Garmin Emergency Autoland certified for Pilatus PC-12 Pro

Pilatus has received certification from the FAA and EASA for Garmin Emergency Autoland on the PC-12 Pro, according to Flying Magazine. The manufacturer calls the system Safety Autoland.

PC-12 Pros were initially delivered without the capability enabled while Pilatus awaited certification, but the system will be added to those models. It will remain unavailable in regions where it has not been certified.

The PC-12 Pro's advanced cockpit

The PC-12 Pro, unveiled in March 2025, features a completely new cockpit with Garmin's G3000 Prime integrated flight deck, customized for Pilatus. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association called it the "most advanced cockpit to ever be fitted to a single-engine turboprop" in 2025.

The avionics suite includes Garmin SurfaceWatch, Emergency Descent Mode, Emergency Return, Autothrottle, Synthetic Vision Technology, Smart Glide, and a GWX 8000 Digital Weather Radar. The aircraft also carries Pilatus' proprietary Cursor Control Device. Pilots can tailor the flight deck to their preferences and save those settings for recall if another pilot makes changes.

How Safety Autoland works

Garmin's Emergency Autoland is designed to handle situations involving sudden pilot incapacitation, such as a medical emergency or loss of pressurization. The system can be activated by anyone in the aircraft, including passengers, and can be overridden and shut down by the pilot at any time.

Safety Autoland underwent "extensive testing" during final certification flights, with the goal of demonstrating a fully automated landing—from system activation to safe landing and automated communication and engine shutdown—in real-world conditions.

Other PC-12 Pro upgrades

The Pro uses PC-24 style yokes and is equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6E-67XP engine, the same powerplant as the PC-12 NGX. It is powered by an electronic engine and propeller control system called EPECS. The aircraft also includes improvements to the PC-12's integrated Stall Warning and Protection System and Electronic Stability and Protection function.

The Direct Vision cockpit window has been removed to improve exterior visibility. Pilatus describes the PC-12 Pro as the "most technologically advanced, best performing, most reliable aircraft in its class."