The new Pilatus PC-12 PRO has received US and European certification for an emergency system capable of taking control of the aircraft and landing it automatically if the pilot becomes incapacitated.
The Safety Autoland function has been approved by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Pilatus announced.
Autoland is integrated into the Garmin G3000 PRIME flight deck introduced with the PC-12 PRO. It can be activated manually by an occupant or automatically if the aircraft detects prolonged pilot inactivity.
Once activated, the system assumes control and evaluates weather, fuel, aircraft status and navigation information to select a suitable airport. Its calculations take into account runway length, wind and terrain before establishing a route to the chosen destination.
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The system then controls the aircraft throughout the flight and approach, including operation of the flaps, landing gear, exterior lights and de-icing equipment. It can also transmit automated radio messages on appropriate frequencies to inform air traffic control and other aircraft about the emergency.
After touchdown, the PC-12 PRO brakes to a stop and shuts down the engine without requiring intervention from an occupant.
Autoland tested during certification flights
Pilatus said the system underwent extensive testing during the final PC-12 PRO certification campaign, including demonstrations covering the entire sequence from activation through autonomous flight, landing and engine shutdown.
Unlike conventional automatic landing systems, which generally require pilots to configure and monitor an approach, Garmin's emergency Autoland technology was developed specifically to bring an aircraft safely to the ground when the pilot can no longer fly it.
The technology has previously been certified on several general aviation aircraft, including the Piper M600/SLS and Daher TBM 940. Its introduction on the PC-12 comes with the latest generation of one of the world's most widely used single-engine turboprops.
Pilatus unveiled the PC-12 PRO in March 2025 as the successor to the PC-12 NGX. The new version introduced the three-display Garmin G3000 PRIME cockpit with touchscreen controls and replaces the previous Honeywell avionics architecture.
The aircraft retains the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-67XP turboprop used by the NGX, producing 1,200 shaft horsepower and driving a five-blade Hartzell propeller.
The PC-12 PRO is scheduled to begin customer deliveries in 2026. Pilatus has delivered more than 2,000 aircraft from the PC-12 family since the type entered service in 1994.
