Operation airfield

Pilatus has been awarded the full “Rough Field” certification for the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet. The PC-24 was previously certified for operations on dry sand and gravel in 2018. To certify the Super Versatile Jet for operations on natural slopes and under other conditions, an extensive post-certification test campaign was carried out in 2019. All PC-24 aircraft can now operate on wet and snow-covered natural airfields.

The PC-24 was developed for use on natural airfields from the start. Its outstanding performance on short and unpaved airfields opens up an incredible amount of flexibility and new possibilities. With the PC-24 you have access to almost twice as many airfields around the world in comparison with the business jets currently on the market. More airfields means more possibilities – you reach your destination faster, providing the operator with valuable time savings.

Oscar J. Schwenk, Board Chairman of Pilatus, explains with enthusiasm: “I’m very pleased that the extensive tests have been completed successfully. Our PC-24 has proven that it can fly all the missions for which it was developed. The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and other operators in North America and Africa are already making regular flights from natural airfields, proving just how unique the PC-24 is. These capabilities are only available with the Super Versatile Jet!"

According to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), it is necessary for tests to carried out for the certification of take-off and landing operations on different runways. Following various site inspections, runways in America and Europe were evaluated. The grass airfield in Goodwood, England was chosen for testing on dry grass because of its excellent characteristics. Further results on grass were achieved by the PC-24 at Kunovice in the Czech Republic, at Poitiers in France and in Duxford, England. In Woodbridge, England, complex conditions were partially reproduced to meet all of the test specifications for take-off and landing operations on mud. The PC-24 has also seen use in North America: tests were carried out on snow-covered gravel airfields in Kuujjuaq, Canada.