Strong 2008 Sales Bolster Pilatus

Robert Wall/Paris wall@aviationweek.com

Pilatus sees its 2009 prospects as "satisfactory" despite the slowdown that has hit the business aviation community.

But the Swiss aircraft maker concedes that the economic situation is worrying and that the scale of the crisis "grows more threatening by the day."

Pilatus enters the downturn bolstered by record sales last year of 661 million Swiss francs (US$571 million), up from 656 million Swiss francs (US$567.4 million) the year prior. But negative exchange rate developments mean that Swiss francs to dollar exchange rate meant that despite high deliveries, operating profit fell to 55 million Swiss francs (US$47.5 million) from 59 million Swiss francs (US$51 million) in 2007.

Pilatus also managed to book 1.2 billion Swiss francs (US$1.03 billion) in new orders in 2008.

PC-12 deliveries reached a high of 97 units (including 73 PC-12NGs, the latest version). Overall, it delivered 114 aircraft, one less than in 2007.

Pilatus notes it has completed delivery of 19 PC-21 military trainers to the Republic of Singapore Air Force and of six PC-21s to its own air force. The military business also was bolstered by a contract to upgrade the avionics on 35 South African PC-7s. Additionally, 10 cockpit refits on Swiss air force PC-7s were booked last year.

Additional activity included the sale of three new and two used Pilatus Porter PC-6s. One cushion for Pilatus during the current downturn is that the aircraft maker is debt free.

Photo credit: Avitya via Wikipedia