Pilatus Breaks Ground on Flagship U.S. Facility in Florida

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has officially commenced construction of a major new sales, service and production facility at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ), marking a significant expansion of the company’s industrial footprint in the United States. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Pilatus executives alongside representatives from local, regional and state authorities, signals the first phase of what is planned to become the company’s flagship U.S. site.

The Sarasota development forms part of Pilatus’ long-term strategy to expand manufacturing and support capacity outside Switzerland, where its facilities are operating close to maximum throughput. With global demand for the PC-12 NGX turboprop and PC-24 Super Versatile Jet remaining strong, the new Florida site is intended to supplement existing capacity while bringing aircraft production closer to the manufacturer’s largest customer base.

The initial phase of construction will establish a state-of-the-art Sales, Service and Production Centre, designed to enhance customer experience, streamline after-sales support and create a foundation for future aircraft assembly operations in the United States. Subsequent phases of development are expected to expand the site’s industrial capabilities, positioning Sarasota as a key node in Pilatus’ global production and support network.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pilatus Chief Executive Officer Markus Bucher described the project as a major step in the company’s U.S. growth strategy. “This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Pilatus in the United States,” he said. “We are bringing aircraft production to America. This flagship facility will be our fifth location in the U.S. and will set new standards for quality, expertise and technology in the southeastern United States. Sarasota will become a major production site, serving our customers right where they are.”

The Sarasota project reflects a close partnership between Pilatus and the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, supported by the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation and a range of local and state stakeholders. For regional authorities, the investment represents a vote of confidence in Florida’s aerospace ecosystem, reinforcing the state’s growing role as a centre for aviation manufacturing, maintenance and support services.

The Florida facility builds on Pilatus’ steadily expanding U.S. presence. With effect from 1 January 2026, the company integrated all of its U.S. subsidiaries into a single entity, Pilatus Aircraft USA Ltd, creating a unified organisation of approximately 400 employees. The move is intended to streamline operations, harmonise systems and present a more integrated face to customers across North America.

Pilatus’ U.S. operations are headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado (KBJC), which already hosts a PC-12 and PC-24 completion centre. Additional facilities are located in Westminster, Maryland (KDMW), Rock Hill, South Carolina (KUZA), and Atlanta, Georgia (KPDK). The Sarasota site will become the company’s fifth U.S. location, with a specific focus on the southeastern United States, a region with a dense concentration of business aviation activity and owner-operators.

Over the next five years, the Florida development is expected to create approximately 200 new jobs, spanning technical, engineering, support and administrative roles. Pilatus has also indicated plans to expand its U.S.-based apprenticeship programmes, contributing to skills development and workforce sustainability in the regional aerospace sector. Importantly, the company has stressed that the U.S. expansion will complement, rather than displace, employment at its Swiss headquarters, supporting overall growth across the organisation.

Pilatus aircraft have established a strong footprint across the Americas, with more than 2,300 PC-12 and PC-24 aircraft currently in service throughout North and South America. The expanding fleet has driven increasing demand for localised support, maintenance capacity and customer-facing services, particularly in the business aviation and special mission sectors.

By establishing a major presence in Florida, Pilatus aims to improve responsiveness to operators in the southeastern United States and the wider Caribbean and Latin American markets. The Sarasota facility is expected to play a key role in reducing turnaround times for maintenance and upgrades, while enhancing the customer experience through closer proximity to support infrastructure.

As construction begins, the Sarasota project underscores a broader trend in global aerospace manufacturing, with OEMs increasingly seeking to balance production between traditional European hubs and strategically located North American sites. For Pilatus, the move represents both a practical response to capacity constraints at home and a long-term investment in its most important export market. With spades in the ground at KSRQ, Pilatus’ Florida chapter is now officially underway, one that is set to reshape the company’s industrial geography while reinforcing its commitment to customers across the Americas.