BDC Aero Industrie
A Canadian aircraft manufacturer associated with the Puma ultralight and light-sport aircraft.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
BDC Aero Industrie is a Canadian aircraft manufacturer based in Lachute, Quebec, known for producing the Puma, a two-seat ultralight and light-sport aircraft. The aircraft lineage originated in Italy with designer Antonio Bortolanza, who initially developed the design under the name Pluto during the mid-1980s. It was subsequently associated with the name Drakken before becoming known as the Puma. Early examples were produced by Aeroplast of Sale, Piedmont, Italy, while later examples were designed or structurally revised and manufactured by BDC Aero Industrie in Canada. The Puma is a compact, enclosed-cockpit aircraft intended for recreational flying, training, and other light-aircraft operations. Its configuration includes a strut-braced high wing, side-by-side seating for a pilot and one passenger, composite cockpit doors, fixed tricycle landing gear, wheel pants, and a tractor-mounted single engine. The airframe combines an aluminum wing with a composite fuselage. Depending on the version and customer specification, the aircraft could use Rotax four-stroke engines including the 80 hp 912UL, 100 hp 912ULS or 912iS, and 115 hp 914 turbocharged engine. BDC Aero Industrie redesigned the aircraft in 2006 to support higher permissible weights and to meet Canadian Advanced Ultralight requirements as well as the regulatory framework associated with light-sport aircraft. The Canadian Advanced Ultralight version had a gross weight of approximately 560 kg, while the limited-category version had a gross weight of approximately 600 kg. The Puma was approved in Canada as an Advanced Ultralight and as a limited-category aircraft. Although the design was associated with the United States light-sport category, it was reported as not appearing on the Federal Aviation Administration's light-sport aircraft list as of September 2015. The aircraft was once offered as a highly completed amateur-construction kit. The factory kit was reported to arrive roughly 90 percent complete, with the builder responsible for tasks such as painting the airframe and sourcing and installing the engine and instruments. By 2015, however, the Puma was supplied only as a complete, factory-built aircraft rather than as a kit. Production appears to have been limited: Transport Canada records identified three Advanced Ultralight and two limited-category BDC-built Pumas in November 2017, with those Canadian aircraft built between 2010 and 2016. One BDC-built Puma was also registered in the United States in 2013, while Canada separately listed an Italian-built Bortolanza Puma from 2007. The company and aircraft occupy a niche within recreational and sport aviation rather than the mass-market aviation sector. Available information emphasizes the Puma product and its regulatory variants rather than a broad portfolio of aircraft. Publicly documented details about BDC Aero Industrie’s ownership, leadership, financial performance, current production activity, and corporate structure are limited.
History
The Puma aircraft lineage began with Italian aircraft designer Antonio Bortolanza in the mid-1980s. Bortolanza’s original design was called the Pluto and was later associated with the name Drakken before receiving the Puma designation. Aeroplast of Sale, in Piedmont, Italy, produced early versions, including the Aeroplast Pluto A-65. That model was designed for the European microlight category and could use either a 64 hp Rotax 582 or an 80 hp Rotax 912UL engine. Later Italian development produced the Bortolanza Puma, including an example built in 2007 with a gross weight of approximately 560 kg for the Canadian Advanced Ultralight category. BDC Aero Industrie subsequently became the Canadian producer associated with the design. In 2006, BDC undertook a structural redesign intended to support higher gross weights and align the aircraft with Canadian Advanced Ultralight rules and the requirements relevant to light-sport aircraft. The Canadian version retained the core layout of the design: a strut-braced high wing, a two-seat enclosed cockpit with side-by-side seating, fixed tricycle landing gear, and a single tractor engine. The BDC-produced aircraft used an aluminum wing and composite fuselage. Its wing had a span of approximately 8.5 metres and incorporated flaps. Available powerplants included several Rotax four-stroke engines, ranging from the 80 hp 912UL through the 100 hp 912ULS and 912iS to the 115 hp turbocharged 914. The design’s intended use was recreational and sport aviation, with a configuration suitable for a pilot and one passenger. For part of its commercial history, the aircraft was available as an amateur-construction kit. The kit was described as substantially completed at delivery, leaving the builder to paint the airframe and obtain and install the engine and instrumentation. By 2015, BDC’s offering had changed to factory-built, ready-to-fly aircraft only. This represented a shift away from the earlier kit-aircraft model toward completed aircraft supplied by the manufacturer. BDC produced at least two principal Canadian variants. The Advanced Ultralight version had a stated gross weight of approximately 560 kg. The LSA/Limited version was designed around a gross weight of approximately 600 kg and was associated with the Canadian limited category and the United States light-sport category. The Puma received Canadian approval as an Advanced Ultralight and as a limited-category aircraft. Publicly available information reported that it did not appear on the FAA light-sport aircraft list as of September 2015, limiting the conclusions that can be drawn about its United States regulatory availability. The documented production run was small. In November 2017, Canadian registration information identified three Advanced Ultralight and two limited-category BDC-built Pumas. The Canadian aircraft had been built between 2010 and 2016: three Advanced Ultralight examples and three limited-category examples are described in the source material, although the registration summary separately reports five BDC-built aircraft. One BDC-built aircraft was registered in the United States in 2013. Canada also had one Italian-built Bortolanza Puma on its register, constructed in 2007. These records indicate a specialized and limited production history rather than large-scale manufacturing. Public sources provide little verified information about BDC Aero Industrie’s corporate founding date, ownership, executives, financial condition, or current operations. The available record is primarily an aircraft reference describing the Puma’s design history, variants, specifications, regulatory status, and registrations.
