Aeroclusters Cooperate to Promote the Sector’s Growth

This week, the presidents of the Bajio, Queretaro, Chihuahua and Baja California aeroclusters addressed the strengths and weaknesses of the Mexican Aerospace Industry. Meanwhile, IATA urges governments to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing. 

Buckle up! This and more in your weekly aerospace roundup!

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Mexico Lacks a Strategic Aerospace Plan: Queretaro Cluster, by Juan Carlos Corral, President of the Queretaro Aerospace Cluster

Just after being selected for a third-consecutive term as President of the Queretaro Aerospace Cluster, Corral addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the region’s aerospace sector and the efforts different clusters are making to create better business opportunities for companies, big and small. 

Corral also discusses Mexico’s poor participation in the defense sector, adding that Mexico needs to create a roadmap of what it wants the aerospace industry to accomplish. Read more here!

A New Beginning for the Chihuahua Aerocluster by Adolfo Viramontes, President of the Chihuahua Aerospace Cluster

As the newly elected President of Chihuahua Aerospace Cluster, Viramontes addresses the difficulties COVID-19 has caused on the local industry and mentions different strategies to help companies through these complex times. Clusters and companies are working together to find better business opportunities for the country, he adds. The cluster is also working to attract FDI to the state through the implementation of collaborative strategies with the government and academic institutions. Viramontes his priorities at the head of the cluster, including addressing certifications and creating supply chain and development committees. Read more here!

Tech Independence Key for Mexico’s Aerospace Industry by Tomás Sibaja, President of the Aerospace Cluster of Baja California

Sibaja explains that the cluster has focused on helping SMEs by understanding them and supporting their strengths. He also mentions the different agreements the cluster has signed with the Aerospace and Defense Forum, the western US region and Colombia. Sibaja also highlights the key role technology is playing in the sector’s evolution and argues that the cluster needs to be sustainable and support technology initiatives to have an industry that delivers sought-after products to the world. “The future is in technology, so the cluster fuels and promotes amongst our members the brainstorm of innovative projects trying to solve everyday challenges.” Read more here!

Guanajuato Takes Leap into Aerospace Sector by Óscar Rodríguez, President of the Bajio Aerospace Cluster

Rodríguez discusses the cluster’s strategies to incorporate companies from other manufacturing sectors into the aerospace industry and the collaboration strategies implemented alongside other clusters in Mexico. He then explains all the strategies implemented to attract new members into the cluster, such as new joint ventures and business opportunities. Read more here!

National

Canceled Texcoco Airport Wins Architecture Award

The canceled project won a Rethinking the Future Award 2021 in the Transportation category. The NAIM airport was meant to be fully completed by 2024 but it was canceled by the current administration and replaced by Felipe Angeles International Airport in Santa Lucia. However, some are concerned about the long-term viability of Felipe Angeles Airport, which only has three runways to operate. Read more here!

International

Reduce Testing Costs to Increase Air Demand: IATA

IATA urged countries to decrease the costs of COVID-19 testing or follow WHO’s recommendations to absorb the costs of testing to promote demand for air travel. However, the association also offers more optimistic news as more countries are receiving vaccinated people, which could raise travel demand. Read more here!