Qatar Emiri Air Force orders two Pilatus PC-24 super versatile jets

Pilatus PC-24 light business jet takes off from unpaved runway.

Qatar Emiri Air Force is to field a pair of Pilatus PC-24 light busines jets, the Swiss manufacturer revealed in its annual results report on April 22. The deal, which was originally signed in November last year, also includes a five-year support contract to provide on-site technical assistance.

With this order, the Qatar Emiri Air Force will become the second military customer for the PC-24 after the Swiss Air Force. The service plans to use the aircraft for VIP transportation and pilot training.

Qatar Emiri Air Force Academy commander-general Eisa Rashid Al-Mohannadi said: “Our Pilatus PC-21 trainer fleet has been the backbone of our pilot training system for the past six years. Based on this good experience, we have decided to use the PC-24 to provide advanced training to our multi-engine crews, and also for VIP transportation.”

The order for the PC-24 from Qatar marks a new milestone for a very young program. Just six years after its first flight, which took place in May 2015, the company has already delivered its 100th PC-24 at the end of 2020. With 24 deliveries last year, the aircraft is part of Pilatus's 2020 highlights along with the order for 24 PC -21 trainer aircraft from Spain.

Pilatus regards the PC-24 as the world’s first Super Versatile Jet. “It’s the only aircraft combining the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a medium-light jet, and the performance of a light jet. It’s a plane that simply doesn’t fit into any of the existing business jet categories. That’s why we had to create a new one: the Super Versatile Jet (SVJ) category. The PC-24 has been engineered to be “off-road” compatible from the beginning. Its outstanding short-field performance – even on unpaved runways – opens up an incredible level of mobility,” the company says.

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Written by Matteo Sanzani