NEW DELHI: Swiss airframer Pilatus Aircraft will soon start assembling aero structures of its turbine-powered business aircraft PC-12 NG in India with the help of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
India’s TASL has replaced an existing Pilatus supplier, who was responsible for producing PC-12 aero structures in Eastern Europe, to be the second support facility for PC-12 after OGMA œ Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal.
India has been looking at acquiring more aircraft from the Swiss aircraft maker. In 2012, Pilatus Aircraft entered into a contract with the Government of India to supply 75 PC-7 MkII turboprop basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
“The partnership (with TASL) is important in the context of Pilatus’ offset obligation resulting from the sale of the PC-7 MkII Training Aircraft System to the Indian Air Force,” says Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
As per the 10-year contract, TASL will assemble the airframes at its facility in Hyderabad, in southern India.
The number of airframes manufactured at the TASL facility will be significant and relevant to the current annual production requirement of the PC-12 aircraft.
“The first complete PC-12 NG aero structure is expected to be delivered during the second half of 2016,” says a spokesman of Pilatus.
The long-tern project includes tooling, jigs and training of TASL’s personnel at Pilatus facilities in Switzerland. “The training will enable TASL to supply PC-12 NG aero structures for the Pilatus global supply chain,” the official says.
Plans are on the anvil to ship the airframes that will be manufactured in India to Switzerland for final assembly.
“In the initial stage we will be manufacturing only the airframes of PC-12, which will come back to Switzerland to be assembled into final aircraft,” Jim Roche, Vice-President of Pilatus, had said earlier.
Pilatus has so far sold 1300 PC-12 aircraft worldwide. The nine-seater aircraft is used as executive transport, cargo, air ambulance, airline, and special mission applications.
TASL has established several such aero structure programs for global OEMs since 2009 from its facility.
“We are delighted to enter into a relationship with TASL, which is known for its high quality aero structure assembly capability, proven to many prestigious international aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). TATA is without doubt a partner of choice for Pilatus in the continued expansion of its portfolio of international subcontractors, Bucher adds.
The contract for 75 trainers, signed in May 2012, is worth more than 500 million Swiss francs ($520 million). It also covers an integrated, ground-based training system and a comprehensive logistics support package. India also has plans to procure more of these aircraft.
India also has about a dozen PC-12 aircraft.
“Essentially our long-term strategy is to build capacities for design, development and manufacturing of the complete range of our aircraft products in India, for the Indian market primarily, but with a view to expansion within the region,” Roche said.
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