A major investment for Quebec’s aerospace industry was announced Tuesday to the tune of $415 million, and American company Boeing is involved.

The Quebec government announced the creation of an aerospace innovation zone called “Espace Aéro,” located in Longueuil, Mirabel and Montreal.

The project is led by Aéro Montréal, which wants to enhance Quebec’s “attractiveness” in the aerospace field, hoping to make it a world leader in decarbonization and advanced air mobility.

The François Legault government is pledging $85 million towards the project, with Boeing investing $240 million. Other partners include: Pratt & Whitney Canada, Bombardier, Flying Whales Québec, Thales Canada, CAE, Airbus Canada, and Airbus Atlantique Canada.

Legault and several others made the announcement at the International Aerospace Innovation forum in Montreal.

Two areas of development will be prioritized: decarbonization (creation lighter structures and less polluting systems); and aircraft autonomy and safety (using intelligent communication, remote controls and cyber-security technologies).

Boeing’s total investment is broken into three parts:

• $110 million for the innovation zone;
• $35 million for Héroux-Devtek’s research and development work on landing gear;
• $95 million to increase the number of employees in Quebec from its subsidiary Wisk Canada.

–With files from La Presse Canadienne