Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

Aircraft Manufacturer Reports Record Deliveries in 2021

Switzerland based aircraft manufacturer Pilatus, which introduced a new military training aircraft in 2021 – the PC-7MKX, reported its 2021 performance.

“The 2021 financial year was extremely successful for Pilatus, but also challenging. Despite the difficult circumstances, a new production record of 152 aircraft deliveries was set. Sales of 1.3 billion Swiss francs, an operating result of 210 million and incoming orders worth 1.7 billion francs are a very good result. The Board of Directors also underwent a change and a reinforcement.

Pilatus achieved growth in sales of 19 percent and a 35 percent higher operating result compared to the previous year. The total number of aircraft delivered is impressive: 45 PC-24s, 88 PC-12 NGXs, 17 PC-21s and 2 PC-6s, 152 aircraft all in all.

High demand in both Business Units In the Business Unit Government Aviation, Pilatus succeeded in concluding a follow-up order with France for nine PC-21s. Another highlight was the successful presentation of the PC-7 MKX, the brand-new smart basic trainer for military pilot training. There was a boom in the General Aviation markets, which greatly benefited the PC-12 NGX and PC-24.

Besides the many highlights which shaped the past year, Pilatus also had to contend with some turbulence: disruptions to supply chains and supply bottlenecks had a negative impact on production. The efficiency of our work processes suffered, resulting in higher costs.

Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus, takes a positive view of last year’s result: “Thanks to a great deal of hard work and flexibility, we achieved a very good result of which the entire crew may be justifiably proud. Demand for our products and services has rarely been so high. Meeting customer expectations despite unreliable supply chains and continuing deglobalisation will, however, ensure our work remains challenging.”

Outlook for the current year

Hansueli Loosli, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Pilatus: “We will see further turbulence in 2022. But we have got off to a good start and we look to the future with confidence. Pilatus has a unique product range and quite simply the best products in their respective niches. We also have a good order book, which provides us with a solid foundation. The reinforced Board of Directors, together with the entire Pilatus team, will do all we can to fly Pilatus into a promising future!””

For more information, kindly contact Pilatus.

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EUR 218 Million – Textron’s Purchase Price of Aircraft Manufacturer Pipistrel

Textron Inc. announced that it has closed its acquisition of PIPISTREL d.o.o., PIPISTREL VERTICAL SOLUTIONS d.o.o. and PIPISTREL ITALIA S.R.L., known collectively as Pipistrel, an award-winning pioneer and global leader in electrically powered aircraft.

Pipistrel’s Velis Electro is the world’s first, and currently only, electric aircraft to receive full type-certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The company, which offers a family of gliders and light aircraft with both electric and combustion engines, has delivered more than 2,500 light aircraft worldwide since its founding in 1989 and additionally has both hybrid and electric propulsion models under development.

As a Textron company, Pipistrel will have access to greater resources, technical and regulatory expertise and a global aircraft sales and support network, enabling it to accelerate its development and certification of electric and hybrid electric aircraft. Pipistrel is now part of Textron’s newest business segment, Textron eAviation, which will pursue Textron’s long-term strategy to offer a family of sustainable aircraft for urban air mobility, general aviation, cargo and special mission roles. Rob Scholl, who has been leading Textron’s eAviation initiatives to date, has been named president and CEO of the segment.

“Pipistrel has already achieved what many other companies only aspire to – certifying and delivering highly regarded electric aircraft to customers around the world,” said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly. “We are excited to accelerate Pipistrel’s development and to welcome its talented people into our organization, where we will pool expertise to make Textron a world leader in sustainable aircraft for a wide range of missions.”

Pipistrel will remain a distinct aviation brand within Textron, alongside the company’s already established Cessna, Beechcraft, and Bell brands. Its headquarters, research and development, and manufacturing will remain in Slovenia and Italy, where Textron plans to make additional investments to expand manufacturing and product development capabilities.

“With Pipistrel, we have the opportunity to take an already great aircraft manufacturer and make it greater still,” said Textron eAviation CEO Rob Scholl. “We look forward to working with its remarkable team and helping the business achieve its full potential.”

Under the terms of the transaction, Textron purchased Pipistrel for a cash purchase price of approximately €218 million. Pipistrel’s founder and CEO, Ivo Boscarol, will remain a minority shareholder of Pipistrel with an approximately 10 percent interest for a two-year period, during which he will advise on future product plans and strategies. The cash purchase price includes the amount for which his minority interest will be purchased at the end of the two-year period.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems.

About Pipistrel

In 2020, Pipistrel’s Velis Electro became the world’s first, and currently only, electric aircraft to receive full type-certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This achievement followed a series of electric aircraft introductions since the company began research and development of electric propulsion in 2000. Pipistrel’s pioneering work has been recognized through awards from NASA, IDC, and other organizations. The company, which offers a family of gliders and light aircraft with both electric and combustion engines, has delivered more than 2,500 light aircraft worldwide since its founding in 1989 and additionally has both hybrid and electric propulsion models under development.

