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A new report on the Central Okanagan's aerospace industry is looking to take the sector even higher.
The Economic Development Commission report finds the region is home to a growing segment of well-established and emerging aerospace companies and suppliers.
Prepared with support from Global Affairs Canada and Kelowna International Airport, the study analyzed the sector's strengths to identify opportunities for growth and new investment.
Its recommendations include:
- Encourage the creation of an industry-led association to develop and lead strategies for growth.
- Aerospace-specific marketing and talent attraction.
- Facilitate collaboration between the aerospace and technology communities.
- Facilitate relationships between aerospace companies and local suppliers and fabricators.
- Support the establishment of a "Learning Factory" and retention strategies and tactics.
- Commission a YLW Aerospace Campus feasibility study.
The information was gathered through 40 interviews with Central Okanagan aerospace companies, government organizations and industry associations, along with extensive secondary research.
“A supportive infrastructure and emerging opportunities with UBC Okanagan’s Learning Factory, paired with companies adopting industry 4.0 concepts and practises, provide a strong opportunity for growth of the Central Okanagan aerospace sector,” says Corie Griffiths, director of the COEDC.
With approximately 170 aerospace-related companies in B.C., the province has the third-largest aerospace sector in the country – and about 30 of those are located in the Central Okanagan.
The growing hub is diverse, from communication systems and specialized manufacturers with fewer than 10 employees, to the region’s largest private employer, KF Aerospace with 700 employees.
The continued growth of YLW is also a positive factor. And potential partnerships with UBC Okanagan, Okanagan College and industry is breaking new ground on research and manufacturing, the report says.
But, despite the perception of a local aerospace cluster, the sector is fragmented, the report adds.
