Pilatus Aircraft to open new production plant in Andalucia, Spain. The Swiss manufacturer will design, manufacture, and assemble its aircraft in the vicinity of the Seville Airport.
The new facilities will be located in the new Logistics and Industrial Park in the municipality of Carmona. Close to this location is the Aeropolis Park in the municipality of La Rinconada, where many companies in the aerospace sector are based.
According to El Confidencial of Spain, the land where Pilatus will be installed is owned by the municipality. Sofitec, a company specialized in the production of aerostructures, and other international logistics companies are also located on the same site.
The Swiss manufacturer expects its new production plant to employ around 400 employees. The site will be dedicated to the manufacture and assembly of aircraft and will also feature a state-of-the-art innovation center.
Global Expansion and Relationship with Spain
Pilatus’ future plant in Andalusia would be its fifth worldwide. The company already has two independent subsidiaries in Broomfield, Colorado, USA, and in Adelaide, Australia. Additionally, it operates a production line in Chongqing, China, which serves the Asia-Pacific markets.
Pilatus’ arrival in Spain marks a milestone and a new chapter in the relationship between the Swiss company and the Spanish government. The Ministry of Defense acquired 40 Pilatus PC-21s for the Air Force.
In an initial contract signed in 2020, an order was placed for 24 units. Later, in 2023, this order was expanded to include an additional 16 aircraft to replace the ENAER T-35C Pillán trainers, which are 35 years old.
In addition to manufacturing PC-21 trainer aircraft, Pilatus produces the executive turboprop Pilatus PC-12 and the PC-24 jet. As of today, the Swiss company has delivered a total of 4,000 aircraft worldwide, with 1,800 belonging to the PC-12 model.
