The 6 Types Of Roles The Pilatus PC-12 Is Used For

The Pilatus PC-12 is one of the most popular turboprop aircraft in the world. Pilatus first introduced the aircraft in the 1990s, intending to create a high-performance turboprop aircraft that maintained short pitch takeoff and landing performance. Currently, the PC-12 maintains the following performance specifications:

These impressive specifications have turned the PC-12 into one of the most popular turboprop aircraft in the world. The aircraft was initially marketed to utility and cargo operators. However, Pilatus soon found that the aircraft was extremely versatile and could be configured into quite a few different variants. Let’s take a closer look at some of the unique variants that the PC-12 operates as.

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1

Air ambulance

Notable operators: Royal Flying Doctor Service, South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service

One of the most important variants of the PC-12 is the air ambulance conversion. These aircraft are used for the quick evacuation or transport of injured or sick passengers. This is typically required in regions that do not have direct access to hospitals, or are from readily available doctors. Many of these areas are remote or super rural.

Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock

Pilatus converted its PC-12 to an air ambulance for this reason. The PC-12 has the ability to land on extremely short runways, and it can even land on unpaved strips of land. This allows operators, like the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to have the ability to land in remote areas of the Australian Outback, or other regions, as close to the patient as possible.

2

Commercial aircraft:

Notable operators: Surf Air, North Star Air, Wasaya Airways, Advanced Air

Several commercial airlines operate PC-12s for unique routes. These routes are typically in vastly remote areas that do not have tons of visitors. These routes also may be through smaller airports that require smaller aircraft to land on the shorter runways. Some of these airports also may have a runway that is made from dirt or difficult to land on, which would require an aircraft like the rugged PC-12.

Several airlines operate the PC-12 in remote areas, like North Star Air operating in Northern Canada. North Star Air operates a combination configuration of the PC-12, which allows it to transport cargo in addition to passengers on scheduled flights. Other airlines, like Aerocardal in Chile, operate the PC-12 for flights between small islands that require shorter runway performance.

3

Private or charter services

Notable operators: PlaneSense, Tradewind Aviation, Aviation Charters Inc.

Several fractional ownership and charter companies also utilize the PC-12 for its operations. These aircraft are used similarly to the airlines that operate the PC-12. However, these aircraft are chosen by operators to use at specific times, instead of recurring flights like on commercial or scheduled flights.

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These unique flights allow the operator or user to choose the type of aircraft. For many travelers who charter an aircraft, shorter routes or smaller sized loads may require a smaller plane like the PC-12 to be utilized. These charter companies typically advertise that they can fly to airports across the globe, so a PC-12 is an excellent choice for travelers looking to fly to islands or more remote destinations.

4

Military VIP transport

Notable operators: United States Air Force (USAF), Finnish Air Force, Swiss Air Force, South African Air Force

Several governments across the world have entertained the use of a PC-12 for VIP or executive transport. This is similar to the chartered configuration of the PC-12, with slight differences. Typically, military variants require upgraded features, like additional radar or antennas for upgraded avionics.

Photo: viper-zero | Shutterstock

Pilatus has sold several VIP transport PC-12s to governments around the world. This upgraded configuration allows governments, like Finland and Switzerland, to transport executive members to remote military bases that require smaller aircraft. The high safety rating and the reliability of the PC-12 make it a popular choice for VIP transport that is still required to land on rugged runways.

5

Search and rescue

Notable operators: USAF, US Special Operations Command, Western Australian Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Customs & Border Protection

Pilatus PC-12s can be used in two types of search and rescue roles. Various police forces and other related government-funded operations have utilized the PC-12 for search and rescue around disasters. This can include searching remote forests for lost hikers, finding crashed boaters lost at sea, or even monitoring a region’s border, among other missions. Some of these PC-12s have been equipped with cameras underneath to assist with the search.

Photo: Michael Fitzsimmons | Shutterstock

Additionally, several militaries have taken the PC-12 for surveillance and reconnaissance operations. These operators, like the US Special Operations Command variant that is designated the U-28A Draco, have added several new radars, cameras, sensors, and other equipment to help perform surveillance and strike missions from remote airfields near enemy territory.

6

Cargo operations

Notable operators: Bulgarian Air Force, Irish Air Corps

Pilatus initially designed the PC-12 to be a high-performance aircraft that incorporated a large cargo door. This conception has formed into several different types of door offerings. This includes an extra-large cargo door so it can fit palletized cargo and a utility door for smaller cargo or dropping cargo while in flight.

Photo: Nadezda Murmakova | Shutterstock

Various operators use the PC-12 for cargo operations, including military operators like the Bulgarian Air Force. Additionally, many charter companies and airlines offer the PC-12 in the unique combination configuration which allows for passengers and cargo to be transported on the same flight. Therefore, the PC-12 can be used as a cargo aircraft depending on the company’s customer.