Unleashed in the East

Swiss aerospace manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. announced on that Japanese “Private Jet Membership” concern OpenSky, Inc. had taken delivery of its first PC-12 NGX.

The newly-delivered aircraft—replete in a unique, Asian-style livery—will carry passengers, henceforth, to destinations across the Japanese Islands.

The aircraft was ferried from Pilatus’s Stans, Switzerland manufacturing facility to Osaka, where it was greeted—despite the gathering night and lack of official word of its imminent arrival—by numerous plane-spotters gathered to catch a glimpse of the “Swiss Made” novelty.

By virtue of its new PC-12 NGX, OpenSky Inc. intends to offer discerning clientele a travel experience unique in Japan.

Earlier this year, OpenSky took delivery of a PC-24 Super Versatile Jet by way of which the Japanese air-carrier will offer business flights. What’s more, the company has placed an order for a second PC-24, which is slated to be delivered in autumn 2024. Pilatus describes its PC-24 as “the only aircraft combining the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a medium-light jet, and the performance of a light jet.”

Speaking to the subject of his company’s new PC-12, OpenSky CEO Shigeto Honda remarked: “Our PC-12 NGX has gone viral since arriving in Japan. I’ve already flown several legs in the cabin of PC-12 NGX in Japan, and I’m very pleased. Our first customers to fly with the PC-12 told me they prefer it to the twin-engine turboprop which they used before. The propeller low-speed mode delivers a significant reduction in cabin noise for great passenger comfort.”

Pilatus vice-president of general aviation Ignaz Gretener expressed satisfaction vis-à-vis the PC-12 NGX’s Japanese debut, stating: “Business customers all over the world appreciate the unique capabilities of the PC-12 NGX and the PC-24. The dynamic team at OpenSky Inc. understands how to deliver the premium service that will go hand in hand with these aircraft. Thank you very much to this outstanding Japanese company for their confidence in Pilatus, and we are proud that our aircraft now have an opportunity to prove themselves in this important market.”

Pilatus’s PC-12NGX derives of the Swiss plane-maker’s popular PC-12 pressurized, single-engine, turboprop—of which the company has produced over 1800 since 1994. The PC-12NGX improves on its forebear by means of its 1,200-shaft-horsepower PT6E-67XP powerplant, which—in addition to motivating the aircraft to a cruise-speed of 290-knots—features dual-channel, Full-Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The PC-12NGX’s single power-lever governs both engine power-output and propeller RPMs. What’s more, pilots can select a propeller low-speed mode for reduced cabin and over-flight noise.

The PC-12NGX cockpit features Honeywell avionics with outstanding babysitting functions such as tactile feedback in unusual attitudes, an Emergency Descent Mode (EDM), and a Crew Alerting System (CAS) that automatically populates the aircraft’s Multi-Function-Display (MFD) with electronic checklists the aircraft deems situationally appropriate.

All told, PC-12NGX pilots will enjoy availing themselves of four ten-inch LCD displays, Honeywell’s SmartView Synthetic Vision System with HUD based performance symbology, an Interactive Navigation (INAV) system, fully-integrated Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), dual Flight Management Systems (FMS), Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System I/II (TCAS), graphical flight-planning, touch-screen controllers, and a Cursor Control Device (CCD).

PC-12NGX prices range from $4.39-million to $5.369-million. Typically-equipped executive iterations commanded $5.443-million (2021).

FMI: www.pilatus-aircraft.com