Pilatus Aircraft

Stans 2026

SFTE EC Visit to Pilatus Aircraft, Stans — A Day to Remember

The SFTE European Chapter is deeply grateful to Pilatus Aircraft for the magnificent opportunity to open their gates to seventeen of our members for an exclusive visit to their world-renowned facilities in Stans, Switzerland. Events of this kind — where the doors of an outstanding manufacturer are opened to a community of professionals — are rare, and the generosity behind the invitation was not lost on any of us.

The group picture of the visit made in front of the PC24 second prototype.

Members from Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and the Czech Republic gathered for the occasion, crossing borders to share a day that would prove both technically enriching and genuinely memorable. That such a diverse group could come together so naturally is itself a reflection of what the SFTE EC stands for. The organisation of the event was handled with remarkable efficiency and care by our member Alessandro Lurgo, whose commitment ensured that every detail was in place well before the day began. His effort deserves specific recognition, and the Chapter thanks him sincerely.

Upon arrival at Stans, the group was welcomed by Alexander Mellek, Head of the Flight Test Department at Pilatus — a reception that immediately set the tone for the rest of the day. There is something particularly meaningful about being greeted by the person who leads flight test operations at a company of Pilatus's standing, and Alexander's openness and enthusiasm made the welcome feel genuine rather than ceremonial.

The company's presentation breafing.

The visit to the production facility that followed was guided by an experienced Pilatus engineer whose knowledge of the company's processes and heritage was matched only by his ability to communicate it. He moved through the facility with the kind of infectious enthusiasm that turns a tour into an experience, drawing the group into the story of each stage of production with professionalism and no small amount of fun. For a group of flight test professionals accustomed to looking at aircraft from the outside in, seeing how they come together from the inside out was a perspective many found unexpectedly compelling.

The technical centrepiece of the day was a presentation delivered by Alexander on the Pilatus philosophy of flight testing, with the PC-24 programme serving as the primary case study. The PC-24 — a versatile business jet conceived to operate from short and unpaved runways — presented a unique set of flight test challenges, and Alexander's account of how his team approached them offered genuine insight into what makes Pilatus's methodology distinctive. Several members of his team joined the group during and after the presentation, making themselves available for conversation, questions, and the kind of informal exchange that rarely happens in a conference setting but that professionals remember long afterwards.

The Head of Flight Test describing the prototype.

Pilatus' flight line.

One message from Alexander stayed with the group more than any other: that the strength of a flight test team lies in the diversity of its members' experience and background. A team built from varied disciplines, programmes, and cultures brings a breadth of perspective that no single tradition can replicate. In that light, he noted, an organisation like the SFTE EC serves a purpose that goes beyond networking events and technical symposia. It is a bridge — between professionals seeking to grow, and companies like Pilatus seeking to connect with talent and ideas from across the global flight test community. It was a generous and sincere acknowledgement, and one that every member of the group appreciated.

The day drew to a close with a small but meaningful ceremony: an exchange of gifts between Pilatus colleagues and the SFTE EC Board, represented on the day by President Nick Caccavo and Treasurer Sebastian Rommel. This was followed by an after-work drink shared between Pilatus staff and Chapter members — an informal close to an intense day that allowed conversations to continue, friendships to begin, and the spirit of the visit to linger a little longer.

We left Stans grateful, energised, and reminded once again of why this community matters. The memory of the day will stay with all seventeen of us for a long time to come.

SFTE European Chapter BoD with Pilatus' HoFT.

Another view of Pilatus' flight line.

Question time!

Page updated

Report abuse