Computing Pilatus PC-12 NG capabilty and economics

Cockpit Dashboard





In my earlier post, I talked much about Southwest Airlines, however, assuming and hypothetically speaking, if I wanted to own a small regional carrier; Trojan Air.  Trojan Air's preferred choice of aircraft will be  the known propelled single engine aircraft; Pilatus PC-12 NG aircraft. 


A little background on this aircraft; 
• It can be flown by one or two pilots (commercial operations). 
• The aircraft has a standard seating capacity of 8 passenger, or 6 executive style seat option. 
• Aircraft can be used for different operations; Personal, Commercial Ops (logistics support, etc) Medical, Reconnaissance, etc better yet it can be suited for a luxury type environment. 

Photos courtesy of the Pilatus Aircraft Company. Please these pictures shown above are not in anyway mine, photo credits to the The Pilatus Aircraft Company.

Max cruise speed	280 ktas (322 mph)	519 km/hr TAS
Max range (3 Pax, 30,000 ft, NBAA IFR reserve)	1,560 nm / 1,795 sm	2,889 km
Max operating altitude	30,000 ft	9,144 m
Cabin altitude at 26,000 ft	8,000 ft	2,438 m
Takeoff distance over 50 ft obstacle	2,650 ft	808 m
Rate of climb (MTOW)	1,920 ft / min	585 m / min
Landing distance over 50 ft obstacle (MLW/reverse)	1,830 ft	558 m
Stall (MTOW)	67 kts IAS	124 km/h IAS

Max ramp weight	10,495 lbs	4,760 kg
Max takeoff weight	10,450 lbs	4,740 kg
Max landing weight	9,921 lbs	4,500 kg
Max zero fuel weight	9,039 lbs	4,100 kg
Basic operating weight (includes 200 lb / 91 kg pilot)	6,782 lbs	3,076 kg
Usable fuel (402 gal)	2,704 lbs	1,226 kg
Payload with full fuel (and 200 lb / 91 kg pilot)	1,009 lbs	458 kg

 For more information, please visit http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/

In the U.S., Sea Port Airlines, a small regional Part 121 FAA certified airline currently uses the Pilatus PC-12 NG for its commercial scheduled operations. Their goal, is to serve the "niche" market; unserviced airports within the the Portland, Oregon region. It serves as a feeder airline to other regional carriers as well as major operators.

Due to weight and distance factors, experts recommend in general that small propelled jet aircraft be flown on a short distance no more than 300nm from it start origination point. In other words, weight of the aircraft should be compensated for distance and as vice versa.

For instance, a flight from KBWI (Baltimore Washington International) to KLGA (LaGuardia International) is less than 200 nautical miles, therefore, it's fair to assume the aircraft can comfortably take up to 8pax at max takeoff weight.

However, the further the aircraft travels out for instance up to 500 nm, the aircraft will carry one or two passenger less, same would apply if the distance increases up to1,000 nm, there's a probability that the aircraft will carry 4pax max; the weight compensates for the distance.

The idea is the more pax you carry, the less fuel you carry, the less distance you travel; the less pax you carry, the more fuel you carry, the more distance you travel.
Note: The following abbreviations (Pax  is referred to passengers), and (Miles are Nautical miles)