Pilatus expands in Nidwalden
Pilatus plans to start construction of a maintenance hangar in Buochs NW in mid-2023. A new building for the production of composite materials is to be constructed in Ennetbürgen NW. In the 2022 business year, the aircraft manufacturer delivered a total of 133 aircraft.
The 2022 business year was “marked by great successes” for Pilatus, the Nidwalden-based aircraft manufacturer writes in a statement. With sales of CHF 1.3 billion, an operating result of CHF 226 million and orders totalling CHF 1.6 billion, the company had one of its best years ever, it continues. “Pilatus has achieved a great deal while benefiting from exceptionally high demand for our unique aircraft,” CEO Markus Bucher is quoted as saying in the statement.
The company is responding to the high demand by expanding capacity. Construction of a maintenance hangar is to begin in Buochs in the middle of the year, Pilatus said. In Ennetbürgen, the construction of a new building for the production of composite components is planned. The aircraft manufacturer sees the investments in Nidwalden as proof “that Pilatus is continuously committed to Switzerland as a place to think, work and train”.
Last year Pilatus delivered 40 PC-24, 80 PC-12 NGX, 10 PC-21 and 3 PC-6 aircraft to customers. “Our PC-12 NGX and PC-24 were and are absolute bestsellers, our order books are full,” explains Chairman of the Board Hansueli Loosli.
According to another statement, in February Pilatus handed over what is already the tenth PC-24 Super Versatile to Jetfly, the Luxembourg-based provider of parts ownership for aircraft. “Since we took delivery of the first PC-24 in our fleet in 2018, more and more customers have wanted to fly this incredibly spacious and versatile jet,” Jetfly CEO Cédric Lescop is quoted as saying there.