, AJAX, ON: The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, today announced a repayable investment of C$27.75 million to develop advanced aircraft landing gear to be used in both civil transportation and military aircraft.
Messier-Dowty is a centre of excellence in landing gear design and this funding will allow them to build on this world-class designation. The funding is part of a C$96.3-million project being undertaken by Messier-Dowty Inc. to improve landing gear components by making them more durable and environmentally friendly.
“Innovation is essential to the growth of a strong economy,” said Minister Bernier. “Companies like Messier-Dowty are maintaining a strong technology base supported by a highly skilled work force that will increase the technical competency within the industry, ensuring that Canada remains competitive in global markets.”
“Today's investment in the aerospace industry is exactly what we had in mind when we developed our long-term economic plan for Canada, Advantage Canada,” said Minister Flaherty. “Advantage Canada is designed to create a business environment that makes our strong economy even stronger by encouraging innovation and creating opportunity for hardworking Canadian families and businesses.”
This investment will also provide engineering graduates with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and develop their skills. Messier-Dowty employs new engineering graduates and is a training ground for those interested in becoming landing gear systems design engineers.
Canada is the world leader in the international landing gear sector. Markets are continuing to demand improved design/development cycle times at reduced costs. The R&D on this project will undertake early stage engineering development initiatives applied to the pre-competitive technology development environment to accelerate the landing gear design and manufacturing process. The result will be state-of-the-art, more durable landing gears that satisfy advanced aircraft platforms such as the new “more-electric-aircraft” concept.
Messier-Dowty will share a number of the techniques and methods developed with its suppliers to ensure a higher level of engineering design and overall technical competency with the supplier chain to complement its own capabilities.
“We are pleased to be partnering with the Government of Canada on this project,” said Luigi Mattia, CEO Messier-Dowty Inc. “The technological benefits derived from this R&D allow us not only to draw on our past experience but to move into new areas of application possibilities.”
This investment is being made through Technology Partnerships Canada, an agency of Industry Canada, using a new model contribution agreement that emphasizes enhanced transparency and accountability.
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