Swiss aircraft manufacturer of training and multi-purpose aircraft such as the PC-12, PC-21 and PC-24
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd
Stans (Switzerland)New on Amplifa
About Pilatus Aircraft
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd in Stans is Switzerland's most important aircraft manufacturer. At its headquarters, the company develops and manufactures training and smaller multi-purpose aircraft, including the turboprop training aircraft PC-7 MKX, PC-9 and PC-21, the single-engine multi-purpose aircraft PC-12, and the twinjet business jet PC-24, which can also operate from unpaved runways. In addition to series production of its own aircraft models, Pilatus carries out maintenance and servicing work on aircraft, among other things on behalf of RUAG on Swiss Air Force aircraft, and as a supplier produces structural components such as outer wings for the F/A-18 as well as parts for Airbus and Boeing. Past licensed production included fuselages and tail booms of the De Havilland Vampire and Venom. Historically, the range extended from wooden-winged models with fabric-covered control surfaces to all-metal construction; today, metal construction dominates. By the end of 2025, the group had delivered a total of 4'400 aircraft and employs around 3'000 people. Test and delivery flights take place via the adjacent Buochs airfield.
- Site
- Stans
- Processes
- Aircraft manufacturing (development and series production of training and multi-purpose aircraft), Maintenance, servicing and repair of aircraft (e.g. Swiss Air Force, AS332 Super Puma), Licensed production of fuselages and tail booms (De Havilland Vampire, Venom), Manufacture of aircraft components as a subcontractor (e.g. outer wings F/A-18, parts for Airbus and, Aircraft manufacturing (training and multi-purpose aircraft), Maintenance and servicing of aircraft, Licensed production of structural parts (including outer wings for the F/A-18, parts for Airbus and
- Materials
- Wood (wooden wings, fabric-covered fuselages of historic models), Metal (metal-skinned fins, all-metal construction), Fabric/covering (fabric-covered control surfaces and fuselages of historic models), Aluminium, Wood
- Certificates
- Type certification FOCA/BAZL
- Founded
- 1939
- Employees
- 3000
- Industries
- Aerospace, Military (training aircraft), Business and private aviation
- 01
Development and design
- 02
Manufacture of aircraft structures and components
- 03
Assembly of the aircraft models
- 04
Maintenance and servicing of aircraft
Materials & Construction Methods
Aluminium
All-metal construction and metal-skinned fins as well as structural parts for supplier projects.
Wood
Historic models such as the P-2 and P-4 with wooden wings and fabric-covered control surfaces or fuselages.
Location
Stans
CHHeadquarters, production and development
- Materials
- Aluminium
- Aircraft manufacturing
- Maintenance and servicing
Aircraft Models & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft manufacturing (development and series production of training and multi-purpose aircraft)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Aluminium, Wood |
| Maintenance, servicing and repair of aircraft (e.g. Swiss Air Force, AS332 Super Puma)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Licensed production of fuselages and tail booms (De Havilland Vampire, Venom)Joining | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Manufacture of aircraft components as a subcontractor (e.g. outer wings F/A-18, parts for Airbus andAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certification
Maintenance and servicing are carried out, among other things, on behalf of RUAG for the Swiss Air Force; the PC-7 and PC-21 models received type certificates from the Swiss aviation authorities (FOCA/BAZL).
| Evidence | Stans |
|---|---|
| Type certification FOCA/BAZL |