Aerospace Industries Association of Canada Welcomes Consultation on FWSAR Procurement

Ottawa, July 15th, 2009. The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) is pleased to see that the much awaited procurement process for Fixed-Wing SAR is beginning after announcements in the Speech from the Throne and many subsequent delays.

The Federal Government held an Industry Information Day on July 14th, 2009, on the Department of National Defence (DND) requirements for the upcoming Fixed Wing SAR procurement. An estimated 250 industry and government representatives attended the briefing, confirming the high level of interest in this procurement.

The objective of the briefing was to invite industry to submit to DND proposed solutions for the broad requirements as presented in the DND briefing. Industry has 60 days to respond to the invitation.

Claude Lajeunesse, President and CEO of the AIAC sees this invitation as an opportunity to positively contribute to finding cost efficient solutions in a time of financial constraints. “We will encourage our members to respond to this offer and provide their input on ways to fulfill FWSAR requirements. We are counting on government to examine and take into full consideration the proposals that will be made when submitting their recommendations to Cabinet.”

“We also sincerely hope that seeking industry input at early stages of procurement will become systematic and that the industry proposals will be a central component of the analysis within the procurement process. In fact, we believe this approach should be adopted in any procurement process.”

In the same vein AIAC considers it critical that Industrial and Regional Benefits be properly addressed at an early stage and also become central to the procurement process – for the benefit of the men and women in uniform, the Canadian taxpayers and the Canadian industry.

“Yesterday’s meeting was a demonstration of the Government’s good will in the FWSAR procurement process,” said Lajeunesse.
“Industry considers this as a window of opportunity. Increasingly, industry must play a role in assisting DND in finding innovative solutions to the modern day challenges in the defense world. And we hope that they will proceed to a decision as early as possible.”

The AIAC is the national trade association representing Canada’s aerospace manufacturing and services sector. As the world’s fourth largest aerospace industry, Canada’s aerospace sector generates $23 billion annually and employs more than 82,000 Canadians. Eighty-two per cent of Canadian aerospace products are exported. AIAC represents the interests of 400 aerospace companies across Canada.

Claude Lajeunesse
President & CEO
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
613 218-4153 lboily@aiac.ca