Pilatus Puts U.S. Deliveries on Hold Amid Trade Dispute

Good morning! I’m gearing up for a busy week of travel, flying across the country to film several airplanes I’m brokering that will soon be featured on the Flybuyer YouTube channel. Last week marked a big milestone—Flybuyer Aircraft Sales closed its first deal as a full-time brokerage: a 1955 Cessna 180 Skywagon. The best part? We went from listing to closing in just six weeks, after the airplane had sat on the market for more than a year with its previous owner. (And if you haven’t seen it yet, check out the new website: flybuyer.com.)

This week’s journey takes me from Montana to western Pennsylvania, then Virginia, and wraps up with my first-ever visit to Hawaii. These opportunities all came from the great connections made at our Oshkosh booth just a few weeks ago. If you’re ready to sell your airplane, I’d be glad to help—reach out to me at [email protected]. 🛩️

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Pilatus Grounds U.S. Deliveries as 39% Tariffs Take Effect

• Around the Skies: FAA probes airport access restrictions, Guiding pilots from classroom to cockpit, Southeast charts first aerial corridor, Business Jet’s bold Dallas expansion, Eagle ride ends with early passenger launch

• PilotTube: “I Bought a Cherokee 6 for Less Than $30K and It Changed My Life”

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

Pilatus Seeks Smoother Skies as U.S. Tariffs Ground Deliveries

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has hit the brakes on U.S. deliveries of its PC-12 turboprops and PC-24 business jets, grounding plans for dozens of American customers. The pause follows the Trump administration’s surprise move to impose a 39% import tariff on Swiss goods—one of the highest in the world—putting Pilatus at what it calls a “significant competitive disadvantage.” With the U.S. accounting for about 40% of its annual production, the company says the new duties bring “massive additional costs” and shake customer confidence.

In the short term, Pilatus plans to redirect aircraft originally destined for the U.S. to other global markets, ensuring no jets sit idle in its Swiss hangars. At the same time, it’s fast-tracking a U.S. manufacturing foothold with a planned assembly facility in Sarasota, Florida—a move that could eventually sidestep the tariffs altogether. The company’s 3,000 employees are a top priority, with options like short-time work or attrition on the table to manage any slowdown without mass layoffs.

The delivery freeze comes as Switzerland scrambles to negotiate a trade deal that would drop the import tax to roughly 10%, though recent talks in Washington ended without an agreement. The White House is reportedly seeking increased Swiss purchases of U.S. energy and defense products to ease what it sees as a lopsided trade balance.

Pilatus isn’t alone in navigating tariff turbulence—other foreign aircraft makers are adjusting strategies too. Alaska Airlines has postponed deliveries from Brazil’s Embraer and Delta is staging new Airbus A321neos in Europe to avoid duties. As the global aerospace industry recalibrates, the skies between Switzerland and the U.S. remain a bit cloudier than usual, but Pilatus is already plotting a new flight path forward.

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AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ The FAA is investigating claims that the University of Central Missouri is restricting outside commercial operations at Skyhaven Airport. Pilot groups say the university’s policies give it an unfair monopoly, including limits on independent mechanics and non-university businesses. The FAA has paused improvement grants during the probe, in a dispute that could decide whether Skyhaven stays open to all or under tight university control.

🛩️ SKYSCHOLAR is a new aviation consulting firm focused on helping aspiring pilots navigate the path to collegiate flight training. Founded by Luke Pylypciw, it offers expert guidance, program comparisons and resources that simplify choosing the right school and training route. Its services range from personalized consultations to a subscription platform with scholarship updates, industry news and webinars—aimed at making the journey to a professional cockpit clearer and more efficient.

🛩️ North Carolina and Georgia are teaming up to launch the nation’s first interstate advanced air mobility corridor, linking Charlotte and Atlanta by air. The route will serve as a testbed for electric air taxis, drones and other next-gen aircraft, with plans to integrate South Carolina into the network. Officials say the project will connect major metro areas, move people and freight faster and showcase cleaner, smarter ways to travel.

🛩️ Business Jet is adding two state-of-the-art hangars at Dallas Love Field, bringing nearly 70,000 square feet of premium hangar and office space by January 2026. Built to handle the newest ultra-long-range jets, the facilities will feature custom tenant designs, modern amenities and sustainable touches like EV chargers. One will serve a single tenant, while the other will host multiple operators. It’s the latest phase in an expansion plan that could eventually add another 100,000 square feet to the airport.

🛩️ A ride-along in an F-15D Eagle took a wild turn when a passenger unexpectedly punched out of the jet before it even left the runway at Barnes Air National Guard Base. The August 12th incident, reportedly involving a 104th Fighter Wing recruiting officer, forced the strip to shut down and quickly made the rounds on social media with cockpit footage and ATC chatter.

PilotTube

For just $30,000, a humble Piper Cherokee Six became the foundation for a full-blown aviation revival. With the help of a Piper-savvy A&P/IA, N631BW was transformed from a tired hauler into a sharp, modern machine—complete with an engine overhaul, glass-panel avionics, fresh paint and a leather interior. Now sporting an Avidyne IFD 540, Dynon HDX and Trutrak Autopilot, this classic workhorse proves that with passion, patience and about $100k in upgrades, you can turn an old bird into something truly extraordinary.

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