Pilatus Aircraft has
announced the signing of three PC-21 fleet orders
for a total of 21 PC-21s at year end, 17 of which
are for the French Air Force and two each for the
Royal Jordanian Air Force and QinetiQ, a British
company which operates the "Empire Test Pilots'
School".
Together, these orders are worth over 300m Swiss
francs and will help to ensure jobs at Stans.
The French Air
Force (Armée de l'air française), one of the world's
most prestigious air forces, has opted for the 21st
century training system: the 17 PC-21s will be used
to train future military pilots who will transfer to
the Alpha Jet prior to their conversion on to the
Dassault Rafale, a multi-purpose 5th generation
fighter aircraft. The contract signed on the 30th
December 2016 by the French Air Force is with
Babcock Mission Critical Services France (BMCSF),
with Pilatus as a sub-contractor, in which role the
PC-21 and other ground-based training material will
contribute to completion of the overall contract.
In addition to the
Swiss Air Force, France is now the second European
nation to opt for the PC-21 as part of the world's
most advanced, most efficient integrated training
system.
QinetiQ UK
Under the contract
concluded with QinetiQ, a British company, Pilatus
will provide two PC-21s to the "Empire Test Pilots'
School (ETPS)" based in Wiltshire, in the south of
England. Operated by QinetiQ, ETPS functions as a
training centre for flight test engineers and test
pilots, and enjoys an excellent reputation
worldwide. The PC-21s with their modified flight
instruments will be used to train test pilots and
flight test engineers for customers from the United
Kingdom and elsewhere.
Royal Jordanian
Air Force
The Royal
Jordanian Air Force, having placed an initial order
for the PC-9 M in August 2015, re-evaluated their
requirement in early 2016 due to previously
unforeseen issues with their Lead in Fighter Trainer
(LIFT) platform. The procurement decision was
revised following a modification of the training
concept, introducing the PC-21 all-through training
model – currently the most advanced training system
available anywhere on the market. The contract
amendment was initially for eight aircraft but with
an option for additional units, if required. The
option was now executed for two more PC-21s’, with a
total of ten PC-21s’ now providing the backbone of
the nation's future pilot training regime. The first
deliveries will be undertaken mid-2017.
Oscar J.
Schwenk,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pilatus,
commented, "I am delighted we have finally won
another European air force for our PC-21. An
exceptionally rigorous selection process based on
the strictest of criteria provides further proof
that the PC-21 is the first choice worldwide for
training military pilots. I am proud that our
best-selling PC-21 is now destined to fly for ‘la
Grande Nation’. France is already the 8th air force
to choose the PC-21: these orders included, we will
soon have a total of 209 PC-21s flying successfully
from bases around the world. I'm confident that
other European air forces will follow France's
example!"
Markus Bucher,
CEO of Pilatus, added, "Pilatus is pleased to be
part of the programme of modernisation at QinetiQ
Test Aircrew Training. Our PC-21 will provide a
training platform for the next generation of test
pilots worldwide. That a global leader in the test
flight sector decides to replace ageing Hawks and
Alpha Jets with the PC-21 is a tribute to our
product's performance and flexibility." |