PC-12 NGX
Pilatus's PC-12 NGX is a pressurized single-engine turboprop seating nine passengers at 290 knots with a range of 1,803 nautical miles and a 30,000-foot service ceiling. That combination (pressure cabin, turboprop efficiency, Wi-Fi, and single-engine economics) lets operators serve airports and routes where pressurized twins rarely go. The 16.9-foot cabin is 5 feet wide and 4.8 feet tall, with a belted lavatory standard.
With 207 aircraft on US Part 135 certificates across 67 operators, the PC-12 NGX is the most widely deployed pressurized single-turboprop in US charter. Cobalt Air operates 45 of them, and Tradewind Aviation runs 22 on scheduled and charter service through the Northeast and Caribbean. Life Flight Network flies 15 PC-12s on medevac missions across the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West, a common role given the aircraft's ability to operate from short, unimproved, and high-elevation strips.
Charter rates run around $2,000 per hour. A new NGX listed at $6.028 million in 2023. Used examples from earlier NG and PC-12/47 variants trade considerably lower depending on avionics configuration and airframe hours.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 9 |
| Cabin length | 16.9 ft |
| Cabin width | 5.0 ft |
| Cabin height | 4.8 ft |
| Baggage volume | 40 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Belted, curtained |
| Galley | No |
| Wi-Fi | Available on most aircraft |
| Cabin floor | Drop aisle |
At 4.8 ft of cabin height, the PC-12 NGX is a sit-down jet. Expect to duck moving between seats. The lavatory is belted with a curtain — not a full door. Connectivity varies by tail — most operators in this fleet have at least one Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft, but confirm before booking if you need to work in the air.
Operator floor plans vary. Some PC-12 NGX cabins are configured with a divan that drops the headcount by one or two seats; confirm the layout with the operator before booking.
Range & performance
| Range | 1,803 nm |
| Max cruise | 290 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~246 ktas |
| Service ceiling | 30,000 ft |
1,803 nm covers most US domestic missions. Coast-to-coast with one stop, transcontinental city pairs east of the Rockies non-stop.
Distances are real great-circle nautical miles from the selected hub. Angular positions are spaced for readability, not actual bearings. Range envelope assumes no wind and a full passenger load.
Charter cost per hour
Charter the PC-12 NGX at roughly $2,000–$2,500 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Turboprop jets like this carry 6–9 passengers; the per-seat math improves sharply as you fill the cabin.
Rates are flight-hour pricing. Total cost depends on round-trip vs. one-way, positioning, fuel surcharges, and taxes (~15% on top of base). Run the math on your trip →
Safety Record
History
Pilatus completed the original PC-12 prototype on May 1, 1991, and it flew for the first time on May 31, 1991. The aircraft entered production and evolved through several variants: the PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and the NG (introduced around 2008 with an upgraded engine and redesigned cockpit). The NGX, announced at the October 2019 NBAA convention with FAA certification already in hand, introduced the PT6E-67XP engine with full-authority digital engine control and a low-speed propeller mode that reduces cabin noise at cruise.
The PC-12 family reached 2,000 total deliveries in May 2023, with 80 aircraft built in 2022 alone. By that milestone, 1,889 were in active service worldwide. Production continues in Stans, Switzerland.
Ideal For
- Six to nine passengers on routes up to 1,500nm where single-engine turboprop economics make sense: Seattle to Los Angeles (960nm), Denver to Dallas (660nm), Salt Lake City to Bozeman (285nm)
- Operations into short, unpaved, or high-elevation airports where the PC-12's STOL performance gives access that pressurized twins lack
- Medevac and air ambulance: the wide aft cargo door and reconfigurable interior accommodate stretcher layouts without removing seats permanently
- Caribbean inter-island routes where range and short-field capability matter more than twin-engine certification requirements
- Owner-operators who want jet-comparable performance (290 ktas, Wi-Fi, pressurized cabin) at single-engine turboprop operating costs
- Cargo and combi missions; the PC-12 reconfigures between passenger and freight layouts via the rear cargo door
PC-12 NGX vs Turboprop Average
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charter a PC-12 NGX?
Charter rates run approximately $2,000 per hour. A three-hour mountain-west route from Denver to Bozeman and back generally totals $6,000 to $8,000 before positioning fees.
How does the PC-12 NGX compare to the King Air 350?
The King Air 350 is twin-engine with higher cruise speed (312 vs 290 ktas) and comparable range (1,806nm vs 1,803nm). The King Air seats nine and has a wider cabin. The PC-12 NGX has a larger single rear cargo door and lower single-engine operating costs. Operators who need twin-engine redundancy for overwater or demanding IFR routes choose the King Air; those prioritizing short-field capability and lower direct operating cost choose the PC-12.
What is the difference between the PC-12 NG and PC-12 NGX?
The NG, introduced around 2008, upgraded the engine and avionics over earlier PC-12/47 models. The NGX (deliveries from 2020) added the PT6E-67XP with full-authority digital engine control, a low-speed propeller mode for reduced cabin noise, and an updated Honeywell avionics suite. Used NG models start below $3 million; a new NGX equipped price was $6.028 million in 2023.
Can the PC-12 NGX operate overwater?
Pilatus certifies the PC-12 for extended overwater operations under FAA Part 135, subject to operator authorization. Tradewind Aviation uses the type on Caribbean inter-island routes. The PT6E engine family has a strong dispatch reliability record, which supports overwater single-engine approvals.
Can the PC-12 land on unpaved runways?
Yes. The PC-12 was designed for soft-field and unimproved operations from the start. Fixed main gear, a robust airframe, and a moderate approach speed handle gravel and grass strips. Several Mountain West and Alaska operators use it on unimproved surfaces year-round.
Available Empty Legs on PC-12 NGXs
PC-12 NGXs for Charter (207) Page 4 of 5
Where PC-12 NGXs actually fly
ADS-B-tracked flights from the trailing 90 days. Numbers cover aircraft on our charter database; private corporate fleets and operators using PIA registration are not in this count. Methodology →
Top routes
Busiest origins
| White Plains (KHPN) | 801 |
| Lanai City (PHNY) | 719 |
| Honolulu, Oahu (PHNL) | 662 |
| Teterboro (KTEB) | 583 |
| Bedford (KBED) | 400 |
| Portsmouth (KPSM) | 379 |
| Atlanta (KPDK) | 354 |
| Spokane (KSFF) | 351 |
| Renton (KRNT) | 339 |
| Tuckernuck Island (MA72) | 312 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt Air, LLC | 43 | 7,695 |
| Tradewind Aviation, LLC | 22 | 3,485 |
| LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK LLC | 15 | 2,583 |
| Western Aircraft, Inc. | 11 | 1,571 |
| McLean Aviation Services, Inc. | 6 | 866 |
| STEELMAN AVIATION INC | 4 | 521 |
| AVERA MCKENNAN | 2 | 391 |
| SEA TO SKY AIR, INC. | 2 | 365 |
| SIERRA SKYPORT LTD | 6 | 350 |
| ADVANCED AIR LLC | 1 | 310 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the PC-12 NGX on the dimensions that matter most.