About Textron eAviation

Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Textron eAviation is focused on sustainable flying, backed by Textron’s 100 years of expertise and the restless spirit for innovation that is embodied in our Pipistrel, Cessna, Beechcraft and Bell brands.

Taking the lead in Textron’s development of sustainably powered flight, Textron eAviation is leveraging the industry-leading product design, certification, manufacturing, and aftermarket solutions from across Textron’s businesses coupled with the newly acquired expertise of Pipistrel.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, difficulty or unanticipated expenses in connection with integrating the acquired business; the risk that anticipated synergies and opportunities as a result of the acquisition will not be realized; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop and certify new electric and hybrid electric aircraft products; unanticipated expenses or delays in connection with the launching of such new products; and our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of such new products.

For more information, kindly contact Textron.

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Aircraft Manufacturer Announces Second Delivery Of Its Model

France based Brocard Flying Club has chosen the Elixir, a CS-23 certified aircraft , to renew part of its fleet this year. The management team had an appointment at Elixir Aircraft on Monday April 11 to take delivery of their first aircraft, the MSN006, and take delivery of the second, the MSN008.

In order for Brocard Flying Club to use these 2 aircraft as quickly as possible once the delivery has been made, Elixir Aircraft has, as planned for each purchased aircraft, trained the instructors of the Essonne flying club. Thus the students of the Parisian Flying Club will be able to make their first flight in Elixir this week.

Alain Provost, president of the Brocard Flying Club, said: “As president, what won me over was the visit we made to La Rochelle. It was the meeting with the team that pleased us. The team is talented, we found them to be responsive and every point on the plane is well thought out. All the studies developed together allow us to have good visibility on the operating cost. In particular the replacement of “heavy aircraft”. The little flight I made literally blew me away. »

For more information, kindly contact Elixir Aircraft.

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Aircraft Manufacturer Launches New Aircraft

TECNAM has announced the introduction of a new, revolutionary aircraft into the General Aviation arena – a model named
P-Mentor. With the Type Certificate issued on April 7, 2022, the P-Mentor sees its official birth date. The aircraft will be showcased for a worldwide premiere at AERO Friedrichshafen at Tecnam Stand No. A4-319.

The P-Mentor is the ultimate synthesis of Tecnam’s leadership, knowledge and experience in solutions for Flight Training Organizations and private customers.

The P-Mentor allows complete PPL, IR and UPRT training, with approved PBN/RNAV as well as AFCS: the entire training syllabus with unprecedented fuel consumption and emissions, further enhancing the renowned profitability of Tecnam-made fleet.

For the first time ever, the extremely fuel efficient and low-emissions Rotax 912iSc becomes the hearth of a full IFR-approved aircraft, coupled with an MT constant speed propeller.

The all-new wing specially designed for the P-Mentor features a tapered planform with laminar flow airfoil and mixed structure; light alloy for spars and wing box, CFRP for the one-piece leading edge. Its design allowed the P-Mentor to pass the latest CS-23 Amendment requirements for low speed and stall characteristics without ballistic recovery system being essential part of the aircraft configuration. BRS is approved and available as an option for customers who require additional safety add-ons. Integral fuel tank is located behind the main spar and it offers a remarkable 130lt volume and more than 9 hours endurance.

Flight and Training experience offers the state-of-art Garmin® G3X glass cockpit, with Garmin® GI275 as back-up instrument and multiple configurations to allow PBN/RNAV as well as GFCTM 500 autopilot training. Simulated retractable gear control for enhanced students’ proficiency since their first flight is available as an option.

Besides its revolutionary avionics, the P-Mentor sports Tecnam’s signatureItalian style with the clean and sleek lines, interiors shaped around a large cabin, modern seats and superior visibility.

Tecnam’s commitment towards sustainable aviation is a reality today: flight training choosing Tecnam as their single and twin-engine aircraft fleet supplier can save up to 10 tons of CO2 for every graduated Commercial Pilot. The less-emission training fleet currently available is Made-In-Tecnam.

P-Mentor is the IFR approved aircraft with the lowest fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, with up to 60% of emissions reduction when compared with IFR competitors.

A number of selected Training Organisations already pre-ordered the P-Mentor, confirming the great benefits of this new design.

“We are delighted to present the P-Mentor today. I am sure this new design will revitalize the Trainer market, helping many flight schools to remain competitive and profitable and making new student pilots happier and more proficient. Real sustainability, fuel economy and profitability start here,” says Tecnam’s Managing Director, Giovanni Pascale. 

“When I see a new Type Certificate with this model’s name, I think of my father and my uncle, prof. Luigi Pascale – the men who started this adventure. It also reminds me of all our collaborators and customers that brought us here today – our Mentors Tecnam’s CEO, Paolo Pascale. 

More information on the aircraft can be found here.

For more information, kindly contact Tecnam.

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