Pilatus has secured EASA and FAA certification for Safety Autoland on the PC-12 PRO. The approval adds another layer of protection to a widely used executive turboprop and is particularly relevant to single-pilot operations.
Certified in Europe and the United States.
Automatic or manual from the passenger cabin.
Garmin avionics with 14-inch touchscreens.
Included on the PC-12 PRO.
A response to pilot incapacitation
Safety Autoland can be activated manually from the passenger cabin. It can also engage automatically when the aircraft detects prolonged pilot inactivity.
Once activated, the system evaluates range, runway length, weather, terrain and obstacles to select a suitable airport. It then navigates the aircraft, communicates with air traffic control and provides information to passengers through the cabin displays.
From cruise to a complete stop
The automation continues through approach and landing. Safety Autoland configures the aircraft, touches down, applies the brakes, stops the aircraft and shuts down the engine. It can also alert emergency services.
The feature is integrated into the PC-12 PRO flight deck, based on Garmin G3000 PRIME with 14-inch touch displays. Pilatus includes Safety Autoland as standard equipment.
Safety Autoland is not autonomous flight for routine operations. It is a dedicated emergency layer for a scenario in which the pilot can no longer continue.
Why it matters to business aviation
The certification is especially significant for single-pilot operations. It does not replace training, experience or pilot judgement, but it creates an option when the person at the controls is incapacitated and nobody else aboard is qualified to fly.
For operators and clients, that additional protection may strengthen confidence in efficient, versatile aircraft such as the PC-12 PRO. It also shows how automation is moving beyond workload reduction to address a specific, high-consequence emergency.
Safety Autoland cannot remove risk. It can, however, materially expand the choices available in one of the most difficult situations possible aboard an aircraft.
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