Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Morocco has overseen the launch of aerospace production.

The North African kingdom has been graduating cadets to work at the
latest aerospace production facility. On Feb. 1, Canada’s Bombardier
Aerospace began production at its transitional facility in Morocco.

“This is a very exciting milestone for us as we start to see our
operation in Morocco take form,” Bombardier Aerospace general manager Hugo Brouillard said.

Morocco’s Institut des Metiers de l’Aeronautique has been cooperating in the production of the first Bombardier components. The facility, located outside Casablanca, began manufacturing simple structures including flight controls for the CRJ Series aircraft.

“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 said.

Executives said Bombardier hopes to employ 100 fully-trained aircraft
assemblers in Morocco. They said the company has encountered delays in the
construction of a permanent facility and was working out of a temporary
location.

“Following the initial announcement in November 2011 of Bombardier’s
intention to build a manufacturing facility in Morocco, the company has
extended its timeline for construction of the new facility as the
manufacturing plan evolves,” Bombardier said. “In order to maintain the
timeline for production Bombardier has set up operations in a transitional
facility located at the Mohammed V International Airport in Nouaceur in the
Greater Casablanca region, near its future permanent facility.”

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