Pilatus Aircraft has signed a joint venture agreement with a Chinese company that will open up China's expanding general aviation market to the Swiss manufacturer.
The joint venture with Beijing Tian Xing Jian Yu Science Co., Ltd (TXJY) opened for business last Monday, with an initial order signed for 50 PC-12/PC-6 Porters.
The company will also produce parts for the civil aircraft, but will not be involved with production of military aircraft such as the PC-9 and PC-21.
Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, said China was ideal for the PC-12 and PC-6.
"The PC-12 and Pilatus Porter PC-6 are optimum aircraft for this booming market, and we are confident our products have great potential," he said.
"China has many small airfields with short runways - our aircraft are ideal for operating in and out of them."
Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher said the joint venture with TXJY was the best way to establish a foothold in China.
"We believe that a partnership with a local sales partner is the key to success," he pointed out.
"It also ties in with our strategy of ensuring optimum customer service through the closest possible geographic proximity. Assisted by our joint venture partner ... we will achieve our goal of establishing the Pilatus brand in China."
The company has assured the industry that manufacturing components in China will not effect production operations at headquarters in Stans, Switzerland.