Pilatus has entered an agreement to acquire the Pilatus-focused aircraft maintenance business from Aero Centers Epps, an authorised Pilatus sales and service centre since 1996. Pilatus will assume responsibility for aircraft sales within this territory and, after the deal closes this year, will incorporate the Pilatus maintenance operations and manage them independently from thereon. The Pilatus service centre operation will continue to operate through Epps until the deal closes. The workforce of around 40 employees will join the Pilatus Group.

Based at DeKalb-Peachtree airport in Atlanta, Aero Center Epps provides sales and maintenance services for Pilatus Aircraft on the southeast coast of the US. Last year, Epps was acquired by SAR Trilogy Management. In the context of this acquisition, the new owner decided to sell the Pilatus maintenance and repair operations to better focus on its FBO, non-Pilatus maintenance, and aircraft management and charter business.

Seeking to ensure first-class customer support, Pilatus has decided to continue providing MRO services on an independent basis. Comprehensive product support over the entire life cycle of a Pilatus Aircraft will remain guaranteed in the future. This will include maintenance and repair services, as well as avionics and spare parts sales for the single engine PC-12 and the twin engine PC-24 Super Versatile Jet.

CEO Markus Bucher says: "With this acquisition we want to safeguard and further improve the continuity and quality of our award-winning services on the southeast coast of the US. I'm delighted that we will have the expertise and the employees on board with us and that we can continue to offer our customers a first-class service."

In connection with the acquisition, Pilatus will also continue the PC-12 and PC-24 sales activities previously provided by Aero Center Epps.