Tradewind Aviation has taken delivery of two Pilatus PC-12 NGX turboprops from Pilatus Aircraft. This brings Tradewind's PC-12 fleet to 27, firmly establishing Tradewind as the largest operator of PC-12s for on demand charter in the US.

The two new aircraft were flown in by Tradewind pilots following fine-tuning at the manufacturer's US facility in Broomfield, Colorado, and were put directly into Tradewind's service at Westchester County airport in New York. Tradewind is expecting 15 more deliveries of Pilatus PC-12 NGX and these will follow the same path, arriving at a rate of three to four aircraft per year over the next four years, with Tradewind pilots participating in some of the repositioning flights from Pilatus' Switzerland factory.

2023 was a banner year for Tradewind with the operator experiencing unparalleled growth; demand topped that of peak-pandemic levels where the entire private aviation sector saw a surge in demand. With sustained demand for its private charter and scheduled service flights expected into 2024, the addition of turboprops serves to strengthen the fleet to ensure fulfilment of clients' regional mobility needs throughout the northeast, southeast and Caribbean regions.

The relationship between Tradewind and Pilatus began in 2003 when the airline began building a fleet with Pilatus PC-12s to improve the flight experience for its guests. It continues to invest in new Pilatus PC-12 NGX aircraft as the model is superior to the comp set and allows for Tradewind to grow its business while continuing to serve its guests with the very best flight experience.

"In 2023 we saw the launch of our southeast base, the addition of a hangar at Hudson Valley Regional airport and the arrival of five new Pilatus PC-12 NGX to our growing fleet. The arrival of these new aircraft is a celebratory moment for us, and we're happy to end the year on such a high note," says co-founder and CEO Eric Zipkin. "As we look to 2024, we anticipate another year of strong growth as we continue to expand our fleet."