Pilatus has successfully flown the first of 35 South African Air Force PC-7 Mk.II advanced trainers to have undergone a comprehensive avionics upgrade.
The upgrade sees the aircraft fitted with a digital ‘glass’ cockpit replacing obsolete and difficult to support analogue equipment to see the aircraft through to their planned withdrawal from service date.
The first upgrade was completed in Switzerland by Pilatus, but the remaining upgrades will be performed in South Africa by Aerosud with the support of Pilatus field engineers. The work is expected to be completed by 2012.
