LOOKING TO THE FUTURE FOR OVER 75 YEARS

PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE

1939–1943

1939 The company is

founded by Emil Georg
Bührle on 16 December in the conference
room of the “Nidwaldner Kantonalbank”.
1940 Early March: construction work starts
on the production buildings.

1941 Early June: work-

shop opens with 65
employees performing assembly and
1942 Official company inauguration
on 5 February in the presence of
General Henri Guisan.
overhaul work on the C-35, and repairs
The Swiss Aviation Office orders the planning and
to the Bf 108.
construction of a five-seat slow-flying aircraft de-
The five-day week is introduced, signed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
a novelty in Central Switzerland. in Zurich. The aircraft is called the SB-2 “Pelican”.
Approval of a project for a single-seat
training aircraft, the P-1, for the Swiss
military. The project is abandoned.
The proposed aircraft remains a “bird
on paper”.

1943 Development of a two-seat

training aircraft, the P-2.

4 | Pilatus Chronicle
 1944–1948

1945 First flight of the prototype P-2 (HB-GAB)

on 27 April.

1944 Military authorities order the new assembly

of 17 Morane D-3801 and checks, modifica-
tions and overhaul work on the D-3800/01 and Me-109.

The Pilatus fire department is established.

First flight of SB-2 Pelican (HB-AEP) on 30 May. No series

production follows.

1946 Production of 53 P-2,

which are delivered
to the Swiss Army in two stages.
1947 Construction
of three gliders,
the WLM-1, for military training
purposes.
Development and construction of
a civilian five-seat small transport
aircraft, the P-4, with a takeoff weight
of 1,450 kg.

1948 Construction of the two-seater glider, Spyr V

(timber construction).

Pilatus Service Stations are set up in Geneva and Kloten.

First flight of the P-4 prototype (HB-AET) on 22 March. No series production follows.

Pilatus Chronicle | 5
1949–1953

1949 Military authorities order under-license construction of fuselages

and tail booms for the DH-100 Vampire and later for the DH-112
Venom. A total of 250 units were produced until 1957.

1950 The Air Force orders

modifications, checks
and repair work on the AT-16 Scallion
aircraft. This is performed on a total of
55 machines until 1958.

1951 Design of an aircraft for artillery observation, the P-5,

for the military authorities. Project is abandoned.

1952 Launch of the

company’s own
pension plan with 63 members.
1953 Development of a training and exercise aircraft, the P-3,
to meet air force needs. A total of 78 P-3s were produced
for the Swiss Air Force up until 1958.

6 | Pilatus Chronicle
 1954–1958

1954 Construction of a technical

administration building in Stans.

1955 Production of a test series of twelve

P-3.03s for the air force.

1956 Construction of
Hall 2 for aircraft
overhauls in Stans.
1957 Development work starts
on the Pilatus Porter PC-6 –
an all-metal civilian transporter aircraft
with short takeoff and
Emil Georg Bührle, the founder of Pilatus,
landing characteristics.
dies in November. His son, Dieter Bührle,
takes over the management of the group.

1958 An extra storey is added to the technical administration building

in Stans.

Start of assembly work on the five PC-6 pre-series machines.

Pilatus Chronicle | 7
1959–1963

1959 Through to 1975:

production of
1,250 radar screens (grid reflectors)
on behalf of Contraves.

First flight of Pilatus Porter PC-6

(HB-FAN) on 4 May.

1960 Through to 1969: overhaul work on the DC-3

for Swissair.

The Pilatus Porter with the inscription YETI flies to Nepal and takes part in the Swiss
Dhaulagiri Expedition. Landings at 5,500 metres above sea-level set a new world record.

The military authorities order the Mirage III S and RS. Between 1964 and 1968,
Pilatus builds various components for 54 machines, and assembles all fuselage
fittings.

1962 First export of training aircraft:

six P-3s go to the Brazilian marine.

