Pilatus Aircraft: aircraft manufacturer

European aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft, or Pilatus, is a Swiss aircraft manufacturer. Since 2013, the company has been led by its current CEO Markus Bucher.

Pilatus Aircraft pilatus was founded in 1939. Its head office is in Stans, Switzerland.

The aircraft manufacturer specialises not in large commercial airliners, but in light aircraft and regional jets.

Pilatus pilatus is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of single-engine turboprop aircraft. AEROAFFAIRES presents Pilatus Aircraft, this Swiss aircraft manufacturer, its history, its actions and also its fleet of aircraft.

Pilatus today:

A few figures:

The Swiss aeronautics company stands out with a few key figures:

• • 100% Swiss: All Pilatus shareholders are Swiss nationals.

• • 1,116 million euros: This is the turnover corresponding to sales of Pilatus private jets in 2021.

• • 2,316: The number of employees at Pilatus Aircraft in 2021. The aircraft manufacturer trains around 140 apprentices in 14 different trades.

• • 4,240 : This is the number of aircraft that the Swiss aircraft manufacturer has delivered to date.

• • More than 1,800: This is the number of Pilatus PC-12s in circulation. Almost a third of all aircraft sales are Pilatus PC-12 models. It is the Swiss company’s real best-seller.
• • 60: More than 60 Pilatus sales and service outlets around the world. It is the only Swiss aircraft manufacturer to be present on every continent.

A private jet manufacturer committed to the environment:

Like many other aircraft manufacturers, environmental issues are at the heart of their actions and flying hours.

Protecting the environment is an issue to which Pilatus is trying to respond.

The aircraft manufacturer pays particular attention to the materials it uses and the resources available. Did you know that the manufacturer has sustainable infrastructures in Switzerland that are powered by renewable energy? This is the case for their buildings. Most of them are heated using sustainable energy from a wood-gas plant located near the main factory. Among other things, the plant uses wood waste to run its operations.

In addition, since 2014, aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has been using its own solar and hydroelectric power stations to supply itself with renewable electricity.

For Pilatus, being environmentally conscious is not just a necessity, but an obligation.

The history of the aircraft manufacturer Pilatus from 1939 to 1943 :

• 1939: The story begins on 16 December. A maintenance operation was set up in Switzerland. It was set up in the canton of Nidwalden, in the town of Stans. The aim is to meet the demands of the country’s air force. Pilatus was born.

At that time, the whole aeronautical sector (aerospace, commercial aviation, military aircraft, etc.) was reinventing itself, particularly in the wake of the Second World War. Innovations flourished and developed. Pilatus Aircraft took advantage of this boom in the aviation market to become one of the pioneers in the field to this day

• 1940: Pilatus designed its first aircraft. It was a C-35 that required the work of 65 employees.

• 1941: The aircraft manufacturer develops an aircraft for training flights. It was a Pilatus P1 single-seater. Unfortunately, the project was later abandoned. However, the SB-2 Pelican was created at the same time. It was designed to fly easily over the mountainous terrain of the Alps.

• 1942: Pilatus Aircraft is officially inaugurated. The event was attended by General Guisan, Commander-in-Chief of the Swiss Army.

• 1943 : The idea of making training aircraft did not go away with the failure of the Pilatus P1 project. This year saw the arrival of the Pilatus P2 trainer aircraft.

The history of the aircraft manufacturer Pilatus from 1956 to 1959:

• 1956 : The company expands and creates its second aircraft assembly hangar.

• 1959 : Pilatus sees this period as a key moment in its history. The aeronautical company talks of a world breakthrough, thanks in particular to the creation of the Pilatus Porter PC-6. Manufactured for 60 years, this highly versatile aircraft has won unanimous acclaim for its robustness and attractive features. And when you think of mountains, you think of airstrips that are sometimes short and difficult to access, as in Courchevel for example. This is why the Swiss aircraft manufacturer has generally implemented STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. This means they can take off and land on short runways. Pilatus stands out in particular on this criterion, which implies the versatility and efficiency of its aircraft.

The history of the aircraft manufacturer Pilatus from 1996 to the present day:

• 1996: The company expands across the Atlantic. The sales company Pilatus Business Aircraft was set up in Broomfield, Colorado in the United States. This subsidiary was responsible for North and South America for sales and other services dedicated to the flagship models: the Pilatus PC-12 and Pilatus PC-24.

• 1998: The aeronautical company does the same on Australian soil in the city of Adelaide, in the south of Australia. The Pilatus Australia subsidiary is responsible for marketing the PC-24 and PC-12 throughout Oceania.

• 2013: Continuing its expansion, Pilatus creates the Pilatus Aircraft Industry in China, in the city of Chongqing.

To date, the aeronautical company has been managed by Markus Bucher, its CEO since 2013.

The values of the aircraft manufacturer Pilatus:

Pilatus stands out for the plurality of actions and values that the company wishes to transmit. Whether it is to represent the excellence of Swiss workmanship, or its actions to satisfy its customers at all times. Pilatus wishes to demonstrate various values and missions through its aircraft.

