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For a company which employs more than 1,700 highly
skilled aerospace professionals in facilities
from British Columbia to Newfoundland and in Ontario,
Airbus Canada (formerly Eurocopter Canada) has
not only carved a niche for itself outside its
home continent Europe but also turned the largest
employer in Fort Erie and an employer of choice
in the Niagara region. “More than 50 per
cent of the new civil helicopters delivered in
Canada over the last 10 years come from our facility.
It demonstrates the success of our product range,
the largest in the world, and how we have been
able to customise it to the specifics of the Canadian
market”, noted Romain Trapp, President and
CEO of Airbus Helicopters Canada.
Airbus Helicopters Canada is a Transport Canada
Design Approval Organisation, as well as an Airbus
Helicopters Authorised Design Organisation. It
is a centre of excellence for the Airbus Helicopters
Group for light single and light twin helicopters’
modifications. For a company which put its foot
in Canadian aerospace arena thirty years ago in
1984, it has come a long way since its humble
beginning. “Our engineering experts design
optional equipment installations and modifications
for helicopters, including customised avionics
installations for VIP operators, utility, law
enforcement and military (conventional cockpit,
glass displays, police configurations), specialised
mission equipment installations such as FLIR systems
and searchlight installations and airframe modifications,”
he added.
Airbus Helicopters Canada is approved to overhaul
AS350, AS355, EC120, EC130, BO105 and BK117 components,
resulting in faster turnaround times and lower
costs. The company repairs and overhauls thousands
of different components, including dynamic components,
airframe, equipment, as well as main and tail
rotor blades. Airbus Helicopters Canada is the
logistics hub for Airbus Helicopters in Canada,
with a dedicated spare parts warehouse.
In-house manufactured composite options such
as cargo pods, door and window modifications,
steps, mirrors, settling protectors and cable
cutter systems, electrical modifications, utility
options such as long-line release provisions,
re-fueling power supply, cabin power supply provisions,
battery relocations, dual battery installations,
fuel System modifications such as airframe fuel
filter installations and complete avionics packages,
are very much in demand, as per Romain. “Airbus
Helicopters Canada works closely with our customers
through the development process to ensure that
our products are both practical and cost-effective.
Our capabilities include the structural and mechanical
design/drawings using CATIA V4 and V5, electrical/avionics
integration design and drawings and CATIA V5,
stress analysis using Hyperworks, NASTRAN, electrical
load, failure modes, and performance analysis,
vibration testing with data acquisition, manufacturing
process definitions and support for composite
production and technical publication writing for
maintenance and operation plus continued airworthiness,”
he said.
“With this multi-million investment –
Airbus Helicopters is demonstrating its confidence
in and commitment to Ontario and Canada. We are
dedicated to looking out for the best interests
of our customers, whether that be maximising flight
revenues, ensuring public safety or saving lives,
and our customer support team is at their service
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
to keep you flying.” said Trapp.
The author was on an
Ontario Government invitation to visit the Aerospace
companies
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