Pilatus Acquiring Sales and Support Provider Air Alliance

Pilatus is acquiring Germany-based Air Alliance, which provides sales and support for the Swiss aircraft manufacturer’s PC-12 and PC-24. Announced at a contract signing event last week, the deal is subject to regulatory approval by Germany’s civil aviation authority and does not include Air Alliance’s ambulance flight subsidiary Unicair.

From its headquarters at Burbach in northwestern Germany, Air Alliance has operated a Pilatus factory-authorized sales and service center since 2014. It also provides flight training, as well as aircraft charter and management services with both the PC-12 turboprop single and PC-24 twinjet.

All 120 employees will stay with the organization following the takeover by Pilatus. Air Alliance managing director René Petersen will continue to lead the operation as CEO and, at the contract signing, he said the new ownership will support further expansion.

“Europe, particularly Germany and Austria, is a very important market for Pilatus and offers potential for further growth,” said Pilatus chairman Hansueli Loosli. “This acquisition gives us the opportunity to leverage synergies and move even closer to our customers with the Pilatus brand and our own services.”