IATA PAGICAO PA46

Piper PA-46

Piper

TravelerPulse profile

Piper's high-performance single-engine piston and turboprop cabin-class aircraft.

First flight

1982

Category

Piston/turboprop general aviation

Seating

5–6

Range

~2,800 km (M600)

Engines

Single piston (Continental TSIO-520) or single turboprop (PT6A series depending on variant)

Status

In production

The Piper PA-46 is a family of single-engine, cabin-class aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft. It was originally introduced as the Malibu in 1983, featuring a pressurized cabin that set it apart from most light piston aircraft of its era. The design offered six-seat accommodation, retractable landing gear, and a relatively high cruise altitude capability. Over the years, the PA-46 family has expanded to include multiple variants: the piston-powered Malibu and Malibu Mirage, and the turboprop-powered Malibu Meridian and M600. The M600, introduced in 2017, represents the most advanced iteration, featuring a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 engine and advanced avionics including the Garmin G3000 suite with optional Autoland capability. The PA-46 series is widely used by private owners, charter operators, and owner-flown businesses seeking a capable, pressurized single-engine aircraft with good range and comfort. The M600 SLS variant introduced Garmin's Autoland emergency autopilot system, a significant safety innovation for general aviation.

Notable operators

Operated primarily by private owners and small charter companies; no major commercial airlines operate the PA-46.

Notable facts

›The original PA-46 Malibu was the first pressurized piston aircraft designed and built by Piper.
›The M600 SLS features Garmin Autoland, which can autonomously land the aircraft in an emergency.
›Pressurization allows the aircraft to cruise at altitudes up to approximately 30,000 feet in certain variants.
›The Malibu Meridian introduced turboprop power to the PA-46 line in 2000.
›Early Malibu models experienced engine problems with the Continental TSIO-520, leading many owners to convert to turboprop power.