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Industry Profile: Aviation & Aerospace

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This guide will help you find the information you need to start working in British Columbia. You can use the menu buttons to move between sections of the guide.

Overview of the Aviation & Aerospace Industry

The B.C. aerospace industry employs more than 9300 British Columbians and generates $1.8 billion in revenues annually and direct GDP of $1.63 billion.

The BC aerospace industry is the third largest in the country after Ontario and Quebec.

The Canadian aerospace industry is the fifth largest in the world with $24 billion in revenues in 2019 supporting approximately 213,000 jobs across the country.  It is ranked in the top 3 globally in the production of civil simulators, turboprop and helicopter engines, business jets, and regional aircraft.

In BC there are over 190 companies active in the aerospace sector. Most of them are small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies make up the majority of the local industry.

MRO activities include:

Servicing and repairing for Aircraft, Aircraft engines, Aircraft components and other systems, Aircraft line maintenance (aircraft servicing at airports), Aircraft ferrying services, Aircraft inspection services, Aircraft testing services

BC’s Aerospace Industry is uniquely positioned to capitalize on market opportunities with its proximity to the world’s largest aerospace cluster next door in Washington State and to the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region.

BC’s aerospace sector has nation-leading capabilities in the following sectors:

  • In-Service Support (ISS) and Maintenance
  • Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
  • Space and remote sensing
  • Aviation training and simulation
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Special mission aircraft

Additional aerospace capabilities include:

  • aircraft manufacturing
  • design and construction of major airframe structures
  • precision machining facilities, specializing in machining of medium to large complex structural aircraft components
  • world leading aerial suppression and firefighting services
  • specialty aerospace and defence integrated aircraft support programs;
  • 3D visualization problem solving
  • design and manufacture of high lift devices
  • global leading surveillance and intelligence, satellite subsystems, robotics, and geospatial services

Sources: Canada’s Aerospace Industry, AIAC Pacific – Aerospace Industries Association of Canada – Pacific, British Columbia Aerospace Capabilities, Canada Country Commercial Guide – Aerospace & Defense

BC’s aerospace industry experts are concerned about the shortage of skilled labour.

The technical nature of the aviation and aerospace industry will make competition for skilled labour higher for this sector than for industries.

Immigrants are seen as an important source of talent as aviation and aerospace companies seek to meet their hiring needs in the years ahead.  Industry has responded to the shortage of skilled workers by developing a number of programs to attract new employees.

SkilledTradesBC provides support for experienced tradespersons to get certified in B.C., including study and exam resources.

The Immigrant Employment Council of BC is another initiative that is seeking to create job opportunities for new immigrants with skilled trades. 

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program BCPNP offers accelerated immigration for qualified skilled workers who want to settle in B.C. and become permanent residents of Canada.