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Notwithstanding a drop in sales revenue
compared to the record years of 2014 and 2015, 2016 was a successful year for
Pilatus, and exceeded expectations.
Total sales amount to 821m Swiss francs (CHF),
with operating earnings at 89m CHF. Orders in hand as of the end of the year
under report are at a comfortable 1.7bn CHF – not including sales revenue from
the PC-24! 117 aircraft were delivered to customers.
In 2016, Pilatus' General Aviation operations
contributed 56 percent of total sales - the first time this business unit has
accounted for the largest share since 2012. Sales of the PC-12 NG were up 30
percent on the previous year, with 91 aircraft compared to 70 in 2015. This in
an environment in which all the major business aircraft manufacturers have had
to contend with stagnating or declining sales figures.
The French Air Force opted for the PC-21
Training System towards the end of the year. The 17 PC-21s on order will be used
for pilot training in preparation for stepping up to the Rafale fighter. The
Royal Jordanian Air Force also ordered a further two PC-21s, as did QinetiQ, the
British firm behind the “Empire Test Pilots’ School”. These three orders for
Government Aviation, our other business pillar, represent a total value of over
300m CHF.
PC-24 development programme on target
The three PC-24 prototypes have flown 1,500
hours to date. Finalisation of the PC-24's aerodynamic design and systems was
the last step in selecting the definitive PC-24 configuration for certification.
This was then used as the basis for the P03, the first representative prototype,
and for the start of series production, which is already underway.
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PC-24
Maiden Flight |
Continued expansion
In view of the upcoming series production of
the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet, Pilatus continues to expand at its headquarters
in Stans, and at its site in the USA.
In Stans, a start was made on the construction
of a new assembly hall with a surface area of 10,000 square metres, plus a new
surface treatment centre, representing some 60m CHF. The company also invested
in new milling machines - worth around 40m CHF - which will pave the way for new
innovative production processes allowing production to remain in Switzerland in
spite of high labour costs.
In the USA - one of the most important markets
for Pilatus - investment has been made in a new plant in order to bring final
assembly and administration together at Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd, its
subsidiary in Broomfield, Colorado. The interior design will be discussed with
the PC-12 and PC-24 customers on site before implementation.
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PC-12 NG |
56 new jobs were created over the year under
report. The Pilatus Group employed 1961 employees as of the end of 2016. A
further 150 employees are expected to join the company in 2017. Additionally,
apprenticeship training will be available in two further professions from summer
2017, bringing the total choice of training programmes to 13. Pilatus currently
trains 115 apprentices.
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Oscar J. Schwenk,
commented: “Pilatus is committed to sustainable long-term business development.
We knew that 2016 results would be somewhat lower in terms of EBIT. But we have
purposefully invested in the future to create a solid basis for the coming
years.
"The current year, 2017, will take us into the
decisive phase of the PC-24 development programme. We have already seen the
achievement of yet another important milestone with the successful maiden flight
of P03, the first PC-24 prototype made to series specifications, on 6 March
2017. Our goal for 2017 is certification in the 4th quarter, followed by the
first customer delivery immediately thereafter, and we shall work consistently
towards that objective.”
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