Ashley Fredricks, the first female pilot of the PC-24 and a member of Amelia Earhart’s Ninety-Nines. Ashley also gave an interview to Pilatus and told of how the PC-24 could slide into Valemount, British Columbia…
No tower, no fuel, 3,900 feet runway (1,200 meters) – and we didn’t even need the entire length for landing or take-off. We left Valemount and flew directly to San Jose, California, over 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) away. It really is amazing where you can take it.
Users of the Pilatus PC-24 include the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). These guys need a capable aircraft to fly out to the bush to use as a winged ambulance. The airplane is a great choice, particularly considering the distances involved in Oceania. But the PC-24 is also used to fly passengers for charter airlines, business travelers and relief agencies worldwide. The PC-24’s capabilities and comforts make it the right fit for those who need to get from Airport A to Airport B at speed and altitude.
Does this make you interested in the PC-24? Let us know in the comments.
Sources: FlightGlobal, Pilatus
Journalist – When not reading and writing about aviation, Joe is photographing it. Joe Loves educating the public about aviation, and generating enthusiasm around flying while supporting all those who work in aviation. Based in Skagit County, United States