Manitoba's aerospace sector is the largest in Western Canada. The province is home to a diversified range of world class manufacturing, repair, overhaul and service firms.

Manufactured products include composite aircraft assemblies, advanced alloy turbine engine components and spacecraft systems.

Manitoba companies specialize in repair and overhaul for turbine and reciprocating engines, and commercial passenger aircraft.

Aerospace services cover a broad range from training military pilots and navigators to integrating spacecraft payloads.

Manufacturing, repair and overhaul accounted for about 80 per cent of the approximately $1.2 billion in total sales generated in 2001.

Four large companies dominate Manitoba's aerospace industry. Air Canada Maintenance, Bristol Aerospace, Boeing Canada Technology and Standard Aero Limited accounted for over 90 per cent of the approximately 5,200 persons directly employed in the sector in 2001. The balance of employment is provided by approximately 17 established aerospace companies.

A growing number of small to medium-sized businesses are supplying the local aerospace sector. Included in this segment are precision machine shops, tool and die makers, precision sheet metal fabricators, plating and coating operations and electronics companies.

The aerospace industry in Manitoba is intensely export-oriented, serving hundreds of companies on every continent. The distribution of markets is typically: Canada, 20 per cent; U.S.A., 65 per cent; and the rest of the world, 15 per cent. Manitoba manufacturers supply components and sub-assemblies to all major aerospace commercial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Industry capabilities include, but are not limited to:

• design, development, manufacture, repair, and overhaul of composite aircraft components, turbine engines, engine components and accessories
  
  
• repair and overhaul for commercial aircraft
  
  
• repair and overhaul for rotary engines and accessories
  
  
• precision machining and precision sheet metal fabrication for high-strength metals and alloys
  
  
• fixed-wing multi-engine and rotary-wing military pilot training
  
  
• spacecraft design and integration
  
  
• sounding rocket and missile design and integration
  
  
• development of advanced strategic target systems

Also visit the following sections:

• Manitoba's OEM Advantages
• Industry Sector Summaries