Swiss manufacturer Pilatus is expanding its US presence. The company is building a new complex in Florida and has consolidated its American subsidiaries into a single entity — against the backdrop of a tariff episode that halted deliveries to the States for several months.
What is built and what is being built
Pilatus's main US site is Broomfield, Colorado, home to the North American headquarters, where aircraft for the local market are completed. In February the company broke ground on its fifth American facility, in Florida.
The new complex in Bradenton, at Sarasota Bradenton airport, is designed for sales, service, design and aircraft delivery. Per the company, the facility is expected to be operational by mid-2026, with future plans including final assembly for the North and South American markets and up to 300 employees.
A single American structure
From 1 January 2026 Pilatus merged its US subsidiaries into a single legal entity, Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd. The new structure has around 400 employees and harmonises processes across all sites: Broomfield in Colorado, Westminster in Maryland, Rock Hill in South Carolina and Atlanta in Georgia.
Consolidation simplifies management and, more importantly for the client, unifies service and delivery nationwide. For American PC-12 and PC-24 owners this means more predictable support regardless of where the aircraft is based.
The tariff context
There is a pragmatic reason behind the expansion. In August 2025 the US imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss imports, and Pilatus suspended deliveries to the country. It resumed them in early 2026 but acknowledged the situation would mean a considerable loss of earnings.
In that light, localising final assembly looks like an operational rather than an image decision: production closer to the market reduces tariff exposure and shortens the time from order to handover.
The aircraft themselves
In parallel Pilatus updated its flagship line: the PC-12 PRO with a Garmin G3000 PRIME flight deck, Safety Autoland and an upgraded Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine. The first PC-12 PRO delivery to a US customer took place in November 2025 at Broomfield.
Demand for the model is confirmed by contracts: a major American air-medical operator placed a firm order for twelve PC-12 PROs in a medevac configuration, with deliveries beginning in 2027. The aircraft will be delivered through the company's US arm.
The PC-12 and PC-24 in the market
Both models hold notable positions in their classes. The PC-12 is the world's best-selling single-engine turboprop business aircraft, in production since 1991; the PC-24 is a light jet known for its ability to operate from short and unprepared strips.
This versatility explains the demand: the aircraft are used in corporate transport, air ambulance, government and special missions. For the market, expanded production means more accessible delivery times across both models.
What it means for buyers
For clients in the Americas the changes mean shorter logistics and less exposure to trade barriers. For the rest of the market it is a signal that manufacturers are increasingly placing assembly closer to key customers.
JetHunter tracks manufacturing programmes: they directly affect delivery times for new aircraft and the pre-owned market, where the availability of new aircraft shapes the supply of used ones.
«Localising assembly in the US is not about patriotism but about tariffs and delivery times. For a buyer only one thing matters: the aircraft arrives faster and without tariff uncertainty.»
— Alexey Mordvintsev, CEO of JetHunter
Author: Alexey Mordvintsev, CEO of JetHunter, President of the Association of Professionals of Executive Aviation Industry (APIDA). Over 14 years in the industry.
