Pilatus PC-12 NG at a glance: a turboprop with up to 8 passenger seats, cruising at 260 kt (482 km/h) with a range of about 1,500 NM (2,778 km). Wingspan 16.28 m, length 14.4 m, maximum take-off weight 4,740 kg, ceiling 30,000 ft. It needs roughly 2,650 ft of runway and can use unpaved airstrips. Charter planning rates in Africa start around US$2,500 per flight hour.
Overview
The Pilatus PC-12 NG is a single-engine turboprop that has become a favourite for African charter thanks to its rare blend of speed, cabin comfort and true short-field, unpaved capability. It seats up to eight in a pressurised, air-conditioned cabin, cruises far faster than piston twins, and still operates confidently from gravel and grass strips. For safari-and-business trips that mix a bush strip at one end and a city airport at the other, the PC-12 is hard to beat.
Key specifications
Manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft, 1994-present.
Detailed specifications
Pilatus PC-12 NG charter cost per hour
Our 2026 planning rate for the Pilatus PC-12 NG is about US$ 2,500 per flight hour. That hourly rate is only part of a charter price. The operator also bills the time spent flying the aircraft in from its base and back again, airport, handling and navigation fees, crew overnights on multi-day trips and, on short sectors, a daily minimum — so a one-hour flight rarely costs one hour’s rate. A route search prices the full rotation for the Pilatus PC-12 NG, positioning included, next to every other aircraft that can fly it.
Chartering the Pilatus PC-12 NG in Africa
For charter across Africa, the Pilatus PC-12 NG is typically positioned from its home base to your departure airport, flown to your destination, and returned afterwards — the estimate you see on a route search already accounts for this full rotation. Whether it suits a given trip depends on the runway at each end, the distance, and how many seats you need. Search any route to see a live estimate for the Pilatus PC-12 NG alongside every other aircraft that can fly it, then send an enquiry to have operators confirm the exact price.
Images are representative of the aircraft type — the actual aircraft, cabin layout and interior finish depend on the operating carrier. Specifications are typical planning figures for charter use and vary by individual aircraft configuration. Charter prices are computed estimates confirmed by the operating carrier through the inquiry process.