On the day the earthquake struck Haiti, Laura Mason received more than a dozen calls from international relief organizations for help. As the executive director of the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association (POPA), Mason was in a unique position to support the relief efforts. She immediately began coordinating humanitarian flights to Haiti by owners and operators of Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft from across the country.
"We've had at least 30 POPA members making humanitarian flights to Haiti, many flying repeat missions," said Mason. "One of our members has been flying to and from Haiti for the last two weeks."
The devastated infrastructure of Haiti, and distance from the U.S., put Pilatus operators in high demand among relief organizations.
"The PC-12 is the ideal aircraft for these missions," said POPA President Bob MacLean. "With the main airport in Port-au-Prince locked down, the relief organizations needed to be able to get into the smaller airfields - with no lights, no tower - surrounding the city. They needed to be able to land on dirt airstrips. The PC-12 can do all that. It also has a large cargo capacity, the flexibility to carry people or supplies and it has the range to fly 700 miles to Haiti, hold before landing and return."
Read the whole thing here.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
PC-12 NG Deliveries Reach a New High
Pilatus is delighted to announce a record-breaking year for PC-12 deliveries. The company delivered 100 PC-12 NGs in 2009 worldwide, surpassing delivery totals for any production year since the PC-12 program began. “Achieving 100 deliveries in a single year is a significant milestone for Pilatus and the PC-12 NG production program and reason to celebrate,” said Ignaz Gretener, Vice President General Aviation at Pilatus Aircraft, Ltd. “This would be true in any year, but the fact we did it last year is simply outstanding.”
The PC-12 has consistently been one of the top selling models of turbine-powered aircraft, and Pilatus has conservatively increased production over the years, delivering 90, 92, and 97 of the type in 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively. The company’s steady approach has allowed it to carefully grow yet stay appropriately lean.
The PC-12 has consistently been one of the top selling models of turbine-powered aircraft, and Pilatus has conservatively increased production over the years, delivering 90, 92, and 97 of the type in 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively. The company’s steady approach has allowed it to carefully grow yet stay appropriately lean.
BMW Sauber F1 Team takes off with Pilatus
A key factor in ensuring that Formula One teams operate efficiently is flexible travel planning and the option of landing at small airports close to race tracks. With this in mind, the BMW Sauber F1 Team has entered a partnership with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. The Swiss plane manufacturer will make its nine-seater PC-12 NG – in team livery – available for European flights.
Team Principal and owner Peter Sauber is confident that “This partnership will gain us valuable time at many races and test drives. We value Pilatus’ reputation very highly and envisage plenty of synergies in joint incentive events as well as technology communications.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Oscar J. Schwenk, commented: “Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is delighted to be able to partner the BMW Sauber Team during the 2010 season. In motor racing as in aviation, the highest quality, optimum precision and perfect teamwork are vital success factors. As Switzerland’s sole aircraft manufacturer, we wish Switzerland’s only Formula One team a high-flying season full of precision landings.”
Team Principal and owner Peter Sauber is confident that “This partnership will gain us valuable time at many races and test drives. We value Pilatus’ reputation very highly and envisage plenty of synergies in joint incentive events as well as technology communications.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Oscar J. Schwenk, commented: “Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is delighted to be able to partner the BMW Sauber Team during the 2010 season. In motor racing as in aviation, the highest quality, optimum precision and perfect teamwork are vital success factors. As Switzerland’s sole aircraft manufacturer, we wish Switzerland’s only Formula One team a high-flying season full of precision landings.”
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A Pilatus PC-12 NG for Philanthropy
Pilatus is pleased to announce that noted philanthropist and leading general aviation advocate Thomas Haas has recently taken delivery of a factory new PC-12 NG.
Widely recognized in aviation circles, Mr. Haas is a current Board Member of the Air Safety Foundation for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. This well known non-profit foundation works to improve aviation safety, preserve community airports, and to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in aviation and learn to fly.
Mr. Haas plans to use his new PC-12 NG for a range of charitable foundation work as well as personal and business travel. In addition to his work at the Air Safety Foundation, Mr. Haas also serves as Chair of The Corporation of the William Penn Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Speaking from his New Hampshire base, Mr. Haas was clearly impressed with the scope and variety of mission capabilities that his new PC-12 NG offers, “During our evaluation, my team and I examined critical factors including performance, safety record, direct operating costs and environmental impact. The PC-12 NG quickly moved to the front of our short list as no other aircraft could accept the key conditions we placed upon this aircraft acquisition. We look forward to a long relationship with Pilatus Aircraft and the team at Pro Star Pilatus Center”.
Thomas Bosshard, President and CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, added “We feel very fortunate to have Mr. Haas as our customer, and are especially proud to know his
PC-12 NG will be supporting his generous charitable work and general aviation advocacy in the years to come.”
Widely recognized in aviation circles, Mr. Haas is a current Board Member of the Air Safety Foundation for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. This well known non-profit foundation works to improve aviation safety, preserve community airports, and to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in aviation and learn to fly.
Mr. Haas plans to use his new PC-12 NG for a range of charitable foundation work as well as personal and business travel. In addition to his work at the Air Safety Foundation, Mr. Haas also serves as Chair of The Corporation of the William Penn Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Speaking from his New Hampshire base, Mr. Haas was clearly impressed with the scope and variety of mission capabilities that his new PC-12 NG offers, “During our evaluation, my team and I examined critical factors including performance, safety record, direct operating costs and environmental impact. The PC-12 NG quickly moved to the front of our short list as no other aircraft could accept the key conditions we placed upon this aircraft acquisition. We look forward to a long relationship with Pilatus Aircraft and the team at Pro Star Pilatus Center”.
