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This month, the global fleet of nearly 1,200 Pilatus PC-12s reached a major milestone by accumulating 4,000,000 flight hours since the first aircraft was delivered in October, 1994. To date, the highest time PC-12 has logged over 24,000 hours in operation as an air ambulance with Air Bravo in Ontario, Canada.
Ignaz Gretener, Vice President of the General Aviation Business Unit of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd commented, We are delighted and proud to reach this momentous occasion in the history of the PC-12 program. To those of us who have been with the PC-12 since its inception, 4,000,000 hours seemed to be an event our successors would experience. Today, the PC-12 fleet adds 1,000,000 flight hours every two years.
In the 19 years that the PC-12 has been in production, it has also earned a solid reputation as one of the safest business aircraft on the market.¨A recent analysis by the independent safety firm Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. confirmed that the accident rate of the U.S. and Canadian fleet of PC-12s is less than half that of the fleet of twin turboprop aircraft.
Gretener continued, We want to thank our customers for their confidence in Pilatus and their commitment to the PC-12. Our close relationship with PC-12 operators has helped us continuously improve the reliability and functionality of the aircraft. We look forward to celebrating another 4,000,000 hours of safe flying in the not very distant future.
