Bombardier opens Learjet aircraft component plant in Mexico

Bombardier Aerospace on October 28 announced that it has inaugurated its new Learjet 85 aircraft component manufacturing facility at its site in the Queretaro Aerospace Park in Queretaro, Mexico.

According to a release, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President of Mexico, and Jose Calzada Rovirosa, Governor of the State of Queretaro, joined Pierre Beaudoin, president and CEO, Bombardier Inc., and Guy C. Hachey, president and chief operating officer, Bombardier Aerospace, to mark the occasion.

The construction of the 185,000-square-foot (17,187-square-meter) Learjet 85 aircraft component manufacturing center was completed in July 2010. The fabrication of development parts soon followed, and the fabrication of parts for the first aircraft is now underway. In addition, more than 36,300 square feet (3,370 square meters) of existing space at the Queretaro site has been allocated to the Learjet 85 aircraft program. This brings the total Learjet 85 aircraft footprint at the Queretaro manufacturing site to approximately 221,300 square feet (20,560 square meters) in order to support composite fuselage manufacturing and wing assembly.

"We are honored to inaugurate our new Learjet 85 aircraft component manufacturing facility in the company of President Calderon and Governor Calzada," said Beaudoin. "Bombardier's operations in Mexico are an important part of the company's global strategy. The professionalism and commitment that our employees in Mexico have shown have driven many of the achievements that we have accomplished since the opening of our first Mexican facility in 2006. The increasing complexity of the work being undertaken in Queretaro also affirms Bombardier's confidence in its Mexican operations."

The company noted that the Queretaro facility is responsible for the fabrication of the Learjet 85 aircraft's major composite structures. During the past three months, more than 150 tools, including many lay-up tools, have been fabricated and shipped to the new Learjet 85 aircraft component manufacturing site. Equipment installation has progressed well with the completion of the clean room for lay-up activity, freezer installation to house the composite material, and installation of three ovens.

"We are on target with all of our program objectives, and production of the first composite parts for the Learjet 85 aircraft at our Mexico facility is underway," said Ralph Acs, vice president, Learjet 85, Bombardier Business Aircraft.