From three years ago, but might help you.'
Approx $730 per hour, includes maint., fuel, hanger, and insurance. Plus some maint reserves. As always your milage will vary depending on flight time and such. Bare bones Direct operating costs ran about 400 an hour, but that was at 2 buck jet A on the road and 1.75 at home base, Probably 500 or more with current prices.
Averaged 75 gal an hour for the year. About 70/30 ratio between short trips and long. Longer trips (2.0 or more, mid 20's) fuel burn averaged 55 to 65 gal hour.
Maintenance was a little over 17K for the year, however we were under full warranty, so this number only reflects the normal inspections (100 hour, etc.) At least double that if you are not covered under warranty. No major problems, but lots of little items, like any turbine airplane.
Pilatus claims 270 kts, 250 to 263 is normal observed TAS. You can get 270 TAS but you will be running right up on ITT limits....not good for making TBO.
Will go much farther than your bladder can handle, 6.5 hours is not a problem at altitude, and that still gives you reserves.
The thing burns about 1 qt of oil per 10 hours, do not let this bother you, every PC-12 operator I saw had the same burn, appears to be a trait of that engine.
If you can pack it in the door, it will haul it.
My only complaint with the airplane other than it being a single engine(Just my prejudice, do not like T/O rolls in 600 RVR with only one huffer) is the fact that the thing is basically a big king air nacelle.......plan on a wash job every 10 hours unless you want to look like a freighter.
The only other thing, 100 hour inspections are required, even if you are part 91, part of the certification. No phase inspections like most turbine birds. If you have your own maint. department they may be able to get a progressive program on it, but that is not my specialty so you will have to check on that yourself.
Hot sections are on demand only as long as you are on a trend monitoring program, otherwise it is the standard 1/2 life hot section requirments.
We did not have the problem but PC-12's seem to have some gear box issues from time to time, saw alot of older aircraft operators incur some big bills from this. Ours only had about 700 hours on it when we sold it so we didn't see any of the higher time issues come into play.
Flaps like to pop breakers when cold soaked, Pilatus was looking for a fix, I do not know if it has been taken care of or not. Not a big issue though.
The thing is built like a tank, heavy on the controls when compared to everything else it's size. But very very easy to fly. In heavy crosswind full flaps is a little too much due to the rudder interconnect , back it off one notch and it is a Pu$$ycat.
Opt for the aux. heat and air.....you will be sorry if you do not. If you are up north, go for the electric pilot foot warmers also.
We had the King avionics package with the bigger screens(5 inch if memory serves) and MFD, no complaints, although the KNS 90 is a bit dated, but the MFD makes up for it. The other choice is garmin. Pressurization is sensitive, will take you a bit to figure out how to not spike the cabin(like any older airplane). Pilatus really should look at going with one of the set and forget auto systems.(if they haven't already).
It likes the low to mid 20's and gives you the best TAS for fuel burn there. FL 280 or 290 gets the fuel burn down to just sipping it(310 lbs hour neighborhood), but TAS will be down to 235 or so.
Hope this helps.
KS
Edit for Pu$$ycat, to remove censored tag!!!!!!!!