- 2017
Canadian registration count documented
[1]In November 2017, Canadian records were reported to include three Advanced Ultralight and two limited-category BDC-built Pumas.
- 2016
Latest documented Canadian production year
[1]The latest BDC-built limited-category Puma identified in the cited registration material was produced in 2016.
- 2015
Factory-built supply replaces kit availability
[1]The Puma was reported as available only as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft rather than as an amateur-construction kit.
- 2013
Limited-category production and United States registration
[1]Two BDC limited-category aircraft were built, and one BDC-built Puma was registered in the United States.
- 2010
Canadian BDC production documented
[1]The first documented BDC-built Advanced Ultralight Puma was produced.
- 2007
Italian-built Bortolanza Puma recorded
[1]At least one Bortolanza-built Puma was completed in Italy and later appeared on the Canadian register.
- 2006
Canadian structural redesign
[1]BDC Aero Industrie redesigned the aircraft for higher gross weights and compatibility with Canadian Advanced Ultralight and light-sport-related requirements.
- 1980
Original Pluto design developed
[1]Antonio Bortolanza originally designed the aircraft in Italy under the name Pluto during the mid-1980s.
Products and positioning
A niche manufacturer of enclosed two-seat recreational ultralight and light-sport aircraft, offering a Canadian-produced Puma design for regulated sport-aviation markets.
Ultralight aircraft
Aeroplast Pluto A-65
The original Italian version of the design, developed by Antonio Bortolanza and produced by Aeroplast. It was intended for the European microlight category and had a stated gross weight of approximately 450 kg. Available engines included the 64 hp Rotax 582 and the 80 hp Rotax 912UL.
Ultralight aircraft
Aeroplast Drakken
An intermediate name used for the Italian aircraft design before it became known as the Puma. Publicly documented information identifies it as a Bortolanza-designed development but provides limited separate production detail.
Ultralight aircraft · 2007
Bortolanza Puma
An Italian-built Puma version designed and built by Antonio Bortolanza. It was associated with a gross weight of approximately 560 kg for the Canadian Advanced Ultralight category, and at least one example was built in 2007.
Advanced ultralight aircraft · 2010
BDC Aero Puma Advanced Ultralight
The Canadian-produced Advanced Ultralight version of the Puma. BDC Aero Industrie structurally revised the aircraft for the Canadian category, with a stated gross weight of approximately 560 kg. Three BDC-built examples were documented, including aircraft produced in 2010 and 2011.
Light-sport and limited-category aircraft · 2013
BDC Aero Puma LSA/Limited
The higher-weight Canadian version associated with the limited category and the United States light-sport framework. It had a stated gross weight of approximately 600 kg. Three examples were documented as built by BDC, including two in 2013 and one in 2016.
Brand decisions
2015
Move from kit aircraft to factory-built supplyStrategyBackground
The Puma had previously been offered as a substantially completed amateur-construction kit requiring the builder to finish selected tasks and install major equipment.
Action taken
By 2015, BDC supplied the aircraft only as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.
Aftermath
The change positioned the Puma as a completed manufacturer-supplied aircraft rather than a kit for amateur construction.
2006
Redesign for higher-weight regulatory categoriesGeneration changeBackground
The earlier Italian design needed to be adapted for Canadian Advanced Ultralight rules and the requirements associated with light-sport aircraft.
Action taken
BDC Aero Industrie structurally redesigned the Puma and developed versions with higher gross weights, including Advanced Ultralight and limited-category variants.
Aftermath
The redesigned aircraft became the basis of BDC’s Canadian production and received Canadian Advanced Ultralight and limited-category approval.
Sources2 sources
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