IndustryPilatus breaks ground on new U.S. facility amid capacity limits in Switzerland
Pilatus has begun construction of a new sales, service and production facility at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Florida, advancing a U.S. expansion strategy that the Swiss aircraft manufacturer has been developing since 2022. The project was originally conceived to supplement capacity in Switzerland, where production is operating close to its limits.
The Florida development starts with infrastructure dedicated to sales support, maintenance and manufacturing activities. Pilatus has confirmed that later phases are expected to include aircraft assembly, expanding the site’s role beyond customer support and completions and moving part of its industrial footprint closer to end users.
While the decision to expand in the United States predates current trade tensions, the new facility has taken on added importance following the introduction of U.S. import tariffs on Swiss-made products under the Trump administration. Establishing production capability inside the United States would reduce Pilatus’ exposure to those duties, particularly in its largest market.
North America represents the biggest customer base for Pilatus, driven mainly by demand for the PC-12 turboprop and the PC-24 light jet. The company has more than 2,300 aircraft in service across North and South America, making proximity to operators a key operational factor.
Ahead of the Sarasota expansion, Pilatus consolidated its U.S. operations. As of January 1, its American subsidiaries were merged into a single entity, Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd, employing around 400 people. The group already operates facilities in Colorado, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia, including a PC-12 and PC-24 completion center in Broomfield.
Pilatus said the Florida site is expected to generate about 200 jobs over the next five years and will support apprenticeship and training programs. The company added that the investment does not replace activity in Switzerland, but is intended to support growth and manage delivery schedules as global demand remains strong.
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