Delivery of 91 PC-12 NG
single engine turboprops in 2016 make it officially the top-selling
turbine-powered business aircraft in the world.
With 91 aircraft
delivered to customers around the world in 2016, the PC-12 NG
outpaced sales of all other individual models of turbine-powered
business aircraft. In mid-2017, Pilatus will deliver the 1,500th
PC-12.
At this year’s
'Annual Industry Review' press conference, the General Aviation
Manufacturers Association GAMA released its 2016 Year-End Aircraft
Shipment and Billings report to the public. While overall industry
shipments of turboprops and business jets declined by 3% relative to
2015, Pilatus increased sales of its popular single-engine PC-12 NG
turboprop by 30%.
New features in the
2016 PC-12 NG increased cruise speed to 285 KTAS (528 km/h), reduced
cabin noise levels, offered updated interior design options, and
featured more than a dozen drag reduction changes to the airframe,
increasing both range and speed. These enhancements were well
received in the market, with demand high across the global Pilatus
sales network.
In mid-2016, Pilatus
was also recognized for its customer service being rated number 1
for the 15th consecutive year by owners and operators in an annual
survey conducted by Professional Pilot magazine.
Ignaz
Gretener, Vice President
of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd’s General Aviation business unit commented,
“The entire Pilatus team, from engineering to manufacturing to sales
and service worked hard this year to achieve these successes in a
very challenging market. The PC-12’s comfort, versatility,
performance, resale value, and safety all come together to make it
the most sought after aircraft in the market. We are honored that
our customers continue to put their trust in us, and we will never
take that for granted.”
Despite an industry
trend toward lower used aircraft valuations, the pre-owned PC-12
market continues to remain very strong. According to JetNet
Evolution Marketplace Market Summary data for January 2017, just
3.7% of the global fleet of PC-12s was listed for sale. The Spring
2017 Vol 17-01 edition of Aircraft Bluebook indicates that a
ten-year-old 2007 model PC-12 is still valued at 81% of its original
Factory New Average Equipped List Price. A study conducted by
Rolland Vincent Associates, LLC in December, 2016 determined that
the 10-year average annual depreciation rate for a Pilatus PC-12 was
only 2.2% - far lower than any other category of business jet or
turboprop. |