# 2026-22496: FAA Wants Pilatus PC-24s to Get a Software Tune-Up

2026-22496, Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-11-04, effective The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 21, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22496
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-22496
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 69506
- Published: 2026-11-04
- Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 21, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-12-21
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-11-04

## In one line

FAA Wants Pilatus PC-24s to Get a Software Tune-Up

## 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!

## Abstract

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-20-02, which applies to all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-24 airplanes. AD 2025-20-02 requires incorporating a temporary revision into the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) for the affected airplanes, which revises the Abnormal Procedures Section. That action was considered an interim action. Since the FAA issued AD 2025- 20-02, updated software has been developed and instructions have been issued for installing the software. In addition, revised operational instructions have been issued that are applicable after installation of the updated software. This proposed AD would require installing the updated software and incorporating the applicable revised operational instructions into the AFM. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- PC-24 owners must install new flight software: cost, high. 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 in…
- AFM revision can be done by the pilot: benefit, low. 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 estimat…
- FAA removes reporting requirement to manufacturer: benefit, low. 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.
- Action aims to prevent flight director errors: benefit, medium. 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 redu…

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## Sources
- [2026-22496 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/04/2026-22496/airworthiness-directives-pilatus-aircraft-ltd)
- [2026-22496 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-04/pdf/2026-22496.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-22495, Large-Bank Deposit Insurance Determination Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22495)
- [Next: 2026-22506, Guidance on Eligible Investments for Trump Accounts; Hearing](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22506)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22496 (as of 2026-11-04).