PC-24 Makes First Landing on an Unpaved Runway

Image: Pilatus Aircraft 

The Super Versatile Jet is currently undergoing a programme of post-certification tests with special emphasis on unpaved runway operations. Pilatus plans on obtaining “Rough Field” certification in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Woodbridge Airfield to the north east of London offers optimum test conditions: Pilatus spends two weeks there testing the PC-24’s landing and take-off capabilities on the airfield’s unpaved runway for the first time.

From the outset, the PC-24 was designed for “off road” operations. Its performance on short unpaved runways opens up a greater degree of flexibility and new opportunities. The PC-24 provides access to almost twice as many airports worldwide compared to other jets currently available on the market.

Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman of Pilatus, is delighted: “What a picture – the PC-24 in the toughest conditions, using an unpaved runway for the first time! This sort of mission would not be conceivable without the PC-24’s rugged landing gear, clever flap systems and special wing design. The PC-24 was designed with exactly this sort of operation in mind.”

The PC-24 is the first business jet worldwide designed to take off and land on very short or unpaved runways, and to come with a cargo door as standard. The flexibility of the PC-24 opens the door on a spectrum of possibilities: a business jet, ambulance aircraft or for special missions.

Pilatus obtained basic certification for the PC-24 on 7 December 2017. Since that date, five aircraft have been delivered to customers in Europe and the USA. A total of 23 PC-24s are scheduled for delivery in 2018. The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) will use the PC-24 for medevac missions in Australia from 2019, which will obviously involve landing on and taking off from short unpaved runways. The PC-24 order book is closed for the time being. Pilatus plans to accept new orders in 2019.