World Aircraft Sales Magazine November 2013

Page 78

AirCompAnalysisNov13_ACAn 22/10/2013 10:15 Page 1

AIRCRAFT COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS PILATUS PC-12 NG

DAHER-SOCATA TBM 850

CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN

Pilatus PC-12 NG by Michael Chase n this month’s Aircraft Comparative Analysis, we provide information on a selection of New and PreOwned business turboprops in the $2.14-4.47m range for the purpose of valuing the New and Pre-owned Pilatus PC12. With nearly 1,200 units in operation today, how does the PC-12 measure with its competition? Across the following paragraphs, we’ll consider the productivity parameters - payload/range, speed and cabin size - and consider current and future market values. The field in this study includes the Daher-Socata TBM 850 and the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.

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WORLD AIRCRAFT SALES MAGAZINE – November 2013

BRIEF HISTORY Pilatus has been building single-engine aircraft in Stans, Switzerland for nearly 70 years. The Pilatus PC-12 is a high-powered singleengine turboprop with a four-blade prop. The first flight of the first of two prototypes took place on May 31, 1991. Certification of the type was originally planned for mid-1991 but a redesign of the wings (leading to an increase in wing span) and the addition of winglets to ensure performance guarantees were met delayed the schedule. Swiss certification finally took place on March 30, 1994, and FAA approval followed on July 15, 1994. The PC-12/45 was manufactured from 1995 to 2008; the PC-12/47 was manufactured between 2006 and 2008; and the PC-12 NG www.AvBuyer.com

(Next Generation) is the updated version of the PC-12 starting at serial number 1,001, and still in production today. The cockpit is equipped with Honeywell’s Apex avionics suite. There are over 1,150 PC-12 aircraft in operation today, as outlined in Table A (overleaf). The PC-12 is equipped with both a passenger door and a cargo door and is available in several configurations, including sixpassenger executive; nine-passenger standard; commuter; cargo; and combi. Rigi, Inc., a New Hampshire-based fractional ownership company, is the largest fractional operator of PC-12s in the world, operating a total of 29 with two PC-12/45s; 15 PC-12/47s; and ❯ 12 PC-12 NGs in the fleet. Aircraft Index see Page 4


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