Pilatus PC-24

The Pilatus PC-24 is the first jet from the Swiss maker of the PC-12 turboprop, and it kept the turboprop's habits: short runways, approval for grass and gravel, a large cargo door and baggage you can reach in flight. It is still a true light jet, with two Williams FJ44-4A engines and a cruise speed of up to 815 km/h. Operators in several European countries fly the type, so an aircraft is often based within a short positioning flight of the departure airport.

Cabin: flat floor, enclosed toilet and bags within reach

Pilatus gives the cabin as 7.01 m long including the baggage area, 1.69 m wide and 1.55 m high; the seating part is about 5.2 m. The floor is flat from the entry door to the baggage area, without the dropped aisle of many light jets, so moving about is easier, although a tall person has to bend the head a little.

Pilatus offers three main layouts:

• Toilet in an enclosed compartment at the front, with a door, serviced from outside
• In some aircraft a side divan that turns into a bed
• Galley depends on the aircraft: an optional small galley in later aircraft, a drinks and snacks cabinet in others
• Catering is loaded before departure, and a flight attendant usually does not fly
• Cabin pressure equals sea level up to a flight altitude of about 7,160 m

Baggage, cargo door and pets

The PC-24 baggage area sits behind the last seats, stays warm and can be reached at any time in flight. On the ground it is loaded through the cargo door, which is rare in this class. A movable partition lets the operator trade baggage space for cabin space.

• Skis and snowboards for the whole group
• Golf bags and bicycles
• A pushchair or a crate for a large dog
• Musical instruments or sample cases that would not pass the entry door

A dog or cat flies in the cabin or in a crate once the operator has approved it; tell us the breed, weight and carrier size. Within the EU the animal needs a microchip, an EU pet passport and a rabies vaccination, the first one at least 21 days before travel. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry, and the UK accepts pets only on approved routes and at approved airports.

Speed, short runways and airports

Pilatus quotes the PC-24 range of 3,704 km for an executive cabin with four passengers, NBAA IFR reserves and an alternate 185 km away. Later aircraft, from serial number 501, have a higher take-off weight, a quieter cabin and about 370 km more range with six passengers. The maximum take-off weight of the earlier aircraft is 8,300 kg.

The main difference from other light jets is the approval for unpaved runways. Pilatus certified the PC-24 for:

• grass and wet earth
• gravel and dry sand
• compacted snow

Flying the jet in Europe: rules that matter

Switzerland and Norway are in Schengen but outside the EU customs union, so customs formalities apply to goods carried on Zurich or Tromso legs. The UK is outside Schengen: EU citizens need an ETA, and the operator needs passport details for every flight.

PC-24 routes from European hubs

Thirty one-way legs from all thirteen hubs, all non-stop, from Zurich - Lugano at 164 km to Larnaca - Geneva at 2,627 km. Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time follows the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: the Alps, the Riviera and London City

Two to four hours: islands, Iberia and the far north

Over four hours: the longest leg without a stop

• Up to about 1:30 h, as on Paris - London City (0:57 h) or Milan - Olbia (1:12 h), a turboprop such as the PC-12 is only a little slower and costs less
• London City, Samedan, Sion and Lugano are where the short-runway ability and the operator's approvals matter most
• In the PC-24, Madrid - Tenerife (3:02 h), London - Reykjavik (3:07 h) and London - Marrakesh (3:39 h) are non-stop with four people; with eight on board, bags and a headwind the operator may plan a fuel stop
• Larnaca - Geneva (4:09 h) is at the edge of the range; London - Tenerife or Larnaca - London need a stop, so a midsize jet suits them better

The calculator gives an indicative price for the PC-24 or another light jet on your route, including small airfields near your destination.

PC-24 charter prices

The indicative rate is EUR 3,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel. On short legs the total is clearly above the rate multiplied by flight time, because the operator adds positioning and a minimum charge per flight: Zurich - Lugano takes 0:44 h and costs from EUR 9,000, Paris - London City (0:57 h) from EUR 10,000.

The longer the leg, the closer the total gets to the hourly rate. Amsterdam - Palma (2:29 h) costs from EUR 15,500, London - Reykjavik (3:07 h) from EUR 17,500 and Larnaca - Geneva (4:09 h) from EUR 21,000, always for the aircraft and not per seat.

The price covers the whole aircraft, so per person Amsterdam - Palma works out as follows:

Ways to lower the price

For a stay of several days we price both options, the aircraft waiting with the crew or flying home and back, and offer the cheaper one. Shared flights are rarely available on this type.

Empty Legs: fewer than on common light jets

Fewer PC-24s fly in Europe than Phenom 300s, so empty PC-24 legs appear, but less often. Typical directions follow the operators' bases: Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic to the Riviera, the Alps and the Balearics, and back after the weekend.

PC-24 or another light jet

Most clients compare the PC-24 with the turboprop from the same factory, two widespread light jets and a midsize jet with a stand-up cabin.

How to request a PC-24

Put in the request:

• route, date and preferred departure time
• number of passengers and baggage, especially skis, bicycles and pets
• the airfield name if it is a short, grass or gravel runway
• whether London City, Samedan or Lugano is the goal, so we check the approvals first

For the longest legs, such as Larnaca - Geneva or Hamburg - Malaga, we also need a rough baggage weight so the operator can confirm a non-stop flight. We always try to find the aircraft and layout you ask for, but each case depends on the operator's availability and contract.

Pilatus PC-24: questions and answers

• • How much does a PC-24 flight cost?

  • From EUR 3,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. According to the table, Paris - London City costs from EUR 10,000, Munich - Palma from EUR 14,500 and Paris - Lisbon from EUR 15,500 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight time, positioning from the aircraft's base, crew costs on multi-day trips, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes by departure country and extras such as catering and de-icing. The quote lists each item.

• • Why is a short flight relatively expensive?

  • The operator charges positioning and a minimum per flight. Zurich - Lugano lasts 0:44 h but costs from EUR 9,000, while on Hamburg - Malaga (3:33 h, from EUR 19,000) the total is much closer to the hourly rate.

• • How can I fly the PC-24 for less?

  • Return the same day, depart from an operator's base, keep the time flexible and ask about Empty Legs. For short legs with few passengers a turboprop is often cheaper.

• • Are Empty Legs available on this jet?

  • Yes, but less often than on the Phenom 300, because fewer aircraft fly in Europe. Typical legs run from Switzerland and Germany to the Riviera and the Balearics. Discounts of 40-65 % are examples, and the leg can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a full charter.

• • Is the PC-24 a jet or a turboprop?

  • A jet with two Williams FJ44-4A engines and up to 815 km/h. It is often mentioned with turboprops because, like the PC-12, it was designed for short and unpaved runways.

• • How many passengers fit, and is there a toilet?

  • Six travel comfortably in the executive layout, eight with two club groups. The toilet is in an enclosed compartment at the front with a door.

• • How far does it fly without a stop?

  • Pilatus quotes 3,704 km with four passengers. In the table that covers Larnaca - Geneva (2,627 km) and London - Marrakesh, but with a full cabin and heavy bags the longest legs may need a stop.

• • Can we bring skis, bicycles or the dog?

  • Yes. The 2.55 m³ baggage area has a large cargo door, so skis, golf bags and bicycles fit, and you can reach your bags in flight. The dog flies in the cabin or in a crate once the operator has agreed.

• • Can the PC-24 land at London City or Courchevel?

  • London City yes, when the operator and crew hold the airport's approval for the steep approach. Courchevel no: the 537 m altiport is too short for a jet, so the PC-12 flies there or you land at Chambéry.