Swiss business aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has reopened the order book for its PC-24 “Super Versatile” jet and confirmed completion of EASA and FAA approvals for the aircraft to be operated from unpaved runways and for steep approaches. While the order book for the type is now open again, with orders being taken by both the Swiss company and its authorized sales agents around the world, the manufacturer confirmed that delivery positions would be available in 2020 and 2021 and that the “base price” of the aircraft is $10.7 million.
The OEM initially took orders for the first 84 aircraft, each priced at $8.9 million, when it launched the twinjet at EBACE in May 2014. At that time, it wanted to focus on certification and entry-into-service, which has now been completed successfully, with 30 PC-24s already in service since it delivered the first example in February 2018.
According to Pilatus, the PC-24 fleet leader—S/N 101—belongs to U.S. fractional ownership provider PlaneSense and has flown more than 1,100 hours, while the fleet as a whole has surpassed 5,000 hours in operation. Pilatus said it plans to deliver a total of 40 PC-24s this year and is “stepping up production” to 50 aircraft next year.
Textron Aviation Nears Completion of Denali Prototype
Textron Aviation is in the final stages of completing the Cessna Denali prototype, along with two more flight- and three ground-test articles, as the development team prepares for first flight later this year, the company announced Monday. The Wichita, Kansas-based aircraft manufacturer will use the prototype and first two production-conforming aircraft in the flight-test program, while the ground test articles will be used for airframe static and fatigue tests, along with cabin interior development and testing.
“The result of the work we are doing now in design, production, and testing is going to provide a mature configuration that will help us move through certification and flight testing, ultimately bringing a proven aircraft to the market,” said Chris Hearne, senior v-p of engineering.
Along with the development of the flight-test vehicles and static test articles, Textron Aviation recently completed component integration for the iron bird, a systems test rig that is laid out in the configuration and size of the Denali. The iron bird incorporates the design of the avionics, electrical, and engine control systems, and will play a key role in testing the aircraft engine’s Fadec system.
Meanwhile, engine provider GE Aviation recently reached full power and maximum rpm on the 1,300-shp Catalyst engine and McCauley composite propeller. GE Aviation has completed more than 1,000 hours of testing on three test Catalyst articles in all from its facility in Prague, Czech Republic.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer's newest super-midsize jet, the Praetor 600, has earned both FAA and EASA certification, the company announced on Monday at EBACE 2019. This comes on the heels of type approval from Brazil civil aviation authority ANAC on April 18. The Praetor 600 was announced and made its debut at NBAA-BACE in Orlando, Florida, in October.
"We’ve met or exceeded every single design goal in the certified aircraft,” said Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano, who also announced the sale of a Praetor 600 to a Mexico-domiciled customer. He also reported that, with certification of the Praetor 600 complete, the company is turning to the Praetor 500 and expects that to be certified by key agencies later this summer. Both aircraft are on static display this week at EBACE 2019.
Sustainable Fuel Powers Flights to Geneva
The business aviation world came together on Saturday as it headed for EBACE in Geneva, demonstrating the benefits of sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) during flights to participate in the show's static display. In all 23 EBACE static display aircraft arrived in Geneva from various locations using SAJF. Thirteen fueled up with SAJF at TAG Farnborough Airport in the UK, while others took on SAJF supplied by Avfuel in the U.S. at Republic Airport near New York City, and Air BP at Caen-Carpiquet Airport in France, and Arlanda Airport in Stockholm. World Fuel Services supplied 75,000 liters of SAJF for the Farnborough event, but the biofuel made by Gevo had to be shipped to the UK from the U.S.
Aircraft flying in from Farnborough included a Gulfstream G550, Bombardier Global 6000 and Challenger 350, Embraer Praetor 600, Cessna Citation Latitude, Piaggio Avanti, Cirrus Vision Jet, and others. Dassault’s Falcon 900LX picked up a load of SAJF from the Sheltair FBO at Republic Airport, and its Falcon 2000S filled up at Caen.
While at Farnborough, OEMs, industry associations, fuel companies, and Eurocontrol director general Eamonn Brennan participated in an event to highlight the benefits of SAJF, “Fueling the Future, The Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel Initiative: Emissions Reduction through Investment, Innovation.” The event was staged by the SAJF Coalition, which includes aviation organizations EBAA, NBAA, NATA, GAMA, and IBAC, and was sponsored by OEMs, World Fuel Services, and TAG Farnborough Airport.
Capacity for aviation biofuel is now at a stage where operators must start saying they are willing to buy and use it, according to a panel of experts gathered at the Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAFJ) conference hosted by TAG Farnborough Airport on Saturday.
By their very design, the “drop-in” biofuels now available from various suppliers such as Air BP, World Fuel, and Avfuel at a small but growing number of locations can use existing distribution infrastructure and have no effect on current engines. However, panelists also lamented that operators are proving reluctant to adopt biofuel blends, despite offsetting incentives offered within carbon offsetting schemes such as EU-ETS and the upcoming CORSIA international scheme.
Many operators still believe, erroneously, that the fuels might not be good for their engines. “One of the biggest problems we have is convincing the industry it is a drop-in fuel and it is not going to gum up your engine,” said Brad Nolen, v-p of marketing and product strategy at Bombardier Aviation.
At present, as long as biofuels are used as less than 50 percent of the fuel used, in a blend with jet-A, the engines experience no difference from a technical standpoint. Although biofuel is currently around three times the price of jet-A—and falling gradually—it has been shown to actually improve engine efficiency.
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