Vanguard Magazine

10 APRIL/MAY 2022 www.vanguardcanada.com S SIT REP Airbus Canada revealed an additional 125,000 ft2 (11,600 m2) of as- sembly space at its A220 site in Mirabel, Quebec. Comparable to the size of seven NHL hockey rinks, the newfound space will allow the company to ramp up A220 production capacity to double in the next few years. It is Airbus' first pre-assembly zone for subcomponents outside Eu- rope. With this addition, the Mirabel site is now close to 1.4 million ft2 (130,000 m2) and employs over 2,500 people. During an official visit in Mirabel alongside Airbus employees, execu- tives, the Quebec Minister of Economy and Innovation, M. Pierre Fitzgib- bon, and members of Investissement Quebec, Benoît Schultz, Airbus Canada's Chief Executive Officer, relayed his thoughts regarding the discovery: "It is a great pleasure to unveil today our new sub-assembly area, which will contribute to more than doubling the A220 aircraft produc- tion capacity over the next few years. The expansion of our Mirabel site, with the addition of this new zone, is a clear signal of Airbus' confidence in the A220 programme. The pre-FAL is central to ensuring the success of the A220 production ramp-up." "The new Mirabel pre-assembly plant will enable Airbus to reduce its assembly costs and boost the A220 program's competitiveness. This news confirms the strategic positioning of the aerospace industry in Quebec," added Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec Minister of Economy and In- novation. Greatly reducing final assembly time of the A220, thew new sub-as- Newly expanded sub-assembly area unveiled for Airbus Canada's A220 production site in Mirabel, Quebec sembly area will undoubtedly increase the speed and efficiency of pro- duction operations. The preparation of aircraft fuselage sections will be now also done from a single location. Post sub-assembly, these aircraft components will be sent to either one of two A220 final assembly sites in Mirabel, Quebec or Mobile, Alabama. These changes to the production process will greatly increase A220 production rates from six aircrafts to 14 aircrafts per month by the middle of the decade. The new A220 pre-FAL construction works project has been currently underway at the Mirabel site for a year, requiring collaboration with major local suppliers. From the A220 site, 250 employees have assisted in the new sub-assembly operations and are currently receiving custom train- ing to help them transition from working on fixed workstations to func- tioning on a "pulsed line." On top of being the headquarters of the A220 programme, the Mira- bel A220 site also includes an impressive roster of engineering, support functions, in-service support, and development and delivery to custom- ers along with its new pre-assembly and two final assembly lines. Mo- bile, Alabama in the United States also hosts a second assembly site that focuses on the final assembly and delivery of the A220 to U.S. markets. Airbus Canada has, to date, received firm orders for 740 of the group's A220 aircraft from more than 25 customers. Of these, around 200 have already been delivered to over 15 customers. The partnership is a joint venture between The Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, which holds 75% of the shares, and Investissement Québec, which holds 25%. Get in touch defence-security@bmtglobal.com +1 613 592 2830 www.bmt.org Transforming complex projects into clear thinking and ground-breaking solutions. BMT is your trusted partner in solving the most challenging marine problems. • Vessel Design and Modification • In-Service Support • Naval Architecture • Marine Engineering • Systems Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Program Management Services • Cyber Assurance • Training Get in touch defence-security@bmtglobal.com +1 613 592 2830 www.bmt.org Transforming complex projects into clear thinking and ground-breaking solutions. BMT is your trusted partner in solving the most challenging marine problems. • Vessel Design and Modification • In-Service Support • Naval Architecture • Marine Engineering • Systems Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Program Management Services • Cyber Assurance • Training EDC_Advert 1_2 Page Horizontal_Sept_Oct.indd 1 EDC_Advert 1_2 Page Horizontal_OctNov.indd 1 9/17/2021 2:12:21 PM 10/12/2021 2:12:21 PM

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