News
Pilatus posts record sales results in 2013

April 9, 2014, Stans, Sui. – For the first time in its 75 year history,
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd has surpassed the
one billion mark in terms of sales. Notwithstanding the extremely
unfavourable currency situation, Pilatus managed to boost 2013 sales by
over 70% to a total of CHF 1,014 billion. The operating result (CHF 145 million) and investment (CHF 101 million), particularly in R&D and infrastructure, are also higher than ever before.

The number of full-time employees at the headquarters in Stans increased by
176 to 1609 over the past year. This is equivalent to growth of over twelve
percent. Our employees will also reap the benefits of this exceptional year –
with profit-sharing of, on average, 150 percent of monthly salary.

Production in full swing

Major orders worth far in excess of two billion Swiss francs were received in
2012. Work on these orders for training aircraft and systems went ahead as
fast as possible throughout 2013, and continues in 2014, in order to ensure
that the products are delivered on time and to our usual high standards of
quality. This is reflected in the sales reported in our Government Aviation
Business Unit, which make up some two-thirds of the record results of 2013.

Slight upturn in business aviation

As is usual at the end of February, the General Aviation Manufacturers
Association (GAMA) published its annual report on worldwide sales figures
across a range of aircraft categories and types. The figures point to a slight
year-on-year increase in sales across all categories (piston engine, turboprop,
jet). As in the past two years, Pilatus ranks second with the PC-12 NG in the
single-engine turboprop category.

In 2013, most of our PC-12 NGs again went to customers in the USA – 42 of a
total of 65. Compared to the 33 machines sold in 2012, that is a noteworthy
success. The slight improvement in the US economy is slowly beginning to have
a positive impact.


Joint Venture company in China

The economic upturn in China and the gradual opening-up of Chinese airspace
to civil aviation prompted Pilatus to set up a joint venture company to create the
right conditions for a long-term entry into this market.

The new company will concern itself solely with the production of parts for the
PC-6 and PC-12 civilian aircraft only, for the Chinese market. Pilatus has a solid
majority holding in the new company. Through an innovative business model and local support, the goal of the joint venture is to establish Pilatus as one of the
most successful General Aviation companies in China from the outset. Initial
sales of aircraft to customers in China have already been made.


PC-24 project moves forward

Pilatus unveiled the PC-24 business jet project for the first time at EBACE 2013
in Geneva. The concept earned an enthusiastic reception from both general
public and specialists alike. Pilatus has since been working hard to achieve the
next milestone, the rollout of the first business jet to be "Made in Switzerland".

Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman of the Board of Directors, comments:
"The choice of Swiss National Day for this very important event was by no
means an accident: our aim in doing so is to stress that we are a Swiss
company, that we have our headquarters here, and our jobs, too. Over 90
percent of the entire Pilatus workforce is based here in Stans. We are firm
believers in Switzerland, and we want to make that quite clear, once again, with
the rollout of the PC-24 on 1st August. It will be a unique show, and everyone is
warmly invited to attend!“

Investment in the future

In order to remedy the most important infrastructure deficits, Pilatus decided
last year to build a new covered car park with over 1000 spaces and a modern
logistics building tailored to meet the requirements of very complex processes,
to include a works restaurant. Work on the car park is already well advanced;
the facility will be ready for use sometime in the third quarter of 2014. The new
logistics building with automated warehouse processes, to be in service by mid-
2015, is the most costly and complex building ever erected by Pilatus. At 25
metres high, it will be seen from the outside as the symbol of a successful local
company.


2013 in the eyes of the Chairman of the Board of Directors

"2013 was our first year with our new CEO, Markus Bucher, who assumed
operational responsibility for the company on 1 January. Given the magnitude of
the aircraft orders received in 2012 he faced several major challenges from the
outset. It is thanks to his efforts, and to the efforts of the Executive Board, that
2013 was a year of record results.

Pilatus has earned itself a new status as a billion franc business. It is now up
to us to prove we deserve our place in this new category. We're well on the way
to doing exactly that!“