Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
Switzerland's Pilatus Aircraft is being sold by parent company Oerlikon-Burhle Holding as part of the company's wider restructuring plans.
"We would like to concentrate on our core high technology business and our intention is to separate Pilatus [and its luxury goods and real estate businesses] from Oerlikon-Burhle," the Zurich-based company has admitted.
The Swiss-based firm, which also has interests in engineering and weapons manufacturing, declines to reveal details of its plans. Neither will it say whether negotiations for the sale are already under way.
Pilatus has been producing single engined turboprop aircraft for nearly 60 years. The Stans-based manufacturer's current line-up includes the PC-7 and PC-9 military trainers. The civil offerings are the PC-6 Turbo Porter utility aircraft and the single-engined PC-12 business and utility aircraft.
Pilatus has bases in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Pilatus Far East), in Broomfield, Colorado (Pilatus Business Aircraft) and also owns Swiss maintenance company TSA Transairco.
Oerlikon-Burhle has already begun the process of relinquishing its aerospace activities with the recent sale of Pilatus Aircraft's UK subsidiary, Pilatus Britten- Norman.
Oerlikon-Burhle says that it is not willing to split up or move the company. "Pilatus must stay where it is, we will not divide it up," says the parent company.
Pilatus now accounts for 8% of Oerlikon-Burhle's SFr3,918 million ($2,815 million) annual turnover.
Source: Flight International
