Bombardier Aerospace Begins Production of the First Components in Morocco

The Montreal-based based division of transportation giant Bombardier Inc.said on Thursday that 18 aircraft assemblers in Morocco who graduated from the local aerospace institute started this week to make simple structures, including flight controls, for its CRJ regional jets, the Canadian press reported.

The employees will initially make flaps and ailerons, a part of the wing — work that was previously done in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

"The transfer of the package to Morocco helps us free up floor space and optimize our production in Belfast for CSeries production coming," said spokeswoman Haley Dunne.

Employment in Morocco is expected to reach about 100 by year-end and ramp up to 850 in eight years.

The new 2,300-square-metre transitional facility is overseen by four permanent employees from Montreal, including general manager Hugo Brouillard. Six employees from Belfast are providing training while an additional six to 12 workers are travelling from Montreal and Belfast to help launch production and prepare for additional work.

"With 18 new local employees fully engaged and trained in the Bombardier manufacturing process and philosophy, this is the first step towards a long future of quality component manufacturing at another world-class Bombardier facility," Brouillard stated in a news release.

Bombardier announced its intention to build a manufacturing plant in Morocco in November 2011. However, the timeline for construction of a permanent facility on 10 hectares of land purchase at the airport in Casablanca has been delayed by about a year to early 2014.

Bombardier is joining other aerospace manufacturers in setting up shop in Morocco, which has established an aerospace training program and offers many incentives to attract companies.