Pilatus PC-12 PRO Safety Autoland gains FAA and EASA approval

Pilatus announced last week that its PC-12 PRO Safety Autoland system has received certification from both the FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, clearing the emergency landing function for operational use, according to AVweb. The approval follows final certification flights that demonstrated automated operation from system activation through landing, communications and engine shutdown.

Safety Autoland is integrated into the PC-12 PRO's Garmin G3000 PRIME flight deck and is designed primarily for pilot-incapacitation emergencies. The system can activate automatically if it detects pilot inactivity or manually when an occupant presses a dedicated emergency button. The system then analyzes weather, aircraft status and navigation data before selecting an airport and calculating a route.

During the flight and approach, Autoland accounts for factors including weather, terrain and available fuel while managing the aircraft through the landing. It can communicate with air traffic control, provide status updates and alert emergency services before bringing the aircraft to a stop and shutting down the engine.

Approval follows PC-12 PRO deliveries

The PC-12 PRO received its initial FAA and EASA approvals in 2025 and began deliveries later that year, including its first U.S. delivery in November. Those aircraft incorporated the Safety Autoland system, but the function was still awaiting its separate certification. Garmin said when the PC-12 PRO was introduced that Autoland was expected to become available in 2026.

For owners of PC-12 PRO aircraft delivered in late 2025, it is unclear from available reporting whether the autoland function can be activated through a software update or whether a hardware modification is required to enable the system on existing aircraft. Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales, Marketing, Programs and Support Carl Wolf said when the avionics suite was announced that "G3000 PRIME will significantly modernize the cockpit experience in the PC-12 PRO, and we are confident Pilatus customers will enjoy the state-of-the-art system with all of the safety tool features it includes."