Pilatus Finishes Year Strong with 19 Sales
in Three Weeks
There must be something in the air because until just a few
weeks ago, sales of the Pilatus PC-12 were flat compared to last
year. Then everything broke loose in September when the company
sold 19 PC-12s in a three-week period.
Now, as the Swiss company comes to NBAA, total production of 55
PC-12s is sold out for the year, reports vp of marketing Tom Aniello.
Overall, 75 have been sold this year, significantly up from the
60 sold in 2002. The PC-12 traditionally captures about 20% of
the market in its class-competing against the King Air C90 and
B200, TBM 700, Cessna Caravan, Piper Meridian and even the Citation
CJ1 turbofan-and strong sales this year have upped that percentage
a couple points, says Aniello.
The 320 PC-12s flying in the USA are traditionally owner operated/flown,
but Aniello hopes to change that image by talking up the single-engine
turboprop as suitable for corporate usage, too.
"We're not trying to replace anything in corporate fleets,
but could be added on to existing fleets," said Aniello.
"The PC-12 offers a mid-size cabin and low cost of operation,
which would let companies offer transportation services to a wider
range of people in their organizations.
"At less than the cost of a one-quarter share of a Citation
Bravo (factoring in management fees), the PC-12 is more cost-efficient
for 500 nmi trips. Our mission (at NBAA) is to get the buy-in
of flight departments by having them understand what a PC-12 can
do for them."
Dallas-based Dean Foods operates two PC-12s, and the Kendall
Jackson winery in California has ordered one for corporate use,
says Aniello. The executive version of the PC-12 costs $3.3 million.
In addition to its 2003 sales, Pilatus has lots of other news
to report this week. First, it has a new joint venture with BMW's
Designworks USA to offer a series of executive aircraft interiors
consistent with the German automaker's cars. The PC-12 on static
display this week has one of nine new BMW interiors that offer
combinations of wood, fabric, leather, carpeting, and plating.
In other news, Pilatus is working with Honeywell on a RVSM certification
program for the PC-12, which is slated for year-end. The goal
of RVSM is to reduce the vertical separation above FL290 from
the current 2,000-foot minimum to 1,000-foot minimum, enabling
the aircraft to safely fly more optimum profiles, gain fuel savings
and increase airspace capacity.
And finally, Pilatus Aircraft delivered the 400th PC-12 during
a celebration at the factory's U.S. headquarters in Broomfield,
CO.
"Since its introduction in 1994, the PC-12 has been continuously refined
in series upgrades," said Thomas Bosshard, CEO of Pilatus Business
Aircraft Ltd. "We're now producing Series 10 aircraft, which
incorporate as standard more than fifty significant improvements
to the original design. The program is right on schedule, and we
plan on continued improvements to keep the PC-12 in its place as
the pinnacle single-engine turboprop."
