CASR

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 Aerospace
 & Defence
Industry
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Canadian Aerospace Strategic Framework – Industry Canada – Oct 2009 Industry Canada's National Aerospace/Defence Strategic Plan: or:  How is all that Government Guidance working for us so far? The "National  Aerospace and  Defence  Strategic  Framework"  from Industry Canada  has been sub-titled as "A Vision for the Aerospace and Defence Industry in Canada to 2025". As usual for documents of this type, there is much stirring rhetoric about potential and strategic importance of the sector. But what else does this Framework deliver? Promises are like piecrust so we'll examine what's actually been done. Under "Current Programs and  Recent Actions",  Industry Canada lists monies loaned for three major projects between Feb 2002 and April 2005. The most recent was $350M lent to Bombardier (by both Federal and Quebec governments) for R&D towards their CSeries airliner (which we will review separately). The 2002 "contribution" was to gain a place for Canadian industry in the US F-35 project  (which seems to fly in the face of IC's insistance that developing "domestic platforms" is a priority ). The third loan was to Bell for the Modular Affordable Product Line concept – which is worth examination. MAPL_e Leaf :  Emblematic New Canadian Platform or another Global Assemblage? MAPL  is a  manufacturing approach  not  a specific  design by Bell  Helicopter Textron Canada.  However,  industry observers and Industry Canada use MAPL and  Bell's 429 Global Ranger interchangably. To IC, Bell is a major domestic 'prime' and  their 429 a significant new  'platform'. All  true but  does this suggest what it seems to? Was the 429 designed in Canada? Partly. The parent company in Texas also took part.[1] Are 429s being built in Canada? Kind of  –  429 final assembly takes place at BHTC's Mirabel facility near Montreal ...which brings us back to MAPL. The "modular" in MAPL refers to assembly procedures.  Each major 429 component is prepared as a 'module' with subsystems already installed before final assembly begins. So,  where does Bell source those modules from?  Design of  the airframe, cabin wiring and fuel system was the responsibility of risk-partner KAI [2] of Korea but production shifted to AIDC of  Taiwan. Both transmission and  composite rotor blades come from the US (Kaman and Triumph, respectively) as do the avionics (Honeywell, Garmin, and Rogerson Kratos ). The major Canadian components are twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D engines.  But  other Canadian aerospace firms supply 429 sub-assemblies. [3] Bureaucratic 'Blur Functions' or  Is Aerospace dancing to Industry Canada's Tune?  The 429 can be seen as a 'test-case' for  MAPL.  Other Bell civil helicopter designs are expected  to follow the same assembly strategy.  The 429  airframe combines aluminum and composites in  a 50% mix satisfying the SADI [4] emphasis on  'advanced materials' while assembly at Mirabel also makes the Bell 429 a domestic platform with Canadian components under IC rules. Taking nothing away from Bell's 429 design, IC's definitions (and emphases) are rather muddled. The Strategic Framework lists new 'domestic platforms' as essential,  leaving Canadian content requirements vague.  The federal government wishes to gain access to foreign aerospace 'work packets' for Canadian aerospace firms while simultaneously encouraging production of  Canadian-designed aircraft. In a 'globalized' economy, that may be sound logic. The question is: Are competing national industries playing by the same rules? A glance at other projects suggests that, in the future, the term "Canadian aircraft" will refer to the Chinese, European, and  US-made parts assembled in Canada. [1]  BHTC was to focus on civilian helicopters  while Fort Worth, TX concentrated on military types. But the 429 is the natural replacement for military Kiowa/Long Rangers and foreign military pilots from around the world have already test flown the 'civil' 429. [2] KAI was a 429 risk-sharing partner (along with Bell and Japan's Mitsui Bussan) and originally to produce the parts it had designed.  Production was later shifted to Taipei. [3] Examples are Avoir (Laval, QC), airframe sub-assemblies and detail parts; Placeteco (Shawinigan, QC), interior; and Héroux-Devtek (Dorval, QC), components and fuselage sub-assemblies, (Laval, PQ) landing gear  (shared with Meccanica Aereonautica SpA). [4] SADI is Industry Canada's  Strategic Aerospace & Defence Initiative loans project. Each major component of  the Bell 429 design was first test-flown on earlier-model Bell helicopters which would also satisfy SADI's definition of  'technology demonstrators'. A summary of  the IC National Aerospace and  Defence  Strategic Framework  follows: The National Aerospace and Defence Strategic Framework: The Canadian [Aerospace and Defence] Industry to 2025 Securing Strategic Aerospace and Defence Investments Strategic Importance Canada's aerospace ... industry will need to build on its strengths through involve- ment in major strategic initiatives. Such projects include the development of strategic domestic platforms ... to build on the Canadian strength in aircraft manufacturing.  It also includes Canadian industry participation in key international platforms. Participation in major national and international strategic initiatives ... are, in essence, the next wave of opportunities for Canadian suppliers. An important element to part- icipation is the development of regional aerospace and defence clusters. Canada's prime manufacturers and other leading OEMs [original equipment manufact- urers] must develop new platforms in Canada to provide opportunity for the domestic supplier base and  help deal with declining content on [ current Canadian ] domestic platforms. [New platforms] will sustain strategic R&D, design and integration capabil- ities in Canada, provide a flagship for industry development, create economic growth, and attract foreign direct investment  [ in Canadian industry and domestic platforms ]. Current Programs and Recent Actions The federal [ /Quebec] government supports strategic investment in the industry by: * funding technology development through Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC). * Bombardier: $350M repayable contribution for CSeries-related  R&D  ( May 2005 ) * Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: $115M repayable contributions for Modular Afford- able Product Line to field a new family of  light civil helicopters  ( Feb 2005 ); and, * Joint Strike Fighter (F-35): US $150M (over 10 years) contribution to participate in the system development & demonstration phase of  the JSF program  ( Feb 2002 ). New Policies and Program Initiatives The government will: * establish criteria for government participation in strategic projects and develop    platform-specific strategies to promote Canadian industrial participation in such    projects; * support investment in new aerospace and defence platforms through a new aero-    space and defence technology development program; * support the development of a comprehensive database of  Canadian aerospace/    defence capabilities as a tool for investment attraction, cluster development and    marketing; and, * promote the adoption of the latest certification standards to ensure Canadian    firms meet standards and requirements needed to participate on major platforms. Challenges for Other Stakeholders The Canadian industry should consider initiatives that would: * lead to the development and manufacturing of new platforms in Canada; * input into the identification and assessment process for selecting programs that    could benefit from government support/participation; * develop deeper domestic and international industrial partnerships to better compete    on major platforms. Partnerships will allow Canadian firms, especially [SMEs] small    and medium-sized enterprises, to participate on major platforms; * develop competitive domestic supply chains and partners to ensure Canadians can    compete for major platform work packages; and, * invest in new technologies, capabilities and other aerospace firms to develop    systems integrator capabilities.