Empire Test Pilot School To Operate The Aircraft

Under a contract concluded with the British company QinetiQ in 2016, Pilatus is to provide two PC-21s to the “Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS)” based in Wiltshire, in the south of England. Operated by QinetiQ, ETPS functions as a training center for flight test engineers and test pilots, and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide.

On July 17, Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus, presented a traditional Swiss souvenir to Steve Wadey, CEO of QinetiQ Group Plc to commemorate the delivery and handover of their first PC-21 trainer aircraft. The second PC-21 will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018 and will be used for test pilot training courses commencing early in 2019.

The two PC-21s have been produced with a fully integrated Flight Test Instrumentation capability for use by ETPS in training test pilots and flight test engineers.

The acquisition of the two PC-21s forms a key part of a transformation and modernisation project currently underway at ETPS. “These aircraft will have a primary role in the training syllabus," said Wadey. "We are very pleased that, with Pilatus support, we are on track to deliver new training services for the benefit of our customers.”

The delivery of the first PC-21 is another key milestone in the process of developing and strengthening the relationship between Pilatus and QinetiQ. “QinetiQ is the ninth member of the family of PC-21 operators," Bucher said.

"We are confident that the many international test pilots who will fly in these PC-21 aircraft in U.K. skies will benefit from continuing investment in the development of this trainer aircraft. With the PC-21, the best future test pilots will be trained with the world's most capable training system.”

(Image provided with Pilatus news release)

FMI: www.pilatus-aircraft.com