Vancouver-based company UrtheCast will film ‘epic’ from space
March 13, 2015UrtheCast Corp. and PepsiCo Inc. partner to re-launch campaign, says Financial Post. Read article here.
Finance Minister Mike de Jong discusses BC budget and aerospace with Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
March 4, 2015Aerospace draws big cheer. “You heard me talk about aerospace. I’m very proud of this partnership – it is an initiative that was born out of Abbotsford. The people involved are from Abbotsford. The leaders who are taking us and establishing ourselves on the national stage are from this part of British Columbia. So we have taken some of your money and we have made a commitment over the next number of years of several million dollars to promote the aerospace sector both nationally and internationally,” said de Jong. Read more. Download the PDF.
Utility Air Sells Premiere Viking Series 400 Twin Otter to Fiji
February 23, 2015Walker Corp to Utilize Twin Otter Series 400 for Luxury Transport to Six Star Resort Viking Air Limited of Victoria, B.C, Canada and Walker Corporation of Sydney, Australia, have entered into an agreement for the purchase of what will become the first Twin Otter Series 400aircraft put into operation in Fiji. Read announcement.
Provincial commitment to BC aerospace re-affirmed in budget
February 17, 2015The British Columbia aerospace industry welcomed the provincial government’s 2015 budget pledge for aerospace as a signal of the province’s confidence in the industry’s growth potential and its commitment to supporting an ambitious strategy to develop a unified and sustainable aerospace cluster in B.C. budget pledge for aerospace
BC aerospace industry wins international recognition
February 12, 2015The British Columbia aerospace industry raised its international profile this week with the signing of a mutual cooperation agreement between the aerospace industry associations in B.C. and Washington State, and with the naming of Victoria’s Viking Air as PNAA’s Company of the Year. Read More.
BC’s Viking Air included in Globe and Mail’s “Things that Work”
January 2, 2015Over the holidays, journalists from The Globe and Mail turned their attention from asking probing questions while holding policy makers’ feet to the fire to providing information in a series about “Things that Work” here in British Columbia. First up in the series is a story about B.C.’s Viking Air. Read the story now.
MDA’s transformation into multinational player
December 16, 2014From SpaceRef.ca: In 2007 MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) made the assessment that the domestic space market wasn’t growing and that there was no long-term commitment to space by the Conservative government. As well, access to the U.S. market, critical for growth, was being stymied by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and security issues. At the same time MDA’s Information Products group was growing nicely year to year. The decision was made to sell its Information Systems and Geospatial Service operations. Read more…
BC government recognized at Canadian Aerospace Summit opening ceremonies
November 28, 2014The leadership and contributions of the government of British Columbia to the overall competitiveness of the aerospace industry in B.C. and Canada were recognized at the Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa. The Honourable Michael de Jong, British Columbia’s Minister of Finance, accepted the award on behalf of the government. In photo, from left to right: Dave Curtis, President & CEO, Viking Air Ltd., and Chair, AIAC; Barry Kohler, President, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, and Past Chair, AIAC; David Schellenberg, Chair, AIAC Pacific; Hon. Mike de Jong, Minister of Finance, Province of B.C.; Jim Quick, President & CEO, AIAC
Aerospace pivots to Pacific: Vanguard
November 7, 2014The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) recently opened an office in B.C. in “an effort to more directly link the province’s companies with national initiatives,” says Vanguard, the forum for Canada’s security and defence community.
B.C. government reaffirms commitment to grow economy and strengthen communities; B.C. aerospace industry spotlighted as world leaders
October 9, 2014British Columbia’s burgeoning aerospace industry and its ability to create well-paying jobs for a prosperous B.C. future is among the highlights of the three-year update for the Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to grow the economy and strengthen communities. More than a plan Premier Christy Clark said the update is much more than a checklist of the plan’s progress, but an opportunity for new commitments to help create long-term, well-paying jobs that also strengthen B.C. families. “I am proud of what we’ve accomplished. We have a near-record 2.3 million people working in B.C. and there was $3.9 billion in economic growth last year. The full report of our progress is online at bcjobsplan.ca.” said Clark. Among the eight sector updates is Manufacturing Innovation, highlighting progress in the B.C. aerospace industry, which the provincial government boosted last year by committing $5 million over five years to “unify and grow” it. B.C. aerospace industry in government spotlight In the update, the government shone the spotlight on the aerospace industry, saying “with our close proximity to the Pacific Northwest aerospace cluster, British Columbia’s aerospace manufacturers are positioned to be world leaders. “Companies like Cascade Aerospace, CHC Helicopter, Kelowna Flightcraft, Viking Air, ASCO Aerospace, MDA Corporation and many others are building B.C.’s reputation in this industry.” Already the B.C. aerospace manufacturing and services sector generates $1.2 billion in revenues annually and employs more than 10,000 British Columbians. Serving as the voice of the industry in B.C. is AIAC Pacific, based in Abbotsford and part of the larger Aerospace Industries Association of Canada. Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour at the time of the first $1 million commitment to AIAC’s Pacific Partnership Program stated it was “money well spent. The growth will have a significant effect on the province’s economy . . . and that is one of the main goals we set as part of the B.C. Jobs Plan.” B.C.’s competitive business environment ready for investors, one million job openings The update report indicated that the government has acted to ensure that B.C. has one of the most competitive business environments for investment and that British Columbians are prepared for the expected one million job openings encompassing all employment sectors over the next decade. “Our economic success isn’t measured on a monthly basis; success is measured in terms of outcomes over time,” said the report. David Schellenberg, chair of AIAC Pacific, said the government’s investment in the aerospace industry will not only help accelerate global growth opportunities, but will also provide tremendous benefits to the economy. KPMG is now conducting a comprehensive economic impact analysis of the B.C. aerospace industry as part of five specific AIAC Pacific activities that include expanding international trade opportunities and building strategies for developing new technologies and heightening competitiveness.