Page 67 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

AT CRUISING ALTITUDE IN 2019

AND PREPARED FOR TURBULENCE

Pilatus has reported another
very successful business year in 2019,
exceeding the one billion mark yet again
with turnover of approximately 1.1
billion Swiss francs or (US) $1.3 billion.
Last year will go down in the Pilatus
company’s 80 year history as a very
u
ccessful twelve months overall.
s
The figures were very similar to those
reported in 2018.
Total aircraft deliveries came in at
134 or 83 PC-12 NGs, 40 PC-24s and 11
PC-21s - the most extensive production
programme yet.
the launch generated a number of orders. for over 25 years.
SUCCESSFUL PC-24 MARKET LAUNCH This month saw the first customers take to
The market rollout of the PC-24 is now the skies in their new NGXs. TURBULENT TIMES IN 2020
complete and Pilatus has left the build-up
phase. MAJOR PC-21 ORDER FROM SPAIN Pilatus started the year with orders worth
Seventy five PC-24s have been delivered Finalised in 2019 and signed in January over two billion Swiss francs, not including
to date and are in use on every continent. 2020, the PC-21 order from Spain is a the major order from the Spanish air force.
The PC-24 with the most hours in the air very important step in securing future But the corona crisis is bound to leave its
has already flown over 1,800 hours. operations. mark, and the promising outlook of the
early weeks of the year has had to be re-
The order book re-opened in May last From 2021 onwards, Pilatus will deliver vised downward. Pilatus was quick to take
year and demand for the world’s unique a total of 24 PC-21s to the Spanish Air appropriate countermeasures, including
Pilatus Super Versatile Jet remains as high Force, the Ejército del Aire. Spain is the the introduction of short-time work for
as ever. The PC-24 has won prestigious new third European air force to opt for this Next large numbers of staff. In the meantime,
clients such as Volkswagen and KSA, the Generation Trainer. If the General Aviation fewer than 20 percent of employees are
Swedish air ambulance service - important Division is indeed heavily impacted by the still affected by this measure. Supply chains
milestones in a programme which is still current economic difficulties, this order remain disrupted, necessitating continuous
young as yet. will prove essential for Pilatus in terms reassessment of the situation.
A comprehensive post-certification test of providing sufficient activity for the
campaign was performed in 2019 to have workforce and continued business success OSCAR J. SCHWENK ON 2019 AND THE
the Super Versatile Jet approved for oper- for the company. FUTURE
ations on rough field runways and in other It demonstrates the importance of the
conditions. All PC-24s are now authorised two-pillar strategy - civilian and military Oscar J. Schwenk, chairman of Pilatus, said,
for use on wet and snow-covered unpaved business - in guaranteeing future economic “I am very pleased with our performance
and grass runways. In the same vein, other viability. in 2019. I note, however, that the corona
PC-24 product improvements have been pandemic has pitched us - and many
made to eliminate initial teething problems Pilatus delivered the last of a total of 49 others - into a period of severe turbulence
and provide customers with extra added PC-21s to the Royal Australian Air Force requiring constant fact-based readjustment
benefits. in November 2019. This delivery - the of our chosen heading. Every pilot learns
final one for the time being - brings the how to make the all-important corrections
EXCELLENT RESPONSE TO THE PC-12 worldwide fleet of PC-21s up to a total of to flight path and altitude. We are doing
211 aircraft.
exactly, reverting to the basics, as taught
NGX from the first hours of flight instruction -
Pilatus launched the PC-12 NGX in autumn EMPLOYEE PROFIT-SHARING encompassed in the term good airmanship
2019 and compared to its predecessor, this At 2,289 the number of full-time jobs - aviate, navigate, communicate. In other
further development of the single-engine across the Pilatus Group increased words, retain control of the business, apply
turboprop in class now has an improved slightly in 2019. The figures for the year an analytical approach to problems and,
engine, smarter avionics and a re-designed deliver an effective way to thank Pilatus finally, define a fact-based plan of action
cabin with larger windows. employees: from apprentice through to and communication.
The PT6E-67XP engine by Pratt & senior manager. This performance-related “We will ensure we are able to navigate
Whitney Canada is impressive. After employee profit-sharing model is contrac- the current crisis in preparation for a clean
obtaining certification in 2019 and making tually agreed with the company’s own landing and a renewed take-off into the
appropriate changes to the production line, workforce committee and has been in place future, together”.Q

World Airnews | June Extra 2020
— 19—