Swiss excellence according to Pilatus

Generally speaking, when it says “Swiss Made“, it means meticulousness and cutting-edge technology.

While watchmaking holds this label, it is also very much in evidence in aviation, particularly in terms of air transport safety. At Pilatus, the watchword is quality and safety for all its aircraft.

When it comes to engineering at Pilatus, more than 300 engineers and crew members are working to reinvent aircraft. They are on the lookout for improvements or new ways of designing private jets Pilatus. To do this, Pilatus engineers use the latest aerospace design tools and technologies.

Swiss excellence also extends to the manufacture of the aircraft model. In fact, thanks to a wide range of skills and equipment, Pilatus is able to manufacture most of its aircraft components.

This strengthens the link and collaboration between the engineering and production teams.

Pilatus and safety

With air safety at the forefront, Pilatus works to create products of optimum quality. This is to guarantee its customers ever greater safety.

Pilatus and customer satisfaction

As with Swiss excellence, customer and passenger satisfaction is at the heart of the aircraft manufacturer’s priorities.

Pilatus makes it a point of honour to create high-quality aircraft that are reliable for the captain and capable of carrying passengers in complete safety.

And that’s not all. With 60 sales and contact points across the globe and on every continent, Pilatus is present for all aircraft-related needs. Pilatus is committed to providing support and maintenance to its customers .

Whether it’s airlines or private owners, the aircraft manufacturer is committed to supporting their models throughout the aircraft’s lifetime.

Finally, Pilatus is committed to being available and responsive every day of the year, 24 hours a day from take-off to landing.

All this is done with a view to satisfying our customers’ needs and finding a suitable solution as quickly as possible

The Pilatus aircraft fleet:

Far removed from the aeronautical achievements of American manufacturer Boeing or Canadian manufacturer Bombardier, Pilatus specialises in the machining of small aircraft and has reached cruising speed. It created the Pilatus PC 12 and Pilatus PC 24 for business aviation, then the Pilatus PC 21 for the air force, and finally the PC7-MKX for training flights.

Pilatus PC-12:

This business jet is a single-engine aircraft with an integrated propeller. It is both reliable and safe, and is considered to be the most versatile and popular private jet in the business aviation sector around the world. This private jet offers considerable advantages. It is machined with an essential criterion in order to correspond to the mountainous reliefs and the constraints of the landing strips which there can be in these areas.It can take off and land on very short runways. Examples include Saint-Tropez La Mole, Arcachon Cap Ferret and Gstaad – Saanen

In terms of fares, this aircraft is very cost-effective and offers excellent value for money.

Last but not least, the aircraft has a spacious cabin with room for 8 passengers and a maximum range of 2,750 km. This means it can be used on short routes across Europe, for example.

Examples of fares per route with a Pilatus PC-12 :

From Paris Le Bourget to Geneva: from €15,000

Paris Le Bourget to London: from €11,000

The Pilatus PC-24:

This private jet is a twin-engine aircraft, often referred to as the Super Versatile Jet.

Introduced to the market in 2015, it has some very attractive features.

Like the PC-12, it can land on short runways. It only needs 820 metres to land. Other similar private jets require a minimum 1500 metre runway.

In addition, the PC-24 has reinforced landing gear, enabling it to land on runways with different surfaces.

This multi-purpose aircraft can be modulated to carry freight, cargoor medical evacuations.

The PC-24 can carry up to 11 passengers in remarkable comfort. It has a range of 3,700 km. This makes it ideal for short- and medium-haul business trips.

Examples of fares per route with a Pilatus PC-24 :

From Paris to Saint Tropez La Mole: from €12,000

Berlin to Geneva: from €13,000

” The PC-24 has exceeded our expectations. We are extremely satisfied with its performance. Its ease of use and unique capabilities make it one of the best aircraft for our needs. “

Will Robertson, Chief Pilot, North Slope Borough Search and Rescue.

Pilatus PC-21:

This aircraft was created to provide flight training for Air Force personnel.

It is a training aircraft designed for student pilots. It is not intended for commercial aviation, nor for public passenger transport.

This single-engine turboprop has a low operating cost and excellent performance (as is generally the case with all Pilatus aircraft).

Pilatus PC7-MKX :

As with the PC-21, this aircraft was designed to meet military requirements.

It is another training aircraft designed for future pilots.

The Swiss manufacturer of truboprop aircraft has the lowest operating costs of any similar trainer.

Pilatus offers a flawless aircraft for military training.

Charter a Pilatus with AEROAFFAIRES:

In a few words, Pilatus stands for performance, reliability and, of course, Swiss quality and expertise! Within the manufacturer’s teams, this philosophy is even called the ” PilatusClass”

Find out a little more about the Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus. At AEROAFFAIRES, we can book all types of aircraft! For all your requirements, fill in our online quote form or contact our aviation experts 24/7 on +33 (0)1 44 09 91 82.