Since its debut in 1991, the Pilatus PC-12, a single-engined, turboprop aircraft, has been known for its dependability and versatility. The type’s popularity is demonstrated by the fact that there are more than 2,000 examples of it manufactured across four different variations. According to the manufacturer’s data, the PC-12 was the The United States has the most frequently flown commercial aircraft in terms of air travel Between August 2023 and July 2024.
The PC-12 possesses the following capabilities::
Depending on the configuration, the maximum number of people can be eaten. When a single-pilot maneuver takes place, an extra passenger sits in the right-hand seat next to the pilot, increasing the seating capacity to 10 passengers
The operational range varies depending on the mission, such as executive travel, passenger-cargo combi or pure cargo operations, and medical/emergency response missions
The competitiveness of the Pilatus PC-12 is attributed to its Technical attributes
The aircraft possesses some remarkable capabilities
The article discusses seven PC-12 operators who use the aircraft for Air Ambulance operations across the globe
1. RFDS stands for the Royal Flying Doctor Service
The PC-12s are among the 81 planes that make up the Australian Air Ambulance’s fleet
With 19 out of 81 aircraft in the Pilatus PC-12 fleet, it is capable of carrying passengers from urban airports to airstrips in Australia’s outback
Australia’s Northern Territory and South Australia are the regions where the PC-12s are employed for the RFD S. A ccording to the publication, the type has been in use for more than 25 years and is still used today RFDS , the cabin has been configured to accommodate two stretcher beds and three seats. The RFDS fleet’s PC-12s have a range of 1,560 nautical miles
The PC-12, which has all the necessary avionics and is certified for single-pilot operations, provides versatility and ruggedness in various weather conditions and locations, making it a reliable choice for operating in Australia. Additionally, two of the newer PC-24s are employed by the RFDS in these two Australian territories
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2. AMS, the Red Cross Air Mercy Service, operates in South Africa
The AMS provides medical services round the clock, around the country, using PC-12s and helicopters
The South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service operates a fleet of seven Pilatus PC-12s that provides medical services at all times of the day and night, providing life-saving connectivity to rural areas
According to the AMS , the PC-12s in their fleet have been configured to have an “intensive care-type interior”, with the nine-seater cabin capable of accommodating up to three stretcher patients. Its range, speed and ability to land on airstrips make it the perfect aircraft for the AMS to provide personnel transportation and medical outreach services
Besides air ambulances, the AMS also manages AgustaWestland helicopters that are equipped with advanced technologies like night-vision goggles and can also perform rescue missions
3. Ornge
The PC-12 fleet of Ontario’s air ambulance service is operated from 14 bases throughout the province
In Ontario, Ornge Air Ambulance Services is a non-profit air ambulance service provider that manages ten Pilatus PC-12s, five Leonardo helicopters and three land ambulances. Ornge has been commissioned to supply 12 additional PC-12s between 2026-2030, and since 2009, the operator has consistently operated the machines
Ornge’s current fleet of eight PC-12s will be replaced by 12 new Pilatus PC12.
According to Pilatus’ report, Ornge has a population of over 13 million and transports around 20,000 patients each year, making it the largest air ambulance and land ambulance fleet in Canada
Furthermore, according to Ch-aviation. Com , Ornge will also be adding a pair of the next-generation PC-24s to its fleet, thereby enabling the operator to carry out non-stop medical service missions to places that previously required a technical stop for refueling due to the lower range of the PC-12s
4. Air Methods
“Bed-to-Bee” medical transport is provided by Air Methods, a company that operates from the United States and uses Pilatus PC-12s
The fleet of PC-12s from Air Methods has been equipped with all the essential medical technology needed for paramedics to provide life-saving capabilities to a patient on the vessel
Air Methods ‘published information reveals the following about the PC-12s in their fleet::
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Nearly 300 miles per hour |
Air Methods’ service is available 24/7, with a sufficient number of crew members on standby for fixed-wing operations and medical services provided by helicopters
With a fleet of over 450 aircraft, Air Methods can transport patients to the nearest healthcare facility in its partnership portfolio, which includes many healthcare providers across the country
5. Dala Air
The operator is the pioneer in Air Ambulance services in Central Asia, utilizing two PC-12s
Dala Air, the first operator to offer Air ambulance services in Kazakhstan, is also the largest operator providing these services within the region. As per Business Air News , Dala Air has a fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, which four Pilatus PC-12s
The aircraft type’s reliability and ability to function in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and beyond makes it a good fit for the operator who is conducting medical missions
According to the operator, their fleet of PC-12s has a range of 1,514 nautical miles, and they can carry up to eight passengers on missions lasting between two and five hours
Aircraft can be used for Air ambulance services in the area provided by Dala Air because they have the ability to fly in and out of airfields in remote areas, and also provide space for patients to board and de-board in stretchers through the wide aft cargo door to and from the cabin
6. Guardian Flight
Air ambulance services that are essential for Grand Forks and surrounding areas in North Dakota, US, are provided by the operator
The local air ambulance service, now known as Valley Med Flight, was established in 2010 and has been operating since 2020. It is based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Nevertheless, the organization has expanded and established bases in other places since that time
A fleet of 60 aircraft, including a few Pilatus PC-12s, is part of the U. S. M ilitary
Guardian Flight’s PC-12s can carry up to 7 passengers, with a maximum operational range of 1,635 nautical miles and cruising at 280 knots. The Pilatus PC-12s are not the only aircraft available from Guardian Flights::
- Beechcraft King Air C90B
- Beechcraft King Air 200
- Cessna 208 Caravan
- Leerjet 45
- Airbus H130
- Airbus AS350B3e
Guardian Flight’s nine bases across four states are where these aircraft operate, as reported by Global Medical Response
7. SkyCare Repatriation
The United Kingdom will soon have a new Air Ambulance service
A new air ambulance service provider called SkyCare Repatriation is based at Biggin Hill Airport (BQH) in London, and it has been operational for just under two months. According to AIN , the organization is part of the B MA mbulance group, which already has a ground fleet of 60 vehicles connecting patients to various medical facilities
According to FlightRadar24. Com , SkyCare took delivery of a brand-new PC-12 on January 14th, which has since flown once from BQH to London Southend Airport (SEN). SkyCare, which is based at BQH, can benefit from the airport’s location and the Pilatus service center that provides operational solutions. With a base of just 12 miles from central London, SkyCare also offers its customers the choice of using Castle Air’s helicopter services, which can provide transfers to Battersea on the Thames River in as little as six minutes
With SkyCare, clients can receive bed-to-bed transfer, medical escort services, UK airside and inter-hospital transfers, and personalized repatriation solutions. The company can also transport its aircraft to European destinations and, if required, SkyCare can assist with the transportation of patients for longer-distance missions by arranging larger aircraft for direct flights
Ideal for medical services and air ambulance operations
The Pilatus PC-12 is an obvious choice for its reliability, ability to be configured with the latest medical equipment, and its operational versatility, which allows it to operate in both urban and rural environments
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