This article is based on an official press release from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. and verified industry data.

Pilatus Delivers First PC-12 Pro, Launching New Era for Turboprop Market

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. has officially commenced deliveries of its latest flagship single-engine turboprop, the PC-12 Pro. The Swiss manufacturer celebrated the first global handover on September 30, 2025, at its headquarters in Stans, Switzerland. The launch customer, Australian businessman and former HP Inc. CEO Dion Weisler, accepted the aircraft before embarking on a transcontinental ferry flight to his home in South Australia.

According to the company’s announcement, this delivery marks a significant milestone for the PC-12 program, introducing the new Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics suite and enhanced safety features to the market. Following this initial handover, Pilatus quickly expanded deliveries to commercial operators in Europe and private owners in the United States, signaling a robust rollout for the updated airframe.

A Historic Ferry Flight

The delivery event in Stans served as the starting point for an extensive demonstration of the aircraft’s capabilities. Immediately following the handover, Weisler piloted the new aircraft, his fourth PC-12, on a journey spanning approximately 10,000 nautical miles. The route included stops in Crete, the Middle East, India, Malaysia, and Bali, before concluding in Adelaide, South Australia.

The 41-hour mission highlighted the long-range utility of the PC-12 Pro. In a statement released by Pilatus, Weisler expressed his enthusiasm for the new model’s performance during the long haul home.

“It was an incredible learning opportunity to fly your own aircraft home over such a vast distance… The PC-12 Pro is the result of listening, learning, and delivering.”

, Dion Weisler, Launch Customer

Expanding the Fleet: Commercial and U.S. Debuts

While the Weisler delivery marked the global debut, Pilatus achieved two additional regional milestones shortly thereafter. On October 6, 2025, Haute Aviation became the first commercial operator to take delivery of the PC-12 Pro. Based in Gstaad and Zurich, Haute Aviation previously operated the PC-12 NGX and will now offer the Pro model for charter services.

In the United States, the first delivery occurred on November 4, 2025, at the Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd. facility in Broomfield, Colorado. The aircraft was handed over to private owners Ravi and Pheroza Arcot. This delivery was particularly notable as it marked a resumption of activity following trade complexities earlier in the year.

Technical Spotlight: The PC-12 Pro

Unveiled in March 2025, the PC-12 Pro succeeds the NGX model, retaining the airframe’s renowned versatility while overhauling the pilot interface. The most significant upgrade is the integration of the Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics suite, replacing the Honeywell Primus Apex system found in previous generations.

Key Specifications and Safety Features

According to manufacturer specifications, the PC-12 Pro includes several advanced systems designed to reduce pilot workload and enhance safety:

• Autoland: A system capable of automatically landing the aircraft if the pilot becomes incapacitated.
• Smart Glide: Technology that assists pilots in gliding to the nearest airport in the event of engine power loss.
• Performance: The aircraft boasts a maximum cruise speed of 290 KTAS (537 km/h) and a range of 1,830 nautical miles (3,389 km).
• Powerplant: It is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-67XP engine, which features an Electronic Propeller and Engine Control System (EPECS) and a now-standard autothrottle.

AirPro News Analysis

The arrival of the PC-12 Pro comes at a critical juncture for the single-engine turboprop market. By adopting the Garmin G3000 PRIME suite, Pilatus has aligned its cockpit philosophy more closely with competitors like the Daher TBM 960, potentially neutralizing a long-standing differentiator for pilots who preferred Garmin interfaces over the Honeywell systems used in the PC-12 NG/NGX.

Furthermore, the timing of the U.S. delivery to the Arcot family is significant. The transaction occurred shortly after a challenging period involving a 39% tariff on Swiss exports imposed by the U.S. administration in mid-2025. The successful delivery in November suggests that Pilatus and its customers are navigating the new trade environment, though the long-term impact of these tariffs on U.S. order volume remains a key metric to watch.

Environmentally, the certification of the PC-12 Pro for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) positions the aircraft well within an industry increasingly focused on carbon reduction, ensuring its relevance as corporate sustainability mandates tighten.

Sources:

• Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.