Pilatus Secures Certification For PC-12 PRO Simulator

Why It Matters

The dual certification unlocks cost‑effective, high‑fidelity training for PC‑12 operators, accelerating fleet upgrades and supporting sustainability goals in the general‑aviation market.

Key Takeaways

• EASA and FAA certify Pilots' PC-12 PRO simulator
• Approved as FAA Level 6 flight training device
• Enables training for PC-12 PRO, NG, NGX transitions
• Reduces flight hours, training costs, and emissions
• First full‑motion unit slated for 2028 at Fly7 Lausanne

Pulse Analysis

The simultaneous approval of Pilatus’s PC‑12 PRO simulator by EASA and the FAA marks a rare alignment of European and American safety standards for a single training device. By meeting the stringent criteria for an FAA Level 6 flight training device, the simulator can be integrated into accredited curricula on both continents, giving flight schools a unified platform for PC‑12 instruction. This regulatory milestone reduces the administrative burden for training providers, who no longer need separate simulators for each jurisdiction, and signals Pilatus’s commitment to global compliance.

The PC‑12 PRO simulator mirrors the aircraft’s Garmin G3000 PRIME cockpit, delivering high‑fidelity replication of normal, abnormal and weather‑related procedures. For pilots moving from legacy PC‑12 NG or NGX models, the device shortens the required in‑aircraft flight time by allowing extensive procedural practice on the ground. Operators can therefore lower training expenditures, which traditionally run into tens of thousands of dollars per pilot, while also cutting fuel burn and associated CO₂ emissions. This aligns with the broader industry push toward greener, more cost‑effective general‑aviation operations.

Pilatus plans to roll out the first full‑motion PC‑12 PRO simulator in 2028 at Fly7’s Lausanne training centre, a move that could set a new benchmark for high‑end general‑aviation simulators. The availability of a motion‑enabled platform will likely attract additional training contracts from operators seeking to certify crews on the latest PC‑12 variant without expanding their aircraft fleet. Competitors such as CAE and FlightSafety may feel pressure to accelerate their own certification efforts for comparable turboprop trainers. Ultimately, broader adoption of certified simulators could reshape pilot‑training economics and accelerate fleet modernization across the sector.