PILATUS PC-12 : private jet rental

The Pilatus PC-12, introduced to the market in 1994 by Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft, has rapidly established itself as one of the world’s most popular turboprop aircraft. Designed to meet the growing demand for a comfortable aircraft capable of operating in difficult conditions, the Pilatus PC-12 has become a preferred choice among air operators and passengers seeking performance and reliability. The development of the PC-12 dates back to the 1980s, when Pilatus began studying the design of a versatile, economical aircraft capable of taking off and landing on short runways. After several years of research and development, the first PC-12 prototype made its maiden flight in 1991, and type certification was obtained in 1994. Since its launch, the Pilatus PC-12 has enjoyed outstanding commercial success, benefiting from numerous improvements to optimize its performance, notably with the arrival of the Pilatus PC-12 NGX model, which offers state-of-the-art avionics, enhanced performance and improved cabin comfort. The PC-12 is also widely used for special missions, such as emergency medical transport, aerial surveillance and government operations, thanks to its versatility and ability to operate in complex environments.

The Pilatus PC-12 has been in the news recently with a number of anecdotes and highlights that testify to its popularity and innovations in business aviation.

Technological innovations: launch of the PC-12 Pro

In March 2025, Pilatus unveiled the PC-12 Pro, an even more sophisticated and innovative version of its flagship turboprop. This model incorporates the advanced Garmin G3000 PRIME cockpit, with HD touch screens, an intuitive flight interface and, above all, a revolutionary automatic landing system in the event of a problem – a first for a single-engine turboprop. The interior has also been refined, inspired by the PC-24, and external visibility has been improved.

In-use records and worldwide success

The PC-12 continues to assert its dominance: in 2024, it handled 8.8% of business flights in the United States, i.e. 316,328 take-offs, making it the most-used business aircraft in the country. In 2023, the aircraft exceeded 10 million flight hours – a testament to its remarkable reliability and exceptional longevity.

Recent highlights

• Courchevel 2024: A PC-12 made the headlines after a landing incident on the famous mountain runway, illustrating the challenges of operations in extreme terrain.
• Industrial success with 153 aircraft delivered in 2024 by Pilatus, and an increase in revenues (+10.5%, or CHF 1.63 billion).
• In August 2025, Pilatus had to temporarily suspend deliveries to the United States due to a 39% customs tax, which had an impact on sales of the PC-12 and PC-24.

Anecdotes and curiosities

• The most prolific aircraft in the PC-12 fleet has accumulated 35,000 flight hours alone, and 71 aircraft have each exceeded 20,000 hours, a testament to its robustness and versatility.
• The interiors of recent versions are designed by BMW Designworks for comfort and top-of-the-range style, adding to their appeal to a demanding clientele.

The Pilatus PC-12 thus remains an indisputable benchmark in private and professional aviation, constantly updated to meet the requirements of innovation, safety and comfort of modern aviation.

Pilatus PC-12 compared with Daher TBM 900/960

• Much larger cabin and high ceiling: More comfort for several passengers, room to move around, separate toilets: the PC-12 outperforms the TBM, which remains much more compact.
• Greater payload and cargo volume: the PC-12 can carry more baggage, more cargo and up to 9 passengers in certain versions, whereas the TBM is limited to 5 or 6 passengers and a restricted trunk.
• Versatile operations: Ideal for a wide range of missions (business, medical, transport, medical evacuations, etc.), the PC-12 offers optimum access to short, difficult terrain.
• Economical over the long term: Even though the TBM has a higher cruising speed, the PC-12offers very competitive flight costs/hours for an aircraft of this capacity.

The Pilatus PC-12 is remarkable for its ability to serve highly technical altiports, particularly in mountainous or island areas, thanks to its exceptional performance on short or difficult runways. The PC-12 has STOL (short take-off and landing) capabilities, which means it can take off and land on relatively short runways. It is one of the few private aircraft capable of landing at demanding altiports, giving it a versatility that is rare in business aviation. It is designed to operate on unpaved or rough runways, grass or gravel, making it possible to approach destinations that the majority of private jets cannot reach. The PC-12 consumes 30 to 40% less fuel than a twin-engine turboprop of equivalent size, considerably reducing the cost per flight hour. Thanks to the use of advanced avionics (Garmin G3000 PRIME, synthetic vision, TAWS, ice protection), the PC-12 ranks among the safest turboprops in the world.

The Pilatus PC-12 cannot make a commercial landing (public transport of passengers) at the Courchevel altiport due to the very strict regulations imposed by the DGAC and the extreme specificities of the site. The runway at Courchevel is just 537 metres long, with a record gradient of 18.66%, and the altiport is located at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, conditions which impose very strict technical and legal restrictions on flight safety. For public transport, only a few light twin-engine propellers, retained by specially authorised companies, are accepted. To date, the PC-12, which is a single-engine aircraft, has no specific certification for public passenger transport, unlike Alpine Airlines, with its adapted aircraft and qualified crews.