Pilatus will cease production of its PC-6 multirole trainer in 2019 after a 60-year run. The decision follows poor sales of the single-engined turboprop, also known as the Porter, and limited development opportunities for the platform.

"The PC-6 no longer fits our product portfolio," says Pilatus chairman Oscar Schwenk. "Due to its age and other certification parameters, it is no longer possible to provide ongoing development in the scope we would wish."

The company has produced some 500 PC-6s at its Stans headquarters in Switzerland since 1959. In addition about 100 PC-6s were built in the USA under licence.