1961 S. Wien, the aviation entrepreneur from

Alaska, is the first non-Swiss customer to
buy a Pilatus Porter PC-6.

1963 Order from sister company Contraves to produce

a total of 1,400 power supply trolleys.

8 | Pilatus Chronicle
 1964–1968

1964 Collective health

insurance contract
signed on 1 January with Konkordia and
1965 Construction of a twin-
engine PC-8D proof-of-
concept aircraft using the main Porter
sick pay insurance with SUVA. components. Two piston engines mounted
above the wing sections produce 290
Construction of hall for custom pro­
horsepower each.
duction and metal cutting/shaping.
The first edition of “Pilatus Post”, the employee
PC-6 production license granted to the
magazine, is published in December.
American company, Fairchild Hiller.

1966 A P-3 is modified by fitting a gas turbine

engine (Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20, 550 SHP)
and is renamed the P-3 B. First flight on 7 April.
22 September: Pilatus becomes
general agent for the MU-2
business aircraft made by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

1968 On 15 November the Pilatus Porter PC-6 fitted

with an Astazou XIV turbine flies to a height
of 13,485 m – a world record for aircraft in this weight category!

Pilatus completes and presents the first fully automatic Pilatus

brand car wash.

Factory’s own water purification plant goes into operation.

1967 First flight of the Twin Porter PC-8D

(HB-KOA) on 15 November.

Construction of the commercial administration building.

CIBA Pilatus Aerial Spraying Company is established as

a subsidiary to participate in various crop spraying projects
worldwide. A total of 15 Pilatus Porter PC-6s and other
types were deployed until 1983.

Pilatus Chronicle | 9
1969–1973

1970 Introduction of individual

working hours.

License production of 66 Alouette III helicopter fuselages for military requirements.

1969 Pilatus closes its

maintenance base for
Swissair DC-3 aircraft.
Project for a PC-10, a twin-engine transporter with rear hatch door and space for
16 passengers, driven by two piston engines of 500 hp each or equivalent propeller
turbines. The aircraft was never produced.
Pilatus acquires the manufacturing rights for the all-metal B-4 glider. Redesigned
for rational production, weight is reduced and compliance with stricter construction
regulations ensured: model name B-4/PC-11.

Pilatus service stations in Geneva and Kloten are sold to Jet aviation.

The Pilatus aviation club (MFGP) is established.

1971
all employees.
Pilatus introduces
monthly salaries for 1972 The Employer and
Employees’ Councils
merge to form the Employee Commis-
sion (BK).
Through to 1973: production of 12
air inlet fairings for the French Dassault Military authorities order the produc-
“Mercure” aircraft, on behalf of tion of 1,572 lorry trailers, production
the Eidgenössische Flugzeugwerke continues until 1975.
in Emmen.
First flight of series model B-4/PC-11
glider (HB-1101) on 5 May. 1973 The 1,000 th Venom to
be overhauled by
Pilatus leaves the servicing hall.
Equipping and conversion of Hunter
fuselages. Overhaul work performed on Sale of “airliner washing project” and
these aircraft from 1973 onwards. design to Schweizerische Industrie-
Gesellschaft (SIG).

10 | Pilatus Chronicle
 1974–1978

1975 Pilatus acquires a

servicing license from
the French company Aerospatiale
for its Alouette and Lama helicopters.

Pilatus takes part in the construction

of Ariane, the European space rocket:
various tests with the payload fairing,

1974 Manufacture of the two-seat ZISCH 74 boat

with a 265 hp 4-disc rotary-cylinder engine
on behalf of Dr. Wankel. Successful trial run on Lake Lucerne
definition and production of the heat
shield.

in the summer of 1975. Experiment was not pursued further. Construction of 17 cells (fuselage,
wings and tail) for the “Flamingo”
Master Porter PD-01 project is presented to the public in
MBB-233 aircraft on behalf of the
Munich, Germany, but abandoned shortly afterwards.
company Farner in Grenchen.
Construction of a second prototype known for the first time as
Maiden flight of the PC-7 prototype
a Pilatus PC-7, a conversion of a P-3.05, for flight trials and
on 12 May.
presentation. Complete redesign of the serial model.

