Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Pilatus has delivered the first example of its PC-12 Pro turboprop single. Yesterday, the company announced that former Hewlett-Packard CEO Dion Weisler had received the new aircraft at its Swiss headquarters and then personally flew it back to his home in Australia.
Launchd in March, the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-03-14/pilatus-unveils-pc-12-pro-garmin-avionics">PC-12 Pro</a> is fitted with a Garmin G3000 Prime avionics suite featuring five touchscreen displays, replacing the Honeywell Apex system used in the previous PC-12 NG and NGX models. This includes Garmin’s GFC 700 autopilot with autothrottle and emergency autoland system.&nbsp;Additionally, the $6.8 million PC-12 Pro includes a 100-pound maximum payload increase. additional cabin options, and special paint schemes.
The new aircraft is Weisler’s fourth PC-12—he previously owned a PC-12 NG and a pair of PC-12 NGXs. He reached his home in Adelaide after 41 flight hours across six days, with stops in Crete, Egypt, Oman, India, Malaysia, Bali, and Darwin.
“It was an incredible learning opportunity to fly my own aircraft home over such a vast distance with a factory pilot sitting right seat,” Weisler said. “In addition to visiting all these amazing countries, it really allowed me to consolidate the crossover training within the new Garmin cockpit environment and have someone right there to ask any questions about anything that popped up. I am thrilled to own this new intuitive and highly innovative aircraft, and look forward to flying many missions in the future with it.”
According to Pilatus v-p for business aviation André Zimmerman, the improvements introduced with the new Pro model were entirely driven by input from existing customers and the desire to add more value to the aircraft. The new type retains the PC-12 family’s Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6 engine and can operate on sustainable aviation fuel.

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First Pilatus PC-12 Pro Aircraft Owner Flies Aircraft Home to Australia

Australian businessman Dion Weisler recently took delivery of the new model

The launch customer for the Pilatus PC-12 Pro had plenty of time to check out the new Garmin 3000 avionics suite when he flew it from Switzerland to Australia.

First PC-12 Pro Owner Flies Aircraft Home to Australia

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Pilatus PC-12 Series

Pilatus Aircraft

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