Piper Malibu Meridian

Single Turboprop· 437 globally registered

The Piper Meridian is a single-engine turboprop that transformed the PA-46 line from a piston-powered cabin-class aircraft into a pressurized turbine workhorse for owner-pilots and small charter operators. Introduced in 2000, the Meridian pairs a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A engine with the proven PA-46 airframe, delivering 500 shaft horsepower and a maximum cruise speed around 260 knots. Its pressurized cabin climbs to 30,000 feet, offering jet-like comfort and weather-avoidance capability at a fraction of the operating cost of a light jet. The Meridian became popular among business owners and medical transport operators who needed single-pilot IFR capability, known-icing certification, and the ability to carry five passengers in pressurized comfort across 1,000-nautical-mile legs. While it lacks the redundancy of a twin, the PT6A's legendary reliability and the aircraft's full de-ice system made it a practical step-up from high-performance pistons like the Malibu and Mirage. Piper produced the Meridian until 2015, when it was succeeded by the M500 variant with upgraded avionics and minor refinements, but the core design remains one of the most capable single-engine turboprops ever certified for personal and light commercial use. SkyMeter has tracked 1,328 flights across 491 airframes and 353 operators, with PROFESSIONAL WASH AND DETAIL LLC the largest observed operator.