1977 1 April: introduction

of mandatory
unemployment insurance.

Installation of a test workshop.

1976 Start of series production

of the PC-7.

1978 Rights to manufac-

ture the B-4/PC-11
sold to the Japanese company NIPPI.
Pilatus produced a total of 322 units
in Stans.

Pilatus Chronicle | 11
1979–1983

1980 Order from British Aerospace for the

construction and manufacture of under­
carriage covers for the Airbus A310.

1979 Delivery of the first three series production

PC-7 Turbo Trainers.

Construction of CIBA Pilatus operations building (workshop

and administration).

Takeover of Britten-Norman, the British aircraft manufacturing

company. Company operates under the name Pilatus Britten-­
Norman, producing twin-engine transport aircraft in the 3,000
to 4,000 kg weight range.

Company-wide workforce of around 250.

1982 The PC-7 Turbo

Trainer is redesigned
as the Pilatus PC-9: new fuselage,
1983 Construction in Stans
of the building for
chemical-physical surface treatment
enhanced engine performance, with materials testing facility, workshop
improved aerodynamics, ejection seats for composite technology and offices.
and contemporary cockpit design with
mainly digital instruments.

1981 Construction of the

new warehouse with
forwarding department and mailing
office.

Introduction of flexitime.

Swiss Air Force orders 40 PC-7 Turbo

Trainers in mid-May.

12 | Pilatus Chronicle
 1984–1988

1984 First flight of PC-9 (HB-HPA)

on 7 May.

1985 The Australian government orders 63 PC-9s,

manufactured under license.

1986 The
750 th
helicopter, an Alouette II,
is serviced by Pilatus.

1987
formation flying.
Handover of three PC-7s to the “Martini”
team, famous for its professional

Start of development work on the single-engine Pilatus

PC-12.

1988 The 250 th Hawker

Hunter Mk 58 to
be overhauled by Pilatus leaves the
servicing hall.

Start of license work (outfitting of

fuselage segments) on the BAe HAWK jet
trainer chosen by the Swiss military.

Pilatus Chronicle | 13
1989–1993

1989 Partnership-based
involvement in the
British Aerospace (BAe) Jetstream 31
and Jetstream 41 projects.

Working together with the French firm

Aerospatiale, Pilatus manufactures
the cockpit structure and doors of the
Super Puma heavy-lift helicopter.

Contract with McDonnell Douglas to

manufacture boarding stairs for the
MD-80/90 airliner. 245 sets of stairs
are made until the end of 1999.
1990 Delivery of ten PC-9s
to the Federal Repub-
lic of Germany with specially developed
target-tow system.

Agreement with Beech USA about

involvement in the JPATS program for
over 700 PC-9 training aircraft for the
US Air Force and US Navy.

Production of various components for

Jetstream, Super Puma and subcon-
tractor work until 1995.

1991 Critical order volumes in early 1991 necessitate restructuring and

other measures. 200 jobs lost and cost-cutting plans introduced. 1993 South Africa places an
order for 60 PC-7 MkIIs.
The first PC-12 prototype (HB-FOA) completes its maiden flight on 31 May. This The contract for transferring PC-12 cell
aircraft is taken out of service at the end of 1996 after 644 flying hours. construction work to Portugal is
signed.

Pilatus leaves the Jetstream and Euro-

copter subcontractor programmes.

Signing of an important subcontractor

agreement for the production of F/A-18
“outer wings”. The planned take-over
of Piper fails due to the product liability
risk.

1992 Development of the

PC-7 MkII starts on
17 August; first flight of HB-HMR on
28 September after just 42 days.

14 | Pilatus Chronicle
 1994–1998

1995 Strict export regulations prevent an

important business deal to provide training
aircraft for the Mexican Air Force.

