Pilatus delivered an initial two PC-9s to the Mexican air force late last year, believed to be the first of up to 18 such trainers on order for the service. Ireland has also recently fielded the trainer.
After suffering a development hiccup following the fatal crash of one of its prototype PC-21 trainers in January 2005 - later attributed to pilot error, the programme has had a strong last few months. The company has secured an order from Singapore and a jet pilot training system deal has been concluded with Switzerland.
The first several of six PC-21s for the Swiss air force have already been assembled in Stans, and will be delivered from late this year to operate from Sion airbase. Pilot training activities will start next March, with ab initio students to graduate directly onto the frontline Boeing F/A-18 Hornet. The deal also includes the provision of logistics support, engineering services and mission planning and debriefing systems.
Three company-owned PC-21s are supporting flight certification activities and the development of specific mission systems for the two customers.
Pilatus is currently promoting its PC-21 to meet future pilot training requirements in Australia, the UK and the United Arab Emirates, and potentially to deliver part of the proposed nine-nation Eurotraining programme syllabus. However, the Swiss defence ministry last December opted to downgrade its interest in the multinational scheme to observer status, which could potentially damage the leverage of a Pilatus product in the politically influenced infrastructure.
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Source: Flight International
