WHAT ’ S HAPPENING IN YOUR REGION ?
CANADIAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY UPDATE
MIKE MUELLER President & CEO , Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
The global challenges and technological opportunities of the coming decades demand the very best of aerospace innovation . AIAC is proud to be Canada ’ s national association representing over 90 % of aerospace activity – spanning civil aviation , defence and space ; a role we have proudly carried out for the past 60 years !
The next 30 years will bring more radical and rapid change than current generations have seen in their lifetimes . We are ready to seize the full potential of what ’ s to come , engaging companies from every region of our country and beyond our borders across the supply chain !
As an industry built on imagining future possibilities , we are excited to collaborate with partners such as PNAA , harnessing our collective strengths to apply ingenuity and innovation to meet the challenges of the future .
Canada ’ s aerospace industry has a unique set of capabilities to contribute solutions on many pressing fronts , including the sustainability imperative and the shift to green technology and innovation . We have an end-to-end ecosystem with all the necessary players , from researchers and startups to small and mediumsized enterprises , Tier 1 companies and global original equipment manufacturers . And despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic , this is an industry that has shown tremendous commitment and resiliency during uncertainty and challenges that hit harder than for most other sectors .
In fact , according to the most recent industry data released in partnership with Canada ’ s Federal Department of Innovation , Science and Economic Development ( ISED ), Canada ’ s aerospace industry continues to be a significant contributor to our national economy as well as a key driver of innovation and R & D .
Canada ’ s aerospace industry continues to rank first in R & D investments in Canada , with an R & D intensity 2.5 times higher than the manufacturing average . Canada also remained the only country to rank in the top five for civil flight simulators , civil engines and civil aircraft sub-segments . Other key findings include :
» The Canadian aerospace industry contributed over $ 24 billion in GDP and close to 200,000 jobs to the Canadian economy in 2021 .
» Both the Canadian and global defence sectors continued to grow , with defence activity representing 17 % of total Canadian aerospace revenues in 2020 .
» A diverse product por�olio and strong participation in global value chains continue to be key features of the Canadian aerospace manufacturing industry ; more than 90 % of aerospace manufacturing revenues were export oriented in 2021 , of which over 50 % were supply chain related .
Canada ’ s aerospace industry has always been an engine of transformative innovation — from our famed AVRO Arrow to the Canadarms that revolutionized space exploration . Looking to the future , we are excited to draw on that legacy and catalyze our full potential , working together with tremendous partners such as PNAA , to take aerospace to new heights .
114 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2023
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