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Over the course of two days at Tradex in Abbotsford, both government and key aerospace industry stakeholders made announcements that promise to affect the Canadian aerospace industry and the small and medium sized enterprises that support it.
The Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo (ADSE), spearheaded by the recently established Pacific office of Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC), became the perfect platform for suppliers and buyers to get together. This year’s successful event saw nearly 400 attendees and delegates, with 47 exhibitors. Twenty-nine provincial and federal government representatives participated, highlighting the importance of ADSE.
Important announcements included:
Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and MP for Abbotsford (on behalf of Hon. James Moore, Minister of Industry)—
$30 million for research and technology development (R&TD) from the government of Canada to the Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC), an “industry-led network dedicated to aerospace innovation.”
UrtheCast, a Vancouver-based technology firm developing the world’s first Ultra HD video feed of Earth, streamed from space in full colour—
UrtheCast, in agreement with NanoRacks, LLC, plans to “expand its Earth Observation data stream by operating state-of-the-art sensors on the NASA segment of the International Space Station (ISS),” which will further enhance “UrtheCast’s market leadership for Space Station-based Earth Observation (EO).”
Chinook Helicopters (1982) Ltd., Abbotsford, B.C.—
Chinook Helicopters officially signs a Memorandum of Understanding with CAIB (China Aviation Industrial Base) of Shaanxi, China to “provide helicopter training services and other helicopter-related support and assistance to the growing commercial helicopter market in China.”
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, based in the U.K.—
Chooses the Abbotsford International Airport as the site for its North American hub. It is from here that Marshall Aerospace Canada will increase its “in-country presence” and strengthen “its commitment to focused new business development in North America.” The site will also perform as “Marshall’s base for strategic growth in Canada and North America.”
Addressing the ADSE delegates and exhibitors on behalf of the federal government were Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. Michael de Jong, Minister of Finance; Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business; Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour; and Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy each spoke to the provincial government’s support of the aerospace industry, further supported by its recent “$5-million dollar commitment to help develop a more unified aerospace industry cluster in B.C. through a partnership agreement with the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada (AIAC) Pacific.”
In addition to the government and industry announcements and addresses, AIAC Pacific presented its new website as the primary portal of communication for the industry and its members, and intends to establish a series of panels for the autumn and spring.
