Montreal’s aerospace knowledge and expertise is recognized worldwide. In 2005, Quebec aerospace exports totaled $10 billion, 90% from Greater Montreal alone. Montreal offers the most competitive aerospace industry operating costs in North America. No surprise then that so many international aerospace companies and organizations call Montreal home.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Airline Telecommunication and Information Services (SITA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) all have their headquarters in Metropolitan Montreal, as do companies such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Bell Helicopter Textron.
The outstanding success of our local aerospace industry demands the continuous development of new technologies and a skilled workforce, and that’s where Concordia shines.
Concordia offers students a wide range of choices in aerospace education, from research to security to management. Students in Engineering and Computer Science appreciate Concordia’s Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation (CIADI). It offers cutting-edge knowledge in aerospace design and innovation, with emphasis on its multidisciplinary nature and evolving technologies. The Certificate in Management and Aviation Security was created after Concordia was approached by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to develop such a program.
At Concordia’s John Molson School of Business (JMSB), the Aviation MBA program turns out some fifteen highly qualified graduates every year. These individuals become the entrepreneurs and managers the industry needs to move forward. “In the world of aerospace, educated managers have the ability to assess problems and opportunities and react in the best interest of their organization,” explains Isabelle Dostaler, Director of the Aviation MBA program. Like her colleagues, she has designed teaching programs based on quality, relevance, social responsibility and field experience.
The revitalization of the area around Mirabel Airport offers a fine example of how teaching can take place on the factory floor. “Our projects are done in teams, jointly with students, or through work terms arranged directly with our contacts. This allows our students to get their hands dirty and opens doors to them afterwards,” confirms Dostaler, who collaborates with a broad range of partners from Transport Québec to very specialized small and medium-sized businesses in the Montreal region.
Concordia University is well positioned to address the future technology and skills challenges facing our aerospace industry. This is demonstrated by the proactive approach and the large number of professors and students involved in very successful and unique programs such as CIADI (Concordia Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation) and CRIAQ (Consortium Research Innovation Aerospace Quebec).
Dr. Hany Moustapha
Senior Fellow and Manager,
Pratt & Whitney Canada
Director, CIADI
Mechtronix, the company that designed the first flight simulator to use only microprocessor technology, and no actual plane parts, was created in 1987 by five Concordia graduates! Today, these former engineering students have gone far. Mechtronix has 200 employees and sales of more than $40 million, with 80% of that as exports.
Page Title: Competitive Cluster - Aerospace - Dr. Isabelle Dostaler - Concordia University - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Page URL:http://www.concordia.ca/clusters/aerospace/index.php
Date Printed: Mon May 21, 2012
