Pilatus has disclosed to ANN that its flagship PC-12 will be receiving several significant improvements for 2006.  Beginning with the first delivery in January, the 2006 PC-12 will offer better performance, improved handling, increased comfort, and more reliability than its predecessor.

"Our mission at Pilatus is quite simply to offer the most capable, highest quality, economical aircraft in business aviation," said John Senior, Pilatus Aircraft's Vice President of Research and Development. "We accomplish this by constantly seeking customer input on ways to improve the Pilatus ownership experience, and driving those ideas back into the product development process."

The new PC-12 offers greater range-payload through a gross weight increase. The change adds 530 pounds to the aircraft's useful load, bringing it from 3,600 to 4,130 pounds for a typically equipped PC-12 in an executive configuration. Maximum takeoff weight increases from 9,920 to 10,450 pounds.

Better handling comes from improved control harmony and new winglets. The new winglets, derived from technology developed for the high performance Pilatus PC-21 military trainer, reduce drag and improve crosswind control. Pilatus has also added Flettner tabs to the PC-12's ailerons. Roll control forces have been reduced by 60 percent at low speeds and 72 percent at high speeds, giving pilots a sportier, more responsive feel in all phases of flight.

Pilots will enjoy increased comfort in the PC-12's new crew seats. With specially contoured cushions and a wide range of adjustments for the lumbar supports, seat back, arm rests, thigh supports, and headrests, the new seats will give pilots much more freedom to custom-tailor their seating positions for superior comfort on long flights.

Improved reliability comes from new LED lighting systems. The LED cabin lights last 20,000 hours, and are color balanced to create a warm, inviting glow. LEDs are now also part of the PC-12's navigation lighting system, providing lower operating temperatures, longer operating life, and better visibility.

The enhanced 2006 Pilatus PC-12 is the latest offering for the PC-12 fleet, which exceeds 580 aircraft and has logged over 1 million flight hours with operators worldwide. Continuous improvement is part of the reason the PC-12 has been the top selling turbine-powered business aircraft for the past three years in a row. In 2005, Pilatus will deliver 80 PC-12 business turboprops.

With enthusiasm for the 2006 enhancements expected to create even higher demand, Pilatus plans to increase PC-12 production in 2006.

FMI: www.pilatus-aircraft.com