The aerospace sector: a major economic hub

A leading industry in the Greater Montréal area, aerospace plays a key role in the economy of the Agglomération de Longueuil. The existing infrastructure, the presence of dedicated research centres, the large number of companies, the availability of labour, and the concentration of world-leading businesses all contribute to our region’s strategic position in this niche sector.

In 2017, the aerospace industry contributed close to $25 billion to the GDP and 190,000 jobs to the Canadian economy.

Source: Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada

 

A highly skilled labour force

The availability of skilled labour is one of the challenges facing the aerospace industry in North America.

Given this, the region is very well positioned to deal with this issue. Proximity to Montréal, access to major highways, and the quality of the public transit network all contribute to a stable supply of labour and a low turnover rate.

Presence of the École nationale d’aérotechnique (ENA)

The ÉNA is the largest college-level aviation technology institute in North America and the only one in Québec to offer full college programs in avionics, aerospace engineering and aircraft maintenance.

 

Value chain

  • Manufacturing of aerospace products and parts
  • Manufacturing of architectural products and metal structural components
  • Machine shops, manufacturing of turned products, screws, nuts and bolts

 

Centre technologique en aérospatiale (CTA)

Created in 1993, the Centre technologique en aérospatiale (CTA) is an aerospace technology transfer centre affiliated with the École nationale d'aérotechnique (ÉNA). The CTA’s mission is to provide its customers and partners, mainly SMEs, with quality innovation and development support services to increase their knowledge, productivity and competitiveness, and the quality of their products and services.

Its areas of expertise include the design, analysis and manufacturing of metal or composite parts, nondestructive testing, robotics, avionics, and aerial operations. The CTA’s mandates include applied research, technical assistance, and technology demonstrations in the aerospace sector.

Development of expertise 4.0

To give companies quick and easy access to new technologies, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the CTA and DEL in September 2017. The MoU provides for the joint acquisition of equipment and technologies that meet the needs of companies on the territory, and the implementation of an equipment rental process.

The CTA has over 30,000 ft2 of facilities dedicated to research and development, not to mention a fleet of leading-edge equipment. These facilities allow companies to optimize, automate or robotize their processes, in order to increase their productivity and their competitiveness on the market.

Sources: http://www.cegepmontpetit.ca/cta/centre-collegial and Site Web de Développement économique Longueuil

 

Companies located o the Agglomération's territory

  • Pratt & Whitney Canada
  • Héroux-Devtek
  • AMD Inc.
  • Chrono Aviation
  • Pascan Aviation
  • Airmedic
  • Heli-Inter
  • Air Richelieu Montréal Flying Club
  • Saint-Hubert Flying School
  • Aéro Teknic

 

Presence of the Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport

The Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport ranks among Canadian airports with the highest number of movements per year. The airport’s multipurpose vocation explains this high volume of traffic. It offers several daily direct connections, including two flights to Toronto.

The configuration, location and operation of the Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport gives it a range of different advantages over the Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and other regional airports (Saint-Jean, Bromont, Terrebonne, etc.):

  • Short delays for takeoffs and landings
  • More flexible schedules
  • Close to Montréal’s downtown core
  • 3 runways to accommodate most types of aircraft
  • One control tower
  • Instrument landing system (ILS) and precision approach path indicator (PAPI)
  • Refuelling, maintenance, repair, restoration and sale services

Source: Développement économique Longueuil

 

A few of the services offered: 

  • Customs (Canpass)
  • Chartered plane and helicopter flights
  • Regular provincial flights
  • Restaurant services
  • Aircraft maintenance, refuelling, parking
  • Pilot training