By Skies Magazine | October 10, 2023 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 4 seconds.
Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has announced its enhanced PC-24 Super Versatile Jet a week ahead of this year’s National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). Set to make its debut with new deliveries in 2024, the PC-24 has undergone a comprehensive upgrade to enhance both performance and comfort.
The most notable advancement is the increased payload-range capability. According to Pilatus, the new PC-24 features a 600-pound (272-kg) increase in full fuel payload and maximum payload capacity, enabling a 200-nautical-mile range increase with six passengers on board. This means the enhanced jet has a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometres) with six passengers. Moreover, it has a full fuel payload of a single pilot plus 1,315 pounds (596 kg), and features a maximum payload capacity of 3,100 pounds (1,406 kg).
“The payload increase was achieved by refining both wing and fuselage structural elements to reduce the airframe empty weight while simultaneously increasing the maximum gross take-off weight limit,” explained Bruno Cervia, vice-president of engineering for Pilatus. “It’s simply Swiss engineering at its best.”
Not only does the PC-24 offer increased range and payload, but it also provides an enhanced cabin. The interior has been upgraded to improve passenger comfort, with reduced ambient sound levels, optimized storage areas, and refined cabinetry.
Pilatus partnered with Lufthansa Technik to introduce an integrated Cabin Management System (iCMS) featuring a 10-inch touch screen controller with 3D moving map, high fidelity cabin speakers with a sub-woofer option, mood lighting, USB ports, and a media storage server.
The OEM noted that the new PC-24 also offers a large side-facing divan that can be converted into a bed in flight — “a first for this class of business aircraft.”
Moreover, all PC-24s from serial number 501 onwards will be equipped with predictive maintenance capabilities. Key aircraft data will be automatically transmitted to Pilatus upon landing, allowing the OEM to analyze and make predictive recommendations to the operator if necessary.
“More range, greater payload, enhanced comfort, and increased operability were the primary focus of this major PC-24 improvement program,” said the company’s CEO, Markus Bucher. “With this major upgrade, there is simply no other business jet on the market capable of consistently performing like our Super Versatile Jet.”
According to Stan Kuliavas of Levaero Aviation, the exclusive Canadian distributor for the PC-12 and PC-24, “We are already experiencing significant demand for the PC-24 in Canada, and these major enhancements will only help solidify the aircraft as a best-in-class choice for Canadian operators.”
The first new PC-24 will be on static display during this year’s NBAA-BACE, to be held in Las Vegas from Oct. 17 to19.
