Swiss Airplane Manufacturer To Build Facility At Sarasota Airport

SARASOTA, FL — A Swiss airplane manufacturer has signed a deal with the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport to develop 17 acres on the north side of the property, according to a news release.

Pilatus, which manufactures the PC-12 single-engine turboprop and PC-24 Super Versatile Jet, will build a factory-owned flagship for sales, design and services at the airport.

In 2022, more than 6,200 Pilatus flight operations were conducted in the state of Florida alone, the company said.

The new customer center will initially employ more than 50 people to manage aircraft sales, service, design and delivery of Pilatus aircraft in the southeastern United States.

It will include 54,000 square feet dedicated to maintenance activity, spare parts distribution and new aircraft deliveries,as well as 17,000 square feet of workshops, office, and administrative space.

The facility should be open by mid-2026.

Growth plans for Pilatus' new Florida location include final assembly for aircraft delivering to North and South America and could hire up to 300 people.

"We are very excited to take this significant growth step to support our customers with an outstanding ownership experience,” Thomas Bosshard, president and CEO, said.

Rick Piccolo, airport president and CEO, is excited for the new partnership.

“This agreement marks a significant milestone in the economic development not only of the airport, but also the region. This endeavor involves a substantial investment of tens of millions of dollars in facility development, which will result in the creation of over 300 skilled positions, offering lucrative opportunities and making a significant economic impact,” he said.

The Pilatus facility is in addition to Manatee Technical College’s plans to build an Airframe & Powerplant school on the airport property.