The US Air Force and US Navy opt for 711 Beech Pilatus PC-9s
(JPATS programme) in what is the success story of the year.

1994 Pilatus introduces employee profit-sharing

and performance-related bonuses.
The deal generates license fees for Pilatus.

The PC-12 is approved by the Swiss Federal Office for Civil

Aviation (FOCA) on 30 March, and by the American Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) on 15 June.

The Pilatus Porter PC-6 is equipped with a four-blade propeller.

1997 Swiss voters deliver a

resounding “No” to
the arms export initiative. This clarifies
1998
British subsidiary.
Pilatus sells Pilatus
Britten-Norman, its

the framework conditions for the export

The PC-12 sales and service network is
of training aircraft once and for all.
expanded around the world.
After 26 years, Pilatus returns to
The sales company Pilatus Australia
Geneva Airport with the acquisition of
Pty Ltd is set up in Canberra, Australia,

1996 The Swiss National

Council decides that
training aircraft do not come under
Transairco SA – TSA (now RUAG).

Rollout of the 100 th PC-12 in November.

on 7 August.

The company’s many years of con-

the War Materials Act. “RENOVE” reorganisation project: sistent efforts for the environment
Pilatus reorganises itself into indepen­ are rewarded: Pilatus wins the “Albert
The American sales company, Pilatus
dent Business Units: Government Koechlin Stiftung” environmental
Business Aircraft Ltd, is set up
Aviation, General Aviation and award on 24 September.
in Broomfield, Colorado, on 1 May.
Maintenance.
Start of the PC-21 development project in
Pilatus Maintenance becomes a sep-
November, aimed at delivering the world’s
arate business division with integral
most modern turboprop trainer ever built.
aircraft and helicopter overhauls and
component maintenance.

The modularisation of the PC-7 MkII

and PC-9 M improves flexibility and
delivery capacity.

Pilatus Chronicle | 15
1999–2003

2000 The Royal Malaysian

Air Force buys nine
PC-7 MkII training aircraft plus training
systems, logistics material and spares.

Pilatus announces that a Swiss investor

group has signed a contract to take over
100 percent of the Unaxis share capital

1999 Pilatus celebrates

several anniversaries:
60 years of Pilatus, 40 years of the PC-6
(formerly Oerlikon-Bührle).

and 20 years of the PC-7.

Pilatus wins an important order from

Oman for twelve PC-9s, including simula-
tor and training package.

2001 The workforce exceeds 1,000

for the first time.

2003 Pilatus takes over FFA Aircraft Maintenance

AG in Altenrhein as of 1 January. Altenrhein
Aviation Ltd is founded.

The Irish Air Force signs a purchase contract for eight PC-9 Ms
on 16 January. The order includes a complete training system,
logistics material and spare parts.

The Bulgarian Air Force purchases six PC-9 M training aircraft,

one PC-12 as a transport and liaison aircraft, plus training
systems, logistics material and spare parts. Deliveries take
place in 2004.

2002 Rollout of the new PC-21 training aircraft,

on 30 April. First flight on 1 July.

16 | Pilatus Chronicle
 2004–2008

2005 Optimisation of the PC-12: increased maximum takeoff weight,

improvements to the ailerons, new PC-21 style wing tips, new
pilot seat and other more minor modifications. Type certification for the new
PC-12/47 model is obtained from the FOCA on 14 December and from the FAA
on 23 December.

Successful completion of work to upgrade the cockpits of the 18 PC-7s for the Swiss
Air Force, in service for 25 years.

2004 Re-certification of
our Quality Manage-
ment System: the new standards are
known as EN 9100 and ISO 14001,
and will always be renewed together in
the future.

The Royal Australian Air Force signs a

major PC-9 upgrade contract.

