Third Country To Contract With Pilatus for Turbine Training

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd announced Monday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force & Air Defense (AF&AD) has entered into a contract in excess of $500 million to procure a fleet of 25 PC-21 turboprop aircraft, together with an integrated ground based training system and comprehensive logistics support.

The UAE is now the third country after Switzerland and Singapore to contract with Pilatus for turbo-trainers

Delivery of the aircraft and the complete training system is scheduled to begin in 2011, with basic and advanced flight training in the UAE to be in line with the 4th generation equipment already in service in the front line squadrons.

The decision to select the PC-21 training system was made after a thorough evaluation by the UAE, which looked at all available options. Pilatus considers the contract a major success for the company in the Middle East, and hopes it will encourage other forces in the region and beyond to take a close look at its pilot training program.

As a partner to the UAE AF&AD for more than 25 years, in supporting the existing fleet of PC-7 trainer aircraft, Pilatus says this contract shows the confidence and trust its customer has bestowed on the company for their basic and advanced flight training requirements.

FMI: www.pilatus-aircraft.com