New Airbus Canada A220 site in Mirabel
by CM Staff
The company expects the additional space and other changes will boost production to 14 aircraft per month by the middle of the decade.
MIRABEL — Airbus has unveiled an additional 125,000 ft2 area for the upstream assembly of A220 aircraft subcomponents.
Airbus says this is its first pre-assembly zone outside Europe, enabling them to employ more than 2,500 people.
The extension is meant to provide adequate space for the A220 production which the company expects to more than double in the next few years.
“It is a great pleasure to unveil today our new sub-assembly area, which will contribute to more than doubling the A220 aircraft production capacity over the next few years. The expansion of our Mirabel site, with the addition of this new zone, is a clear signal ofAirbus’ confidence in the A220 programme. The pre-FAL is central to ensuring the success of the A220 production ramp-up,” said Benoît Schultz, CEO, Airbus Canada in a statement.
With the new assembly area, Airbus expects the A220 production process to require less time. Workers will send components to Airbus’s headquarters to either Mirabel, Que. or Mobile, Ala. for final assembly. Also, the area will provide a separate section for aircraft fuselage preparation. They expect that all these changes will boost production to 14 aircraft per month by the middle of the decade.
Approximately 250 workers from the company’s Mirabel A220 location who helped with sub-assembly operations have received training to help them transition from working on a fixed workstation to a “pulsed line.”
More than 25 customers have reportedly placed orders for 740 A220 Aircraft according to Airbus. Currently, the company hold 75 per cent of shares while Investissement Québec holds 25 per cent.