The PC-21 receives type certification in

December, opening the way for series
2006 The Malaysian Ministry of Defence signs a contract for ten further
PC-7 MkIIs on 20 February. Deliveries are to take place in 2007.

production.
In November, Pilatus is selected to
The 500 th PC-12 leaves the production supply the PC-21 Training System to
hall in December. At the same time, the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Pilatus reaches one million PC-12 Pilatus will supply nineteen PC-21s and
flying hours – a further anniversary to a 20-year engineering and logistics
celebrate. support programme.

2008 Contract for the conversion of ten further

Swiss Air Force PC-7s is signed with arma­
suisse on 29 February.

The PC-12 NG is certified by the European Aviation Safety

Agency (EASA) and the FAA on 28 March. After turning out
788 PC-12s, production now shifts to the PC-12 NG.

The new timber Assembly Hall is officially opened on 20

September.

2007 On 22 January, an agreement is signed with

armasuisse for six PC-21 training aircraft,
associated logistics and engineering services, plus mission
planning and debriefing systems for the PC-21 Jet Pilot Train-
ing System (JEPAS) used by the Swiss Air Force.

On 11 April, Pilatus announces the sale of its fully-owned

subsidiary, TSA Transairco SA, for strategic reasons.

First appearance of the PC-12 NG with new avionics in Sep-

tember at the 60 th NBAA. The new model proves extremely
popular, and sells out – until the end of 2009 – shortly after
its launch.

Pilatus Chronicle | 17
2009–2010

2009 A decision is made to introduce short-time working in Stans

from 1 September onwards. The production-related areas of
Manufac­t uring and Aircraft Assembly are the most directly affected. Normal
working hours are resumed six months later.

In mid-November the United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defense opt for a fleet The South African Air Force com-
of 25 Pilatus PC-21 turboprops to meet training needs for their future military pilots. missions Pilatus to equip its fleet of
This major order also includes simulators and comprehensive logistics support. Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkIIs (35 aircraft)
Delivery is scheduled for 2011 onwards. with a new, modern cockpit.

2010 Delivery of the 1,000 th

PC-12 in July.
The Swiss Air Force expands its Jet Pilot Training System
(JEPAS) and signs an order for a further two Pilatus PC-21
training systems and a simulator. Deliveries go ahead in
2012.

18 | Pilatus Chronicle
 2011–2012

2011 The Botswana Defence Force opts to buy five

PC-7 MkII training aircraft. The order also
includes training support, spare parts and logistics assistance.

Pilatus now offers a choice of ten different apprenticeship

courses, and, for the first time ever, has as many as 100
apprentices in training at the same time.

Successful certification of a smoke system for the PC-21

for future use by our display teams.

Pilatus introduces a company-wide Safety Management

System.

2012 The last three of a

total of 25 PC-21s
are officially handed over to the United
The Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force
signs a contract for the purchase of
55 PC-21s on 25 May.
Arab Emirates on 30 January.

On 24 May, Pilatus concludes a major

order with the Indian Air Force for 75
PC-7 MkIIs. The maiden flight takes
place just five months later.

The third big order in a row arrives on 23 July: 24 PC-21s for

the Qatar Emiri Air Force.

Pilatus Chronicle | 19
2013

The formal handover ceremony of five PC-7 MkIIs to

the Botswana Defence Force takes place on 8 February.

On 21 May, Pilatus unveils the PC-24, the “Super Versatile

Jet” at the “European Business Aviation Convention & Exhi-
bition” (EBACE) in Geneva. The PC-24 is the first business jet
worldwide with the ability to use very short runways, paved or
unpaved, and a cargo door as standard.

In May, the global fleet of PC-12s reaches a major milestone by accumulating Pilatus Aircraft Industry (China) Co Ltd
four million flight hours. opens for business on 5 August in the
Chinese metropolis of Chongqing. Pilatus
aims to establish itself with the PC-6
in the Chinese market through the joint
venture.

Sales revenue surpasses the one bil-

lion Swiss franc mark for the first time
in the 75 year history of the Pilatus
Group.

Pilatus delivers the 1,200 th PC-12 in August.

