Press Release

Tradewind co-founder and CCO David Zipkin with co-founder and CEO Eric Zipkin, COO Adam Shaefer and director of maintenance Kyle Haines.

Issued by Tradewind Aviation.

December 11, 2023

Tradewind Aviation, the acclaimed US private aviation specialist and pioneer of the shared charter concept, is thrilled to announce the receipt of two new Pilatus PC-12 NGX turboprops from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. The arrival of these two new aircraft brings Tradewind's fleet of Pilatus PC-12s up to 27, firmly establishing Tradewind as the largest operator of Pilatus PC-12s for on-demand private charter in the United States.

The two new aircraft were flown in by Tradewind pilots following fine-tuning at the manufacturer's U.S. facility in Broomfield, Colorado, and put directly into Tradewind's service at Westchester County Airport in New York. Tradewind is expecting 15 more deliveries of Pilatus PC-12 NGX and these will follow the same path, arriving at a rate of three to four aircraft per year over the next four years, with Tradewind pilots participating in some of the repositioning flights from Pilatus' Switzerland factory.

2023 was a banner year for Tradewind, and the private aviation operator experienced unparalleled growth, with demand topping that of peak-pandemic levels where the entire private aviation sector saw a surge in demand. With sustained demand for Tradewind's private charter and scheduled service flights expected into 2024, the addition of new turboprops serves to strengthen the Tradewind Aviation fleet to ensure Tradewind can continue to fulfill clients' regional mobility needs throughout the northeast, southeast and Caribbean regions.

Tradewind and Pilatus have a longstanding relationship, beginning in 2003 when the airline began building a fleet with Pilatus PC-12s to improve the flight experience for its guests. Tradewind continues to invest in new Pilatus PC-12 NGX planes as the model is superior to the comp set and allows for Tradewind to grow its business while continuing to serve its guests with the very best flight experience. The NGX turboprop is the latest iteration of the Pilatus PC-12 model and features enhancements that improve on reliability, efficiency and passenger comfort, in addition to its standard features, which support Tradewind's mission of providing a first-in-class experience for every flight.

“In 2023 we saw the launch of our southeast base, addition of a hangar at Hudson Valley Regional Airport, and the arrival of five new Pilatus PC-12 NGX to our growing fleet. The arrival of these new aircraft is a celebratory moment for us, and we're happy to end the year on such a high note,” said Eric Zipkin, co-founder and CEO of Tradewind Aviation. “As we look to 2024, we anticipate another year of strong growth as we continue to expand our fleet and strengthen our operations in the northeast, southeast and throughout the Caribbean.”