PC-12 vs BE-200

[skeeter666]

Ok, I need some help here. The boss is considering buying a PC-12 and selling the King air. We fly into mountain strips in B.C. and also take it to strips in the San Juan Islands. Money is no object here, but no one in the process has said "No, or why?", except me. I may lose my job, but I have already used up my nine lives in single engines. Any ideas or opinions on what I should do or say? -Thanks

 

[ksu_aviator]

Explain to him that with 1 engine it only takes 1 part to fail 1 time for everyone on board to die. Then, explain that there are well over 1,000 parts on any aircraft and that even if you get 99.9% of the parts to work, you still have at least 1 part not working.

 

[LJ45]

Explain to him that with 1 engine it only takes 1 part to fail 1 time for everyone on board to die. Then, explain that there are well over 1,000 parts on any aircraft and that even if you get 99.9% of the parts to work, you still have at least 1 part not working.

 

[j41driver]

Money is no object here, but no one in the process has said "No, or why?", except me.

What did he say when you asked why?

 

[skeeter666]

I should have an answer to that by the end of the week when I get my marching papers! As soon as I hear a reply from the boss I will post.

 

[satpak77]

get a Pilatus. All this single engine talk is entertaining. Everyone forgets that you have one heart, if that stops, you could have 8 engines.

you can't eliminate risk 100% completely in aviation. Be careful, assess, be careful, dont drink and fly, and go get your taxi clearance.

 

[NCherches]

Why would you loose your job if he gets a Pilatus? The PC-12 does have a nicer cockpit unless your drivin' a new B200 with the Pro-Line 21...

 

[guido411]

Money is no object here, but no one in the process has said "No, or why

Face it, money is ALWAYS an object. If money was no object you would be flying a G550 on the long hauls and a B350 on the short/rough runway trips. Operating cost is a BIG deal. Check your ego at the door and fly the single if the boss wants one.

 

[skeeter666]

Why would you loose your job if he gets a Pilatus? The PC-12 does have a nicer cockpit unless your drivin' a new B200 with the Pro-Line 21...

Yes, our king Air has less than 700 hours and is a proline 21

 

[skeeter666]

Face it, money is ALWAYS an object. If money was no object you would be flying a G550 on the long hauls and a B350 on the short/rough runway trips. Operating cost is a BIG deal. Check your ego at the door and fly the single if the boss wants one.

Well, I dont want to get into money, but my ego has nothing to do with anything here. Our weekly mission profile is flying into serious mountain strips up remote fjords. No instruments or radar. I would just like to know if anyone has any experience with both of these aircraft, and what they think. Thanks-

 

[ALIMBO]

PC-12 is amazing cheaper to own insure and operate is the bottom line and this PC-12 wins at all those areas. The newest models just came out with the Honeywell avionics check those out there pretty sweet.

 

[BushwickBill]

Methinks you can't be serious. Really?

Well, I dont want to get into money, but my ego has nothing to do with anything here. Our weekly mission profile is flying into serious mountain strips up remote fjords. No instruments or radar. I would just like to know if anyone has any experience with both of these aircraft, and what they think. Thanks-

I have more pilatus experience than king air.

I think both of these aircraft are very capable.

There is some credence to the multi engine vs. overall safety. I say you need to be quite serious about MX if your going to be operating either aircraft in the environments your talking about.

More than one engine hanging off an aircraft doesn't mean much in terms of safety if your not really current. Most people are not really current.

Then again looking around at the desert southwest in the summer from above makes me happy for two engines.

Regardless. What your talking about should be attepted with great hesitation. Then again those places are really nice and it makes it fun to be way out there.

Is this is Canada? Canada makes me think of this guy. I do really love Canada BTW I lived in B.C. for just about as long as your government would tolerate me. Surfed both frozen and liquid (but nearly frozen) H2O in a season there. Weekly mission? Man what are you doing?

I have some numbers on operating costs for PC12 that are very current. I could pass on if I were quite motivated. Right now I think this is a joke so I'm going to kind off back off here.

Goodnight

 

[xrated]

A bunch of people are talking about operating costs. The original poster said money was no object so, who cares about costs? If costs are an issue, the pc-12 is going to win.

Someone said somthing about most people not being current? What? I'd hope if you are at the level of flying a King Air or Pilatus (with a professional pilot as the original poster seems to be), you'd think recurrent training would be the norm. If not, maybe seeking other employment would be prudent.

As a guy with a fair amount of PC-12 experience and a little King Air 90 time, at night, over mountains, in wx, I'd take the King Air 10 times out of 10.

 

[340drvr]

You could do a "historical" trip weather analysis, using whatever appropriate go/no-go minimums (company SOP, your personal pro-pilot mins, etc.) that may apply. Then show the boss what percentage of your missions might have been no-go due to the single-engine factor. It might provide a good case to keep the B200, or, it may come down to your personal risk minimums drawing a line in the sand (at which case, you'd have some career choices to make).

 

[BushwickBill]

A bunch of people are talking about operating costs. The original poster said money was no object so, who cares about costs? If costs are an issue, the pc-12 is going to win.

Someone said somthing about most people not being current? What? I'd hope if you are at the level of flying a King Air or Pilatus (with a professional pilot as the original poster seems to be), you'd think recurrent training would be the norm. If not, maybe seeking other employment would be prudent.

As a guy with a fair amount of PC-12 experience and a little King Air 90 time, at night, over mountains, in wx, I'd take the King Air 10 times out of 10.

I am talking about part 91 flight departments that only send crews to training once a year. Usually to a place like Simcom. I have been to Pilatus Simcom twice. While I found the training to be fairly legit, I noticed that just about anyone could get through it. I was at training with a partner in the aircraft and he could barely get through an ILS to mins.

I'm not saying anything about the guy who started the post. I don't know him.

Now look at the safety issues with this operation. Obviously part 91 because you couldn't do what he is talking about 135. Likely the crew is going to a training event once a year that is fairly easy to get through. Now you add in the scud running and the remote backcountry stuff. Sounds dangerious as all hell.

All I'm saying is that in this case having one more engine hanging off the airplane may be less safe. Most likely because the pilot of the PC-12 will be concentrating on landing the aircraft safely. Rather than single engine procedures out of remote airstips in the mountains while scud running.

I have been a flight instructor for a while now and I know that part 91 single engine pocedures can get pretty rusty for people.