Aerospace Industry Association of Canada pleased with F-18 maintenance contract renewal

Ottawa, September 1, 2010 – The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) is pleased with the Government of Canada’s decision to extend the maintenance contract granted to L-3 Communications MAS to support and maintain the CF-18 fleet up to 2020.

“This decision will ensure the reliability and safety of our fleet as well as secure up to 500 high quality aerospace jobs in Mirabel and the Greater Montreal area” said Dr. Claude Lajeunesse, President & CEO of AIAC. “Aircraft maintenance demands highly-skilled workers focussed on preventing and finding solutions to technical problems in an environment that allows no margin of error” he added.

Thanks to a strong Government-Industry partnership that spans over decades, Canada’s capabilities and expertise in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) are recognized worldwide. An integral part of the Canadian Aerospace industry, the MRO sub-sector accounts for more than 19% of the overall industry’s output.

The value-added work performed by L-3 Communications MAS on the CF-18 that leads to the development and export of technical modifications will enable our MRO industry to continue thriving in Canada and to further contribute to the long-term prosperity of all Canadians.

The AIAC is the national association representing Canada’s aerospace manufacturing and services sector. As the world’s fifth largest aerospace industry, Canada’s aerospace sector generated in 2009 over $22 billion and employed nearly 80,000 Canadians. Seventy-eight per cent of Canadian aerospace products were exported. AIAC represents the interests of 400 aerospace companies across Canada.

For further information contact:
Maryse Harvey, Vice-President Public Affairs, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
(613) 760-4562
mharvey@aiac.ca