Business & GA

Pilatus has brought two PC-12s, a PC 21 and a PC-6 Porter to the show.

The Swiss manufacturer is making good progress with upgrades to its next generation PC-12NG, which completed a series of cold weather trials during a transatlantic crossing from Switzerland to the company’s US headquarters in Colorado last month.

Among the new kit on board will be Honeywell’s Primus Apex integrated avionics system. “Autopilot testing is progressing well having successfully completed the inner loop testing on schedule,” says John Todd, Honeywell’s vice president, business and general aviation.

A test aircraft has already completed a round trip Atlantic crossing with avionics onboard.

The new avionics “exceeded expectations”, according to Pilatus. The aircraft is expected to be certified at the end of this year and features several improvements in addition to the avionics, including a new cockpit design by BMW Designworks and an uprated P&W PT6A-67P engine.