Pilatus PC-24 – a high-performance private jet

series - aviation from scratch

Surpassing Perfection

For decades, business aviation was characterized by a rigid division. If your priority was the ability to land on small, local airstrips with grass or gravel surfaces, you chose a turboprop. If speed and cruising altitude were paramount, you bought a jet, but this meant using the long, concrete runways of major airports. Swiss engineers decided to ignore this division. They created the Pilatus PC-24—a machine that combines fire and water: the speed of a jet with the versatility of a plane capable of landing almost anywhere.

This is the world's only private jet, which the manufacturer calls the SVJ (Super Versatile Jet). Is that right? Let's take a closer look at the machine that redefines mobility.

Jet for special missions

What sets the PC-24 apart from its competitors (like the Cessna Citation and Embraer Phenom) is its landing gear. It's designed to withstand the rigors of landing on unpaved runways. While other jet pilots steer clear of grass, gravel, or packed snow, the PC-24 lands on them with ease.

This unique feature allows this small passenger aircraft to access over 20,000 airports worldwide. That's twice as many as standard business jets. In business practice, this revolutionizes travel planning. Instead of wasting time commuting from distant hubs, you can land at small regional airports located just a few minutes from your client's headquarters. This accessibility, previously the domain of slower turboprops, is now available at the speed of a jet.

The Door That Changes Everything

The Pilatus PC-24 inherited one of its most distinctive features from its smaller sibling (the PC-12 model) – the enormous cargo door at the rear of the fuselage. This is unique in the world of jet aircraft.

A standard private jet has a small cargo hold, requiring precise placement of suitcases. In a PC-24, you open a massive door through which (using a forklift) even a standard Euro pallet can be loaded. In practice, this means passengers can bring bulky sports equipment (bicycles, skis, surfboards), a motorcycle, and, in the case of medical flights, a stretcher with a patient, without any complicated maneuvers. Access to the cargo hold is also possible during the flight, which is rare in this class.

Cabin – sense of space

Although the PC-24 is classified as a light jet, its interior is surprisingly spacious. Engineers implemented a flat floor along the entire length of the cabin. This is a significant difference – in many competing designs, the floor is lowered in the aisle (forming a gutter), forcing an unnatural seating position.

In the PC-24, passengers enjoy seats that can be freely configured, moved, and rotated. The interior is bright thanks to large windows, and the finishing materials—as befits a Swiss brand—are of the highest quality. The cabin is designed to provide comfort for up to 10 passengers (in commuter configuration), although the business version typically accommodates 4 to 6 passengers in absolute luxury.

Technology and Performance

The heart of the PC-24 are two Williams FJ44-4A engines. These engines not only provide excellent climb rates (the aircraft can reach a cruising altitude of 45,000 feet, or over 13 km, allowing it to fly above storm zones and straight-line traffic), but also feature a unique Quiet Power Mode feature. This allows the right engine to idle on the ground, powering the air conditioning and avionics without the noise and fuel consumption of the main engines. This eliminates the need for a separate generator (APU).

The cockpit is equipped with the Pilatus ACE™ system. Developed in partnership with Honeywell, this solution is considered one of the most intuitive on the market. Thanks to its advanced automation, the PC-24 is certified for single-pilot operation. Owners can choose to operate with a single pilot (increasing passenger capacity and reducing costs) or with a two-pilot crew for maximum operational comfort.

Economy and Flexibility

The Pilatus PC-24 is a private jet that respects the owner's budget. Its operating costs are competitive with aircraft with much smaller carrying capacities. With a range of over 3,700 km (2,000 nautical miles) with four passengers, it allows for easy travel throughout Europe or flights from the USA to the Caribbean.