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B.C. gives aerospace $1M boost

With an eye to helping the B.C. aerospace industry improve its international competitiveness, the province made good Tuesday on a budget promise by handing $1 million to the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada’s Pacific Division.
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Viking Air production pilots Rob McIntyre, left, and David Reid fly a Twin Otter 400 Series aircraft that is destined for Russia.

With an eye to helping the B.C. aerospace industry improve its international competitiveness, the province made good Tuesday on a budget promise by handing $1 million to the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada’s Pacific Division.

The money, part of a five-year $5-million commitment to AIAC Pacific, is intended to help the industry organization on a variety of fronts, including improving collaboration among B.C. aerospace firms, improving global market access and ensuring B.C. gets its fair share of federal program, procurement and research funding.

Jim Quick, chief executive of AIAC, said the end goal is a more unified industry cluster in B.C. that will make it competitive.

“When you look at the global outlook for the aerospace industry, it’s very exciting. We have to double the size of global fleet over the next 20 years, which represents $1.9 trillion of work,” he said, noting in Asia-Pacific alone that means adding 12,000 new aircraft.

“What we are doing today is signalling B.C. wants its share.”

Dave Curtis, chief executive of Viking Air, which hosted the announcement Tuesday, noted that, by pulling together, more companies will be able to take advantage of the growing opportunity around the world.

“We can’t continue to compete regionally. We are competing globally and we better get our act together,” he said. For too long, he added, the Canadian aerospace industry has had trouble competing on the world stage with the big players.

Curtis, whose company has produced 50 Twin Otter aircraft, has another 50 on order and has delivered $400 million in product worldwide since bringing the aircraft back into production in 2009. He said the investment from B.C. will make a difference.

“We have to compete globally, but you can bet every country wants to have a piece of that $1.9 trillion in business, so we have to get aligned and work together,” he said. “The $1 million is a start. … The supply chain needs development, there’s a lot of little businesses that are around and they need to get a piece of that bigger pie.”

Provincial Finance Minister Mike de Jong said while $5 million over five years is a modest investment, it was a prudent one as it will help AIAC market the products and skills available in B.C.

“These are exciting days for aerospace,” he said with a nod to the looming global demand for aircraft. “There are myriad needs for commuter aircraft, transport aircraft, maintenance and overhaul required that can be met in Canada, particularly Western Canada.

“This project is designed to solidify, co-ordinate, amplify and expand our efforts together within B.C. and as a country, and when we do that, the potential for punching above our weight and having an impact internationally is limitless,” said de Jong.

B.C.’s aerospace industry employs 10,000 people and generates about $1.2 billion in annual revenue.

aduffy@timescolonist.comm