Thomas Bosshard, President and CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, added “We feel very fortunate to have Mr. Haas as our customer, and are especially proud to know his
PC-12 NG will be supporting his generous charitable work and general aviation advocacy in the years to come.”
PC-12 NG to Fly Wolves Across USA
Philanthropist Thomas Haas wasted no time putting his new PC-12 NG to work, using it to help out the National Zoo in Washington to fly three endangered Mexican wolves from Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia to a protected wildlife area outside of Albuquerque, N.M.. Haas and crew will return with another Mexican wolf, an injured female that lost her pups in California wildfires and her mate to cancer. Haas is donating his plane, the fuel and his time on his first mission for LightHawk, a nonprofit organization of American and Canadian pilots who champion environmental causes. Haas joined the board of directors this year. "It's just a real pleasure to help repopulate some of our endangered species," said Haas.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
UAE Selects Pilatus PC-21 Training System
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force & Air Defense (AF&AD) has entered into a contract in excess of $500 million to procure a fleet of 25 PC-21 turboprop aircraft, together with an integrated ground based training system and comprehensive logistics support.
The UAE is now the third country after Switzerland and Singapore to contract with Pilatus for turbo-trainers Delivery of the aircraft and the complete training system is scheduled to begin in 2011, with basic and advanced flight training in the UAE to be in line with the 4th generation equipment already in service in the front line squadrons.
The decision to select the PC-21 training system was made after a thorough evaluation by the UAE, which looked at all available options. Pilatus considers the contract a major success for the company in the Middle East, and hopes it will encourage other forces in the region and beyond to take a close look at its pilot training program.
As a partner to the UAE AF&AD for more than 25 years, in supporting the existing fleet of PC-7 trainer aircraft, Pilatus says this contract shows the confidence and trust its customer has bestowed on the company for their basic and advanced flight training requirements.
The UAE is now the third country after Switzerland and Singapore to contract with Pilatus for turbo-trainers Delivery of the aircraft and the complete training system is scheduled to begin in 2011, with basic and advanced flight training in the UAE to be in line with the 4th generation equipment already in service in the front line squadrons.
The decision to select the PC-21 training system was made after a thorough evaluation by the UAE, which looked at all available options. Pilatus considers the contract a major success for the company in the Middle East, and hopes it will encourage other forces in the region and beyond to take a close look at its pilot training program.
As a partner to the UAE AF&AD for more than 25 years, in supporting the existing fleet of PC-7 trainer aircraft, Pilatus says this contract shows the confidence and trust its customer has bestowed on the company for their basic and advanced flight training requirements.
U.S. BLM Selects PC-12
Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken delivery of its first Pilatus PC-12. The aircraft will be put to multirole use performing cargo, passenger, smokejumper, air tactical, aerial supervision and lead plane fire-fighting missions.
BLM said it selected the PC-12 because it is the only aircraft that meets all the mission requirements, and will provide it with significantly enhanced capability at the least annual program cost. BLM estimates that ownership of this aircraft will reduce the direct cost to the government by $1.5 million per year as opposed to contracting for a similar aircraft.
The BLM’s multirole PC-12 features the unique Utility Door option. Capable of being opened in flight, this inward-opening door is mounted within the PC-12’s standard cargo door and enables the aircraft to depressurize and perform specialist parachute work or drop supplies or relief materials, and later re-pressurize and return to high speed cruise at
altitude.
Leonard Luke, Vice President of Homeland Security and Government Business at Pilatus added, “The PC-12 has become increasingly popular as a cost effective multirole solution for government agencies. Strong performance, fuel efficiency, and a rugged airframe suitable for military missions make it the ideal special mission platform for today’s government and law enforcement agencies.”
The BLM is responsible for the management and conservation of resources on 256 million surface acres in the United States. These public lands make up about 13 percent of the total land surface of the country and more than 40 percent of all land managed by the U.S. government. The PC-12 will be based at the BLM’s Fire and Aviation Directorate and National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
BLM said it selected the PC-12 because it is the only aircraft that meets all the mission requirements, and will provide it with significantly enhanced capability at the least annual program cost. BLM estimates that ownership of this aircraft will reduce the direct cost to the government by $1.5 million per year as opposed to contracting for a similar aircraft.
The BLM’s multirole PC-12 features the unique Utility Door option. Capable of being opened in flight, this inward-opening door is mounted within the PC-12’s standard cargo door and enables the aircraft to depressurize and perform specialist parachute work or drop supplies or relief materials, and later re-pressurize and return to high speed cruise at
altitude.
Leonard Luke, Vice President of Homeland Security and Government Business at Pilatus added, “The PC-12 has become increasingly popular as a cost effective multirole solution for government agencies. Strong performance, fuel efficiency, and a rugged airframe suitable for military missions make it the ideal special mission platform for today’s government and law enforcement agencies.”
The BLM is responsible for the management and conservation of resources on 256 million surface acres in the United States. These public lands make up about 13 percent of the total land surface of the country and more than 40 percent of all land managed by the U.S. government. The PC-12 will be based at the BLM’s Fire and Aviation Directorate and National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
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