Pilatus PC-24

At the launch in May 2014, the first production series of the Pilatus Business Jet was offered starting at a price of 8,900,000 US dollars. After the first 84 aircraft were sold within 36, Pilatus initially closed the order books. Since May 2019, orders have been possible at a new base price starting at €9,000,000. The PC-24 with its upscale equipment now costs €9,500,000. The manufacturer justified the price increase with the higher than expected development costs of over 500 million Swiss francs.

Due to its special features and corresponding certifications, the PC-24 can serve a larger number of smaller and remote airports. Here is a selection of possible departure and destination airports:

• Lugano Airport (LUG): Swiss regional airport 4 kilometres west of Lugano. The airport is also known as Lugano-Agno Airport.
• La Môle - Saint-Tropez Airport (LTT): French airport in La Môle, 15 kilometres southwest of St Tropez. Despite its only 4,500 inhabitants, this small town on the French Riviera is one of the most famous travel destinations on the Côte d'Azur. Today, St Tropez is especially popular for its beaches and its extravagant nightlife.
• Le Castellet Airport (CTT): French airport 5 kilometres north of the community of Le Castellet, not far from the Circuit Paul Ricard motorsport race track.
• London City Airport (LCY): The most central airport of the English metropolis is only 10 kilometres from the city centre.
• La Perdiz Airport (LEIZ): Small Spanish private airport surrounded by natural landscape, about 250 kilometres south of Madrid.
• Portimão Airport (PRM): Small Portuguese airport in Montes de Alvor in the Algarve.
• Brac Airport (BWK): One of three airports on the Croatian island. It is also known as Bol Airport because of its proximity to the seaside resort and holiday resort of Bol.
• Spa-La Sauvenière Airport (EBSP): Belgian airport in Spa, only 6 kilometres away from the Formula 1 race track Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

The PC-24 has an approximately 10% higher purchase price but significantly lower direct operating costs than the LearJet 75 Liberty. Two weighty arguments for potential buyers. For tenants, the operating costs are often reflected in a lower charter price for the PC-24. This thesis is also underlined by the fact that the LearJet 75 Liberty, unlike the PC-24, can only take off with two pilots in the cockpit. If speed or range are important criteria, the LearJet performs slightly better. On the other hand, the PC-24 scores plus points when transporting bulky and heavy luggage due to the additional cargo door and the higher payload. If small airports or airfields are to be approached, the PC-24 "Super Versatile Jet" is practically without alternative due to its suitability for short runways and natural tracks.

The Pilatus aircraft have a so-called single-pilot certification. A key criterion for the award is whether the workload involved in flying the aircraft is appropriate for a pilot. The modern cockpit equipment of the PC-24 makes this possible. Of course, the first Pilatus Jet is also equipped with a co-pilot seat. Multi-pilot operation is thus possible at any time.

The PC-24 and Citation CJ4 represent compelling alternatives in the light jet market, each with distinct advantages. The PC-24 offers superior cabin volume at 14.2 cubic metres compared to the CJ4's 8.8 cubic metres, whilst the CJ4 provides slightly shorter range at 3,509 km versus the PC-24's 3,706 km (2,000 nautical miles). Speed-wise, the CJ4 edges ahead with 819 km/h (442 knots) cruise speed compared to the PC-24's 815 km/h (440 knots). However, the PC-24 requires significantly shorter runways at 820 to 893 metres takeoff distance (depending on the load) versus the CJ4's 1,009 metres, providing access to smaller airports.

The PC-24 offers an NBAA IFR range of 3,704 km (2,000 nautical miles) with a standard six-passenger executive configuration, whilst the ferry range extends to 3,932 km (2,123 nautical miles) when carrying no payload. This substantial range capability enables non-stop flights from London to Istanbul or New York to Dallas, positioning the PC-24 as an exceptional choice for intercontinental business travel. With a 544-kilogram payload, the range reduces to approximately 3,706 km (2,000 nautical miles), still providing remarkable flexibility for executive transport missions.

The PC-24 can carry up to 12 passengers in high-density configuration, though it typically seats six to eight passengers in executive layout. The aircraft features a remarkably spacious cabin with 14.2 cubic metres of interior volume, providing generous headroom and comfort that exceeds many aircraft in its class. The cabin includes a pressurised cargo compartment with 2.5 cubic metres of storage capacity, accessible from both inside the cabin and externally, offering exceptional luggage flexibility for passengers.

The PC-24 achieves a maximum cruise speed of 815 km/h (441 knots typical cruise speed) at cruising altitude. This impressive speed places the PC-24 competitively within the light jet category, allowing passengers to reach destinations efficiently whilst maintaining the aircraft's renowned versatility. The aircraft cruises comfortably at Mach 0.74, delivering swift travel times that rival traditional business jets in its class.

The PC-24 stands as the only business jet certified to operate on unpaved runways, including grass, gravel, sand, and snow surfaces. This exceptional capability, inherited from Pilatus's extensive experience with the PC-12 turboprop, opens access to approximately 21,000 additional airports worldwide compared to conventional business jets. The aircraft's robust landing gear features long-stroke design and specialized wing flaps that protect engines from debris, enabling operations in remote locations where traditional jets cannot venture. Additionally, the PC-24 incorporates a standard cargo door—unique in its class—allowing forklift loading and rapid reconfiguration between passenger and cargo operations.