Sauber to use PC-12 aircraft in Europe.

Five days before the start of the first European Formula One race in Imola (Italy), the two Swiss high-tech companies Red Bull Sauber AG and Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG have announced a very special kind of co-operation.

Sauber will be using a PC-12 from Pilatus to transport their team and materials for races and tests within Europe. Thanks to the high degree of flexibility of the aircraft at very low operating costs, the PC-12 is a very attractive solution.

Due to the short development periods, parts or even entire modules must be transported to the racetrack at the very last minute. The PC-12 with its flexible cargo space and large freight door is ideal for this kind of job. In emergencies it is no problem to transport a chassis or even an entire rear axle. "We think it is important to reduce the absence of the team from the home base to an absolute minimum. At the same time as much of our budget as possible is to be pumped into the performance of the car. In the face of these facts, the PC-12 simply is the very best solution for us" explained Peter Sauber.

The PC-12 is a single engine, turbine driven aircraft with a pressurized cabin, which can be used in a number of situations. The large cabin is fitted with a passenger door as well as a cargo door at the rear. The executive version has enough space to accommodate two pilots and between six and eight passengers. The standard version has enough space for two pilots and a maximum of nine passengers. The aircraft can also be configured as a combination machines (passengers / cargo). The PC-12 can take off from short and unmade runways. The powerful PC-12 has been sold more than 300 times world wide and is being successfully used as a business aircraft, an airliner in Canada and as a rescue aircraft in the outback for the Royal Flying Doctor service in Australia.

Pilatus boss Oscar J. Schwenk is looking forward to this partnership; both companies have a number of things in common. They are successful in a high-tech niche, have their production sites in Switzerland and earn their money in global 'markets'.