Pilatus wins certification

The first Swiss business jet has passed a major milestone after obtaining type certificates from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US-American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Certification of the Pilatus PC-24, labelled the Super Versatile Jet, prepares the ground for initial customer deliveries less than three years after the first prototype completed its maiden flight in May 2015. 

The three prototypes used in the certification programme have flown a total of 2,205 hours worldwide so far, with some flight tests conducted in extreme environments and at altitudes and speeds not usually encountered in everyday operations. 

Other tests have included bird impacts, structural stress tests, noise tests and general function. 

Pilatus chairman Oscar Schwenk said: “The requirements associated with obtaining certification for this sort of aircraft as the first in its field were extremely rigorous, and I need hardly mention that we faced some big challenges. 

“We announced in 2013 the PC-24 would be ready in 2017, and now, shortly before the end of the year, we have achieved exactly that. And all performance data, including maximum speed of 440 knots (815kmh), promised to our first 84 customers have been achieved or even exceeded.”

www.pilatus-aircraft.com

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