Pilatus Aircraft officials have signed an agreement to develop 17 acres at the Sarasota Bradenton Airport in Florida and build a sales and service facility.
Pilatus has entered an agreement with Aero Centers Epps to acquire the authorized Pilatus sales and service center at Atlanta’s Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK).
The Pilatus PC-24—described by its manufacturer as a sui-generis “super versatile jet”—took a step closer to entering active service in the UK this week, as distributor Oriens Aviation brought two examples for a familiarization and demonstration tour.
As with the PC-12, operators say they expect the PC-24 to become considerably more capable as post-certification development continues. It’s off to a strong start, and it can only get better.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
In late June, the Pilatus PC-24 twinjet made its first landing on an unpaved runway as part of a test program by the Swiss manufacturer to obtain "Rough Field" certification in the fourth quarter 2018.
PC-24's ACE flight deck, powered by Honeywell Epic 2.0 avionics, features 12-in. screens, point-and-click graphic user interface and several advanced features.
The Pilatus PC-24 twin-engine business jet under development is on track for certification by year’s end, said Michael Kolman, regional director of Pilatus aircraft sales for KCAC Aviation, based in Olathe, Kansas.
More than 13,000 aviation professionals and 500 exhibitors are expected at this year’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), which opens May 24 at the Palexpo Exhibition Center in Geneva.