Pilatus PC-21 Reaches Milestone

The company announced the fleet has marked 500,000 flying hours.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 04:27 PM ET

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Pilatus said its PC-21 fleet has achieved 500,000 flight hours, many accrued by military aviators. [Courtesy: Pilatus Aircraft]

Key Takeaways:

The Pilatus PC-21 fleet has surpassed 500,000 flight hours, primarily used for military pilot training by air forces across Europe, Australasia, and the Middle East.
The Spanish Air Force is a significant European operator, with the PC-21 praised for its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability in military pilot training.
The PC-21 offers an integrated training system, combining advanced aircraft with simulators, virtual reality tools, and mission planning/debriefing systems for a comprehensive educational experience.

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You are probably aware there has been an increase in flight training over the past 20 years, and a number of those people are training in Pilatus aircraft. This week the company announced the PC-21 fleet of 250 has achieved 500,000 flight hours, with military pilots accruing many of those.

According to Pilatus Aircraft, its customers include air forces in Europe, Australasia, and the Middle East. The Swiss Air Force has used the PC-21 to train its future military pilots since 2008. One of the largest users of the aircraft is the Spanish Air Force, which purchased an additional 16 PC-21s and associated simulators in March 2023, making it the airplane’s largest operator in Europe.