20 | Pilatus Chronicle
 2014

The PC-24 rollout celebration goes ahead at Buochs Airport

on 1 August. 35,000 visitors from Switzerland and beyond arrive
in Stans to party with Pilatus!

Pilatus first opens its PC-24 order book

at EBACE in Geneva on 20 May and
sells 84 PC-24s in just one and a half
days – that is all the PC-24s scheduled
to come off the production line during
the first three years!

A brand new four-storey car park with The new PC-12 NG demonstrator with special livery by Hans Erni, the renowned Swiss
over 1,000 spaces opens in Stans on artist, is unveiled on 16 December to mark the company’s 75th anniversary.
29 September.

Production of PC-21s for Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and of PC-7 MkIIs for India, is in full
swing. The aircraft are delivered as they come off the production line.

Pilatus Chronicle | 21
2015

First flight of the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet on 11 May. Prototype P01 was airborne
after a takeoff roll of just 580 metres, climbed to 3,627 metres in three minutes and
landed back in Buochs 55 minutes later.

The 100 th PC-21 – also the 1,000 th

turboprop trainer – emerges from
the production hall in February. It will
be operated by the Royal Saudi Air
Force.

The global fleet of PC-12s accumulates

five million flight hours in May.

The new logistics building – featuring a 24 metre fully automated In December, the Royal Australian
high-bay storage facility, powerful computer centre and summer canteen – Air Force signs a major order for the
goes into operation. purchase of 49 PC-21 training aircraft.
In addition to the PC-21s, the contract
includes simulators, training materials
and a long-term maintenance package.

22 | Pilatus Chronicle
 2016

July: maiden flight of the first of 49 PC-21s operated by

the Royal Australian Air Force – just seven months after the
purchase contract is signed.

The PC-24 prototype P02 is unveiled to the US public for the

first time in October, at the NBAA-BACE in Orlando, Florida.

The PC-12 NG is the world’s best-selling business turboprop

in its class – 91 aircraft have been delivered to their new
owners.

Pilatus sees out the year on a success- Start of building the new 10,000 square metres assembly hall and the new
ful note with the sale of 21 PC-21s in surface treatment centre in summer.
December: 17 to the French Armée de
l’air, two to QinetiQ, the British
company which operates the Empire
Test Pilots’ School, and a further two to
the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd in

Colorado, USA, celebrates its
20 th anniversary on 1 May.

Pilatus Chronicle | 23
2017

Readers of Professional Pilot magazine ranked Pilatus as the worldwide best

customer service provider for the 16 th consecutive year.
The third and final PC-24 prototype,
representing the series production
standard, takes off on its maiden flight Handover of the 1500 th PC-12 to our loyal customer, Royal Flying Doctor Service of
on 6 March. Australia, in June. This month also sees the worldwide PC-12 fleet accumulate six
million hours in the air, of which 1.5 million for the PC-12 NG.

Pilatus trains over 120 apprentices for

the first time in its history. The addition
of two new subjects in the summer
means Pilatus now offers instruction
in a total of 13 different disciplines.
Pilatus wins the National Training Prize
in November.

The subsidiary, Pilatus China Aircraft Industry (China)

Co Ltd in Chongqing, which was opened to produce PC-6
components, is shut down as of September.

The new assembly hall with space for some 200 work-
places is commissioned in August. It accommodates all
pre-assembly operations and systems integration work
for our entire range of aircraft. The solar plant on the roof
is connected to the grid at the end of September. It is by
far the largest in canton Nidwalden and amongst the five
largest in Central Switzerland.

Type certification becomes a reality! The Super Versatile Jet PC-24

is certified by EASA and the FAA on 7 December.

Pilatus Defence Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, a new subsidiary, is

created in mid-December. It is responsible for provision of local
support to the PC-21s operated by the Royal Australian Air Force.

24 | Pilatus Chronicle
 STA0118

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd

P.O. Box 992
6371 Stans, Switzerland
Phone + 41 41 619 61 11
[email protected]

www.pilatus-aircraft.com