Dornier Seastar amphibian to be assembled in Quebec

[MarkOttawa]

Not exactly military, but a similar theme...Quebec taxpayers' dollars at work:

Dornier Seaplane selects Montreal suburb over North Bay for assembly plant
http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/login.aspx?id=20222

The normally talkative North Bay Mayor, Vic Fedeli, was pretty tight-lipped in saying much about his city losing out on landing a 250-job seaplane assembly plant to Quebec, except to express his "major disappointment."

Dornier Seaplane Company ended an eight-month public courting process to find a new manufacturing home for its Seastar amphibious aircraft in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a suburb of Montreal, over the northeastern Ontario city.

The announcement was made May 17, at a press conference attended by Quebec cabinet ministers.

The City of North Bay had been aggressive in pursuing the Punta Gorda, Florida company to add them as a tenant in the Aerospace Park at the Jack Garland Airport.

But the Quebec government enticed Dornier to set up shop with a $35 million loan, almost half the cost of the $71.5 million project.

The plant will be the final assembly site for Dornier's composite Seastar amphibious plane. It will create 250 assembly line jobs over five years with an additional 200 fabrication jobs to support the plant, plus 75 more jobs at aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney in Quebec.

Fedeli would not speak publicly about the contents or competitiveness of the Ontario government's offer to Dornier, since he was bound by a confidentiality agreement...

More:

Dornier To Assemble Seaplane Near Montreal
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=busav&id=news/awx/2010/05/17/awx_05_17_2010_p0-227515.xml

Dornier Seaplane is to assemble the Seastar CD2 amphibian at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Quebec. The Montreal suburb was one of two Canadian sites shortlisted for the final-assembly plant. The other was North Bay, Ontario, where the Bombardier 415 amphibian is assembled.

The German-backed, Florida-based company says the decision was based on factors including strong federal, provincial and local government support for aerospace; the pool of skilled aerospace labor in Montreal; and the large local supply chain, including Seastar engine supplier Pratt & Whitney Canada

Dornier Seaplane CEO Joe Walker says the company will begin recruiting for senior production management positions, with plans to create a total of 250 final-assembly jobs over the next five years. Seastar fabrication will be outsourced to suppliers in Canada and Germany.

Supplier selection is to be completed over the next 12 months, with Seastar deliveries to begin in 2012. Production is planned to ramp up from six in 2010 to 36 in 2016. Powered by a pair of PT6A-135A turboprops, the all-composite flying boat is already certificated in Europe and the USA...

Quebec has been aggressive in offering incentives to attract aerospace companies to the Montreal area. Seawind Aircraft plans to build a four-seat amphibian at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, but has struggled to get the program off the ground. Symphony Aircraft set up to produce the SA-160 light aircraft in Trois-Rivieres, near Montreal, but went bankrupt in 2006.

 

Company:
http://www.dornierseaplane.com/

Heritage:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_18

Bring back the PBY!
http://www.rcaf.com/Aircraft/aircraftDetail.php?CATALINA-147

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Too bad North Bay lost the bid, they sure could of used the business. But, with the province of Quebec putting forward a loan like that North Bay never had a chance. Which makes you wonder where McGuinty and the Liberals were when this bidding was going on?   

 

[OldSolduer]

Too bad North Bay lost the bid, they sure could of used the business. But, with the province of Quebec putting forward a loan like that North Bay never had a chance. Which makes you wonder where McGuinty and the Liberals were when this bidding was going on? 

I'd dearly love to tell you, but the mods would kick my tail end. Just think of the place where the sun don't shine.

Cool looking aircraft. Could we mount a C-6 GPMG on it?  ;D

 

[TimBit]

I was thinking more of a few big fishes underneath... A torpedo/missile bay could really make this tin box useful!  ;D