Pilatus Aircraft Ltd has announced a partnership with TASL, a Tata Group Company, for the assembly of PC-12 aero structures at its facility in Hyderabad, India.

The long-term contract between Pilatus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited has been signed for a ten-year period and provides for delivery of the first complete PC-12 NG aero structure during the second half of 2016.

The project includes tooling, jigs and training of TASL’s personnel at Pilatus facilities in Switzerland. The training will enable TASL to supply PC-12 NG aero structures for the Pilatus global supply chain. TASL replaces an existing Pilatus supplier who was formerly responsible for producing PC-12 aero structures in Eastern Europe.

With over 1300 aircraft sold, the PC-12 positions Pilatus Aircraft Ltd as the market leader in the single-engine turboprop aircraft segment.

“We are delighted to enter into a relationship with TASL, which is known for its high quality aero structure assembly capability, proven to many prestigious international aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)," says Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. "TATA is without doubt a partner of choice for Pilatus in the continued expansion of its portfolio of international subcontractors. The partnership is also important in the context of Pilatus’ offset obligation resulting from the sale of the PC-7 MkII Training Aircraft System to the Indian Air Force."

In 2012, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd entered into a contract with the Government of India to supply 75 PC-7 MkⅡ turboprop basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

Located in the Telangana region, Southern India, Tata Advanced Systems Limited has set up a number of similar aero structure programmes for global OEMs since 2009 and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is confident that TASL will prove to be a partner capable of meeting the highest standards of quality, and one with the requisite experience and certifications in the aviation industry.