Headquartered in the canton of Nidwalden, Pilatus Aircraft AG has launched the new version of its PC-24 jet on the market. The business aircraft is said to offer a greater range and higher payload, further details of which can be found in a press release. Moreover, the new model offers increased comfort for passengers on board.
According to information from the company itself, the new PC-24 will have a maximum range of 3,204 kilometers or 2,000 nautical miles. With six people on board, the payload can be increased by 272 kilograms. When fully fueled, this produces a total payload of 596 kilograms. On shorter routes, the Super Versatile Jet model offers a class-leading maximum payload capacity of 1,406 kilograms. “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”, explains Bruno Cervia, VP Research & Development at Pilatus, in the press release.
Comfort on board has also been improved, which is reflected not only in the seats, but also in the furnishings used for a sofa that can be converted into a bed. Together with Lufthansa Technik, Pilatus has also developed a new in-flight entertainment system that includes a 10-inch touchscreen with a 3D map, which displays the position of the PC-24 in real time at any point during the flight. Moreover, four high-quality cabin speakers including a subwoofer, atmospheric lighting, USB ports and dedicated media storage server are also part of this enhanced offering.
For safety, all PC-24s with serial number 501 and above will be equipped with a new feature in which flight data is transferred directly to Pilatus upon landing. This facilitates immediate technical advice for predictive maintenance processes.
The new PC-24 can be seen for the first time at the National Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), which is being held October 17-19, 2023, in Las Vegas.
