Pilatus' PC-24 programme is now at an advanced stage, with two prototypes already in the air. A mock-up of the aircraft was on display at EBACE in Geneva, and EBAN managed to catch up with chairman Oscar Schwenk during the show. “One of the prototypes has a full Honeywell autopilot and at the minute it is in the climate chamber at an air force base,” he says. “The P-01 has left for Spain for more testing, especially speed, after interrupting its schedule to appear at EBACE. We expect to have certification in the third quarter of next year, and then a month afterwards we will deliver the first aircraft.”

With this aircraft he is seeing customers moving up from the PC-12, but he is also speaking to entirely new customers: “On the PC-12 side there are already fleet owners and they are waiting for the PC-24. The full community of the PC-12 owners were involved nearly ten years ago when we talked to them and asked them what they would like from the new aircraft. They said they wanted more speed and more space, along with all the capabilities that the PC-12 can offer. We are having good discussions with organisations, both government and private, including the big carriers like Fedex and DHL.

“The PC-24 will address a split of different markets. I think companies and private owners will make up the majority at the moment. But it should also appeal to medevac, military and fractional operators. It would be fantastic to have a big contract with an operator for say 60 aircraft, but that would be a bad market entrance. We are already seeing that we have a good mix, with the approach that we have taken.”

The OEM will look at qualified organisations like the Royal Flying Doctors in Australia, who are already flying the PC-12. “We are also talking to some VIPs,” says Schwenk. “A big German car manufacturer came to speak to us at EBACE, to have a look at the aircraft for the management, and that could be a big fleet. So this could be a source of new business for us. We have a lot of people interested, and those who want to sign a contract, but we aren't opening the order book at the moment because we want to wait a bit until we have certification. “The production facility is busy; all slots have been filled until the end of 2019. We always have a lot to learn and a lot to improve upon.”