Federal Register #2026-22496

FAA proposes software and flight-manual updates for Pilatus PC-24 aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes an airworthiness directive for Pilatus PC-24 aircraft; this is a regulatory action, not a product solicitation. - Government buyer: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). - OEM: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., manufacturer of the affected Model PC-24 aircraft. EASA is also mentioned as the source of incorporated airworthiness requirements. - Proposed compliance requirements for an estimated 150 U.S.-registered aircraft: - Install Primus APEX DFZ Build 6.0 software. The figure of 150 is an estimated number of affected aircraft, not a purchase quantity. - Revise the airplane flight manual (AFM), inserting AFM-TR 02371-075 in the Abnormal Procedures section and AFM-TR 02371-081 in the Normal Procedures section after software installation. A qualified owner/operator pilot may perform the AFM revisions. - The action addresses inaccurate flight-director calculations that could cause approach-course offsets, increase pilot workload, and reduce safety margins. It would supersede an existing airworthiness directive.

Description

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive 2025-20-02, which applies to Pilatus Model PC-24 airplanes. The proposed directive would require installing updated Primus APEX DFZ Build 6.0 software and incorporating applicable revised operational instructions into the airplane flight manual. The action addresses flight director calculation errors that can cause lateral offsets from the desired approach course, increased pilot workload, and reduced safety margins. Comments are due December 21, 2026.

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