Northern Aerospace/Aviation Services Industry:

With a skilled workforce and available infrastructure, Ontario's North is an ideal place to conduct aerospace-related business.

The North is an ideal location for aerospace testing and evaluation programs with available infrastructure that can support a variety of activities, including:

• runways that can accommodate all aircraft types;
• airport operational schedules that can accommodate extended periods of runway use;
• ample ground facilities;
• weather conditions that (seasonally) can be representative of almost any airport in the world; and
• available reserved flight test airspace.

Air Transport, an essential service in the North, has also spawned a network of 68 airports and a wealth of aviation related activities.

The North offers a broad spectrum of aerospace industry companies which are involved in manufacturing, maintenance, repair, overhaul, and service. They provide services which include:

• heavy mainframe and airframe overhauls;
• certified engine inspection services and maintenance;
• complete manufacture of light utility aircraft;
• interior, paint, and avionics overhauls;
• aircraft modifications and conversions;
• manufacture and supply of parts; and
• manufacture of helicopter kits.

Look at just a few of the companies that are already here...

Thunder Bay International, Ontario's third busiest airport, is the home of Boschung AG's North American demonstration and distribution centre for their line of high-airport heavy equipment.

The Canadian distribution centre for the Swiss engineered Pilatus PC12 commuter plane is also in Thunder Bay.

In addition to complete overhauls, inspections and maintenance, Skyservices in Echo Bay, near Sault Ste. Marie, modifies Dash 8s from passenger to cargo planes.

Found Aircraft Canada, located in Parry Sound, has attracted international attention through its development of unique new technologies for improving the performance of bush planes, including the development and production of the FBA-2C1 Bush Hawk-XP. In 2002, the National Research Council of Canada recognized Found Aircraft as one of Canada's Top 100 Innovative Companies due to the development of its innovative new technologies, its advanced manufacturing process, and its employment of young aerospace engineering graduates.

Wood Group Turbopower in North Bay, a certified Transport Canada Aircraft Maintenance Organization, offers maintenance and inspection services for Pratt and Whitney's PT6A and PT6T engines.

Voyageur Airlines, also in North Bay, has grown to 338 employees, providing customers around the world with a wide range of aircraft charter, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.

A skilled workforce...

The aerospace industry in Northern Ontario is also complemented by a full range of leading edge aerospace education programs, offered at several Northern Ontario colleges. Programs include:

• Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering;
• Aviation Technician;
• Aviation Flight Management;
• Aircraft Structural Repair; and
• Pilot Training.

A steady stream of well-trained workers is helping the industry grow. The Centres of Excellence in Aviation located in North Bay and Thunder Bay, and the aviation programs at Sault College in Sault Ste. Marie are widely recognized for their technician and pilot training programs.

Northern Ontario also offers a variety of charter and scheduled air service, helicopter charters, air ambulance services, and is home to a dozen commercial airlines.