{"id":178666,"date":"2026-05-13T16:41:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lionel-meylan.ch\/actualite\/aviation-pilatus-in-the-air\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T16:41:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:41:34","slug":"aviation-pilatus-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/lionel-meylan.ch\/en\/actualite\/aviation-pilatus-in-the-air\/","title":{"rendered":"AVIATION – Pilatus, in the air!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After having climbed the peaks with ice axes, Switzerland set out to conquer the Alps by air. Pilatus was a pioneer in this field. Founded in 1939, the company has since become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of prestige jets and single-engine aircraft. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

He who can do more, can do less. The adage seems tailor-made for Pilatus. The 86-year-old Swiss aircraft manufacturer has mastered the updrafts, high altitudes and capricious climates of his native Alps. From then on, the rest of the world’s geography seemed to pose no problems for him. Yet nothing predestined Pilatus to become the king of the air. On December 16, 1939, in Stans, Pilatus was just a maintenance workshop dedicated to the air force. It serviced C-35s made by EKW, one of the world’s first aircraft manufacturers, founded in Thun in 1867, and Messerschmitt’s Bf 108.Pilatus quickly gained in competence, to the point of attempting to build its own aircraft, the P-1, in 1941. <\/p>\n\n

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The bird never left the nest, probably shunned by a Swiss army wary of an aircraft manufacturer with only two years’ experience. But one man changed all that: Henri Guisan. The illustrious general came in person to inaugurate the company in 1942. This spotlight won the confidence of the army, which this time commissioned the design of a five-seater. Pilatus was launched. The Pelican, which would become the P-2, left the factory in 1945. <\/p>\n\n

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A pioneering company<\/strong>Until 1957, all production was military. Then the company launched a civilian program, which was crowned with numerous successes. In 1960, for example, the Pilatus Porter set a record by landing in Nepal at an altitude of 5,500 metres, where the increasing scarcity of oxygen was putting the air\/petrol mixture of the piston engines of the time at risk. Pilatus was keen to move into other segments. In 1974, the company even tested a super-powered 265 hp boat on Lake Lucerne! This is not just a technical innovation. Pilatus is a pioneer in social rights. The company was the first in Central Switzerland to opt for a 5-day working week in 1941; to set up a pension scheme for its employees in 1952; to set up health insurance and sign a contract with SUVA in 1964; and to opt for a monthly salary in 1971. <\/p>\n\n

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King of the air<\/strong>The driving force behind Pilatus’s growth is undeniably its PC-12. Designed in 1987, the aircraft is equipped with a turboprop engine capable of speeds of 500 km\/h over an average distance of 3,000 km. It’s also a certified single-pilot aircraft, capable of landing over very short distances (661 m), making it a formidable all-rounder for private pilots, professionals, leisure or business travelers, and suitable for virtually any runway (hard or grass) in the world. This true Swiss Army knife of aviation is also a worthy representative of Swiss Made. With its PC-12 PRO program, Pilatus has turned up the heat in terms of finish, lighting and ergonomics. With its fully reclining seats, Pilatus offers a unique aesthetic experience designed in partnership with BMW Designworks. Together, the two companies have designed a cabin combining enlarged volumes and increased luminosity thanks to new portholes. Each PC-12 is offered in seven interior variations, from the more modern “Pro Line” to the warm tones of leather and wood of the “Savannah” alternative. It is also available as a 6-seat “Executive” or a 9-seat “Commuter”. <\/p>\n\n

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Did you know?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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In 1970<\/strong> Pilatus was awarded the contract to produce Alouette helicopters for military use.The company would maintain these helicopters for almost two decades.<\/p>\n\n

In 1975,<\/strong> Pilatus took part in the construction of Ariane, the European space rocket, for various tests on the payload fairing and the definition and production of its heat shield. Pilatus and the French Aerospatiale joined forces again in 1989 for the development of its heavy-lift transporter, the famous Super Puma helicopter. <\/p>\n\n

In 1980<\/strong> Pilatus takes part in the European Airbus A310 program. The Swiss company builds its landing gear cowlings. <\/p>\n\n

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In figures<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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2’500<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The number of Pilatus employees worldwide. The company is one of the largest employers in Central Switzerland. The company is still headquartered in Stans, 86 years after its foundation. <\/p>\n\n

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5’000<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

That’s the number of solar panels Pilatus has just installed at its Aletschhorn production site. This is the largest photovoltaic order ever placed in the canton of Nidwalden. <\/p>\n\n

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10<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

That’s the number of million flying hours accumulated on the PC-12. By 2023, the brand had already sold 2,000 units. <\/p>\n\n

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