Several times a year, share owners’ new Pilatus PC-12s make their journey from Switzerland, past the North Pole to Portsmouth, NH, where they officially join the PlaneSense® fleet. Perhaps their longest trip ever, the journey covers over 3,500 miles, stopping by a couple of interesting spots that have become used to these blue and white aircraft. The trip includes:
- Reykjavik, Iceland (BIRK) Capital of Iceland, only two degrees south of the Arctic Circle. Four hours of sunlight on its shortest day in the winter and almost 24 hours of daylight during the summer. Considered to be one of the world’s greenest cities thanks to geothermal heating systems fed by volcanic activity.
- Kagerlussuaq, Greenland (BGSF) American aircraft stopover during WWII and now serves as main staging area for Greenland’s many research facilities and base camps. The only direct path to the ice sheet. Current population is 556, supporting airport, science and tourist activities.
- Goose Bay, Canada (CYYR) Also known as Happy Valley. Long, cold, snowy winters. Short, mild summers. Average high temperature stays below freezing five months of the year. 180 inches of snowfall and 37.4 inches of yearly precipitation. Home to largest military air base in northeastern North America. Used to be alternative landing site for space shuttle.
Once in Portsmouth, PC-12s gets a little extra TLC in the form of customized features, before starting their service to share owners.
