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Property of the month Pilatus PC-12

I must be one of the only designers who has had the wonderful privilege of being flown by my client, who is both owner and pilot of the plane. And an excellent pilot he was too.’ But Cape Town-based interior designer Jayne Wunder had what was for her a unique experience before that: masterminding the elegant interior and striking exterior of her client’s new Pilatus PC-12 eight-seater private jet.

(Left: A chic, opulent flying experience was the goal. The flight is meant to be an exciting part of their business or holiday trip.)

This was the first time that I had been asked to design the interior of an aircraft,’ says Jayne. ‘My usual briefs range from residential to commercial space, so this was a huge challenge. I had worked with the owner before and, luckily for me, he gave me carte blanche to specify whatever fabrics, finishes and trimmings I thought were appropriate. I love nudes and taupes, so that was my starting palette.’

The plane was built in Stans, Switzerland, and the kitting out of the interior and painting of the striking silver-and-navy fuselage were also done there to satisfy rules and regulations. ‘There is a considerable amount of safety and systems integration that the manufacturer insisted on having control over.

Combined with Pilatus’s requirement that all materials be of aviation standard, this meant that none of the work could be done here,’ Jayne explains. The company has built a solid reputation since its beginnings in 1939.

Keeping in mind the fact that all the materials had to be of aviation grade, Jayne began sourcing. When she came across some exquisite taupe-stained walnut with Chinese lacquer (as opposed to the more common yellowy walnut), it was her ‘eureka!’ moment. She based the rest of the design around ‘this magnificent timber’ and used it extensively for the internal walls of the plane. An off-white wool carpet – ‘dangerous for dirt, I know!’ she laughs – was chosen for the floor.

Although the PC-12 is an eight-seater, the layout was reconfigured to six seats, with the two seats at the rear able to swivel. All the seats can be moved into the centre aisle if necessary. Jayne covered them in butter-soft calf skin of a slightly different hue to the subtle taupe of the shell and ceiling. The practical foldaway tabletop was covered in the same leather so that glasses or paperwork don’t slide around in Cape Town’s notorious Southeaster.

(Left: As the largest member of the high-performance Pilatus family, the sleek PC-12 is big enough to take Jayne and her luxurious luggage, with room to spare. Other versions can take up to nine passengers in comfort or even be used as emergency air ambulances - with less sexy and far more practical fittings, naturally.)

And forget cold stainless-steel buckles or plastic light and air-conditioning fittings – Jayne selected these fixtures in a luxurious pale bronze. ‘My client and his passengers are very sophisticated. A chic, opulent flying experience was the goal. The flight is meant to be an exciting part of their business or holiday trip,’ says Jayne.

Although she had never tackled anything similar before and the jet was assembled entirely in Switzerland, Jayne got to grips with the smaller proportions (the cabin length is 5.16m, the width 1.53m and the height only 1.47m - no grand double-volume spaces here!) by viewing the same model in South Africa, and incorporated these specifications into her planning. This ensured that the 35-week project went ‘completely smoothly from start to finish.’

Although the interior of the plane is soft, warm, welcoming and peaceful, the exterior is as smart as a newly minted banknote. The client didn’t want stripes or speed streaks painted on the exterior and settled on a crisp combination of silver and navy blue instead. The nose and aluminium propellers shine up so brilliantly that one lady was caught using them as a mirror to touch up her lipstick!

The PC-12 is perfect for flights to remote game lodges in places like Botswana because it needs only a short runway for take-off and landing. And the dirt runways found in the bush pose no problem either.

When the owner is not flying his family and friends around southern Africa, he leases his plane to ExecuJet for chartering purposes. More and more South Africans are starting to appreciate the convenience of chartering a plane for short-haul trips: no more soulless departure terminals, long queues or fellow passengers spilling onto your side of the seat.

Jayne saw the completed jet for the first time when it landed at Lanseria International Airport in Gauteng about eight months after she was first briefed for the project. It was exactly as she had imagined and hoped it would be. And the pilot in charge of flying it all the way from Switzerland? The thrilled owner, of course!

How to choose a charter company As with any airline, check the charter company’s safety, reliability and service reputation. The South African Civil Aviation Authority and CAASA (Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa) are the best places to start. Look for independent accreditations, such as ISO.

According to Attie Niemann of the National Airways Corporation, ‘Carriers that have their own maintenance and infrastructure normally separate themselves from the “fly-by-night” carriers.’ Enquire about the company’s insurance cover - always a good indicator of its size and backing. And avoid owner-operated, smaller carriers that are only as strong financially as their owners.

Most air charters specialise in trips to game lodges, Victoria Falls, Namibia and remote areas that may take days to get to by road. A larger outfit can handle all necessary arrangements, from passenger collection to accommodation bookings and car hire, as well as supplying VIP service, including full catering.

Rovos Air, operating out of Lanseria International Airport, offers luxury safari and beach holidays on classic Douglas and Dakota planes. Their all-inclusive two-night trip to Bazaruto Island off Mozambique starts at R148 000 per person sharing.

Pilatus Aircraft www.pilatus-aircraft.com , +41 41 619 6296