Pilatus PC-12 — Aircraft Profile
The world's most popular pressurised single — unmatched flexibility, short-field access and operating economics for regional missions.
Specification
- Manufacturer — Pilatus
- Category — Turboprop
- Passengers — 6–9
- Published range — 1,800 nm
- Cruise speed — 280 kts
- Baggage — 40 cu ft
- Cabin height — 4'10"
- Cabin width — 5'0"
Why clients choose it
- Single-engine reliability with PT6 power
- Access to short and unpaved strips
- Class-leading economy
- Large rear cargo door
How the turboprop class flies
Turboprops earn their place on short sectors and awkward airfields rather than on speed. They climb quickly to a useful altitude, burn markedly less fuel per hour than a jet of similar cabin size, and can work runways that are short, unpaved or high — which on regional work often means landing closer to the destination than a jet could.
The trade-offs are honest ones: cruise speeds sit well below jet figures, so any sector beyond roughly two hours starts to feel long, and cabins are narrower with less baggage volume. On legs under about 600 nautical miles the door-to-door difference against a light jet is usually smaller than the numbers suggest, because taxi, climb and descent dominate the trip.
Reading the figures honestly
The 1,800 nm range quoted above is a published maximum: it assumes a defined payload, still air and standard conditions. Load every seat, add baggage, or fly into a strong headwind and the achievable sector shortens — sometimes enough to introduce a fuel stop. Cabin dimensions likewise describe the type rather than a particular aircraft, since operators refit interiors over an airframe's life.
Runway length, elevation, temperature and ramp handling at both ends are checked before an aircraft is offered, because those are the constraints that most often move a trip to a different airport or a different type.
Other turboprop profiles
- Piaggio Avanti — 7–9 passengers, 1,470 nm range
Frequently asked questions
Does MEGA operate the Pilatus PC-12?
No. Aircraft are operated by licensed third-party operators holding their own air operator certificates. Safety ratings such as ARGUS, IS-BAO or Wyvern are held by the relevant operator, and applicability varies by aircraft and operator.
Can I request the Pilatus PC-12 specifically?
You can, and the desk will look for one. Whether a specific type can be placed on a trip depends on where an aircraft is positioned, crew duty limits and the operator's approvals for the airports and airspace involved. Where none is available, the closest equivalent in the same class is offered instead.
What does a quote include?
Positioning, crew, handling, standard catering and applicable fees are priced into one figure per trip after the routing is checked against the actual aircraft and date. No rate is published here, because an honest number depends on the aircraft, the routing and the day.
Related pages
Contact the 24/7 operations desk · Get an indicative quote · charter@mega.aero