All about the Airbus helicopter factory in Morocco
AIRBUS Helicopters, a subsidiary of the manufacturer of the same name, has just announced its intention to invest in a new plant in Morocco. The future Airbus industrial unit in Morocco will be dedicated to customer services and the repair/maintenance of A220 and A350 airframe sections.
The European manufacturer also intends to invest in Morocco via a regional training center equipped with the latest flight simulators to train pilots from all over the world, just announced the General Manager of Airbus Helicopters Morocco. According to CEO Mickael Bertrand, this decision was prompted by Morocco’s strategic geographical position, the considerable efforts made by the Kingdom’s aerospace ecosystem under the aegis of GIMAS ( Moroccan Interprofessional Grouping for the Aerospace Industry), and the stable, long-term cooperation between Airbus and Morocco’s Royal Air Force (FRA). The new Airbus subsidiary is part of the European group’s strategy to further develop subcontracting in Morocco, to leverage synergies between its various Spirit AeroSystems entities, to increase complexity and transfer know-how… This new investment is also a vote of confidence in the potential of the Moroccan industry.
This investment should make a significant contribution to the development of Morocco’s aerospace industry. As far as the center is concerned, it will enhance the training of pilots and instructors, both civilian and military. According to our sources, the new Airbus subsidiary in Morocco will be primarily dedicated to customer support. It will also provide support for some sixty Airbus helicopters which form part of the Royal Air Force fleet at various military bases (Kenitra, Salé, and Marrakech., among other bases), as well as helicopters belonging to the Royal Gendarmerie and the Navy… This service and maintenance unit will gradually increase in capacity. In a second phase, this unit will also house a training center equipped with flight simulators. «Morocco is a natural choice, and a logical next step after so many years of partnership with the Moroccan armed forces. The range of helicopters acquired by Morocco includes twin-engine H225s and H135s… This offers great potential for developing our presence and creating job opportunities…», said the CEO of Airbus Helicopters Morocco.
As a reminder, the Royal Air Force has placed an order for a fleet of Airbus helicopters (H135) in 2022 for training and education purposes. This major order also includes an aircraft maintenance, instruction and pilot training programe.
Amin RBOUB
