FAA Wants Pilatus PC-24s to Get a Software Tune-Up
Published Date: 11/4/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
Pilatus PC-24 airplane owners, listen up! The FAA wants you to upgrade your plane’s software and update the flight manual with new instructions to keep flying safe. This replaces last year’s temporary fix and needs to be done soon—comments are open until December 21, 2026, so don’t wait to act!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
PC-24 owners must install new flight software
If you own or operate a Pilatus PC-24, this proposed AD would require installing Primus APEX DFZ Build 6.0 software and then updating the airplane flight manual (AFM) with AFM-TR 02371-081. The FAA estimates the rule would affect 150 U.S.-registered airplanes and estimates labor for the software install at 4 work-hours (4 x $85 = $340) plus $1,000 in parts for a cost per airplane of $1,340 (total estimated cost $201,000).
Action aims to prevent flight director errors
The FAA proposes this AD to prevent heading splits that can cause inaccurate flight director calculations on approach, which can produce lateral offsets to the desired approach course and increase pilot workload. The AD states the unsafe condition could result in increased pilot workload and a reduction of safety margins if not addressed.
AFM revision can be done by the pilot
The proposed AD allows the owner/operator (a pilot holding at least a private pilot certificate) to revise the AFM and requires entering compliance into maintenance records under 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The FAA estimates the AFM revision is 1 work-hour at $85 per airplane (total estimated cost $12,750 for 150 airplanes).
FAA removes reporting requirement to manufacturer
EASA AD 2026-0149 specifies submitting certain information to the manufacturer, but this FAA proposed AD explicitly states it does not include that reporting requirement. That means operators are not required by the FAA AD to send those reports to the manufacturer.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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