The Pilatus PC-12 is a large, pressurized single-engine turboprop from Switzerland that can carry up to about nine passengers. It is popular for fractional ownership, charter, air ambulance and government missions, and a common sight at US regional airports.
PC-12 at a glance
- First flight
- 1991
- Length
- 47 ft 3 in (14.4 m)
- Wingspan
- 53 ft 4 in (16.3 m)
- Engines
- 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67 or PT6E-67XP turboprop
- Seats
- 6–9 passengers
- Cruise speed
- ~280–290 kt (322–334 mph)
- Service ceiling
- 30,000 ft
- Range
- ~1,800 nmi
How to recognize the PC-12
The PC-12 is big for a single-engine airplane. It looks like a small airliner with one propeller.
- Engine: a single PT6 turboprop in a long nose, driving a four- or five-bladed propeller.
- Tail: a T-tail with the stabilizer on top of the fin, plus small fins under the rear fuselage.
- Wing: low, straight and long, with upturned winglets.
- Landing gear: retractable tricycle gear with trailing-link main legs that fold into the wing.
- Fuselage: tall and deep, with a large cargo door on the left side behind the wing and rectangular cabin windows.
- Sound: a turbine whine mixed with propeller drone, smoother than a piston engine.
- Speed and altitude: faster than most turboprop singles, often at FL200 to FL300.
The Caravan is also a large single turboprop, but it is high-winged with fixed gear. The King Air 200 has two engines and a similar T-tail.
From below, the PC-12's long, straight wing and single propeller give it a cross-like outline, but its size, T-tail and retracted gear make it look far more substantial than a piston single. Newer PC-12 NGX models have a five-bladed propeller, and the PT6 engine's exhaust stacks stick out on each side of the cowling. On flight trackers it can be mistaken for a small jet because it cruises in the mid-20,000s.
Where and when you'll see it
PC-12s fly with fractional owners such as PlaneSense, charter operators, private owners, and commuter airlines that run scheduled service to small towns. Air ambulance operators use them for patient transfers, and the US Air Force flies a special-operations version called the U-28A Draco. In Australia, the Royal Flying Doctor Service is a well-known operator.
Typical cruise is FL200 to FL300, high enough to appear among jet traffic on trackers. On ADS-B the type code is PC12; callsigns may be the N-number or an operator code. Look for them at regional airports and in places like New England, around Boston, and the Mountain West, where PlaneSense and charter operators are busy.
Many PC-12s fly short trips between regional airports and larger hubs, often carrying business travelers or medical patients.
Easily confused with
- Cessna 208 Caravan: The Caravan has a high wing, fixed gear and a boxier body.
- Beechcraft King Air 200 / 250: The King Air 200 has two engines on the wings and a sharper nose.
Quick facts
- The PC-12 is built in Stans, Switzerland, and is one of the best-selling single-engine turboprops ever.
- The US Air Force's U-28A Draco is a militarized PC-12 used for surveillance missions.
- Its large aft cargo door lets it carry stretchers, bikes or cargo pallets that would not fit through a normal door.
PC-12 questions
Is the PC-12 safe with only one engine?
It is certified for commercial passenger flights in many countries. Its PT6 turbine engine is known for reliability, which is why authorities allow single-engine operations.
Why does the PC-12 fly so high?
It is pressurized and turbine-powered, so it can cruise efficiently at altitudes up to 30,000 ft, above much of the weather.
Cities where it's a regular
Spot one live
Open the live sky tool and look for PC12 in the type column, or browse the live map on airplanes.live.