Dion Weisler, the first customer for the newly-introduced Pilatus PC-12 PRO model, has taken delivery of his aircraft and personally flown it home from Switzerland to Australia.

Weisler, former CEO of HP, has relied on Pilatus products for many years: the PC-12 PRO is his fourth PC-12. Having previously owned a PC-12 NG and two PC-12 NGXs, his move to the PC-12 PRO is a sign of his longstanding faith in these aircraft types.

“To me as a pilot, you rely on two things in particular: there’s the airplane and then there’s the pilot. And if something happens to the pilot, what are your options? In the PC-12 PRO, you’ve got the new Safety Autoland emergency function, which I think is absolutely invaluable. It keeps my family, my friends and anyone else on board safe. If something happens to me, this system automatically takes control to get the aircraft back on the ground at the nearest airport. You can’t put a price on that additional peace of mind,” says Weisler.

He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to fly his PC-12 PRO back to Australia himself, together with one of the Pilatus pilots. The total flight time of 41 hours was split across six days, which saw them leave Switzerland and fly via Crete, Egypt, Oman, India, Malaysia, Bali and Darwin, before arriving in Adelaide, South Australia.

“It was an incredible learning opportunity to fly your own aircraft home over such a vast distance with a factory pilot sitting right seat. In addition to visiting all these amazing countries, it really allowed me to consolidate the crossover training within the new Garmin cockpit environment and have someone right there to ask any questions about anything that popped up. I am thrilled to own this new intuitive and highly innovative aircraft and look forward to flying many missions in the future with it.”

Andre Zimmermann, vice president business aviation, adds: “Every decision behind the PC-12 PRO was driven by one question: how do we create more value for our customers? From enhanced cockpit technologies to refined comfort and performance, the PC-12 PRO reflects the voices of those who fly it. It is the result of listening, learning and delivering – a new aircraft shaped entirely around the people at the heart of Pilatus.”

The PC-12 PRO is the latest version of the world’s best-selling single-engine turboprop in its category. Equipped with the Garmin G3000 Prime and a completely redesigned cockpit that includes five high-resolution touchscreen displays, it offers advanced technology and comfort, coupled with a suite of new safety features that includes Safety Autoland.

In a single-engine aircraft, a proven engine is the most important component. Fortunately, the PC-12 PRO is equipped with the latest version of the most reliable aircraft engine ever produced: the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6. With over 60,000 engines in use and over 400 million flight hours, the PT6 family of engines has an unrivalled track record. The PT6 engine has already been successfully tested in over 11 million flight hours with the PC-12. Like its predecessor, the PC-12 PRO is also capable of operating with sustainable aviation fuel, which enables more sustainable flying at a consistently high level of performance.

In combination with the fully automatic Electronic Propeller and Engine Control System (EPECS), the digital thrust control, or autothrottle system, reduces pilot workload, increases fuel efficiency, ensures a smoother flight experience and protects against engine overload.