Aerospace
With a community of operations at and in close proximity to Peterborough’s Airport and aerospace business park, Peterborough’s aerospace sector is an emerging leader in international manufacturing, repair and overhaul; research and development; and training.
The Peterborough region offers excellent access to unrestricted airspace, a highly skilled workforce, industry leading training facilities, desirable infrastructure to reduce top line costs and serves as an excellent launching point for national, U.S. and global markets.
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Aerospace in Canada
Canada’s aerospace manufacturing and maintenance, repair, and overhaul industries generated direct
- annual revenues of more than $27 billion in 2016
- directly employs over 87,000 people
- responsible for approximately 208,000 jobs across Canada.
Source: https://www.international.gc.ca/investors-investisseurs/assets/pdfs/download/vp-aerospace.pdf
Aerospace in Ontario
In Ontario, the aerospace sector is the 2nd largest in Canada. Location-wise, easy access to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Eastern United States makes Peterborough an attractive place from which to connect the aerospace market. Peterborough is only 2 hours away from the U.S border, and has a lower cost of doing business compared to larger markets. We have lower corporate tax rates (25% compared to 36% US average) and business operating costs in Ontario are 93.7% of US business operating costs.
- 30% on the National MRO aerospace subsector is in Ontario. (1)
- Over 200 Firms employing more than 44,000 direct & indirect people (2)
- $500 million annual spend on research and development (2)
- More than 40 post-secondary programs in applied aerospace and aviation
- aviation and space discipline
Southern Ontario has the highest concentration of advanced manufacturing industries in Canada, including aerospace. Along the Southern Ontario corridor, Peterborough is a top aerospace hub for manufacturing and MRO and is poised as one of Southern Ontario’s most up-an-coming centres for growth with more than $40 million in infrastructure investments for business.
Southern Ontario has the highest concentration of advanced manufacturing industries in Canada, including aerospace. Along the Southern Ontario corridor, Peterborough is a top aerospace hub for manufacturing and MRO and is poised as one of Southern Ontario’s most up-an-coming centres for growth with more than $40 million in infrastructure investments for business.
Aerospace Education
The Peterborough Airport is home to Seneca College’s School of Aviation, offering flight training and classroom instruction. It’s just minutes away from Fleming College’s Kawartha Trades & Technology Centre, as well as Trent University’s Centre for Biomaterials Research, with the recent successful completion of research leading to the development of low-temperature, biodegradable and sustainable lubricants and the development of compounds which act as fuel additives.
It’s also important to note that Peterborough’s Holy Cross Secondary School offers programming in Aviation and Aerospace. Equally important is the long history in local manufacturing culture – The Kawartha Manufacturers Association, 50 members strong, provides a labour market that is filled with highly qualified professionals.
Seneca College
Seneca College offers a world-class educational experience for students via its school of aviation. As one of Canada’s leading aviation schools, the college is internationally recognized for its quality graduates, faculty, and industry partnerships.
Offerings:
- Honours of Bachelor of Aviation Technology
- Graduate Certificate in Airline Pilot Flight Operations
- Advanced Diploma in Aviation Safety
- Diploma in Aviation Operations
Aerotrike Aviation
Located at Peterborough airport since 1999, the company offers ultralight flight training. [1]
Aviation and Aerospace Specialist High Skills Major
This program, available at all PVNCCDSB high schools is centred around an online Seneca Aeronautics College Credit Course which also counts as a high school credit. The course is supplemented by numerous online live aviation industry encounters as well as Peterborough Airport and Trenton Air Force Base experiential learning days.
Labour
Airport-based businesses employ over 400 people with an estimated GDP contribution of $66.0 million (1)
| # employees | % of Total | |
| Total | 402 | 100% |
| 3364 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 114 | 28% |
| 4811 Scheduled air transportation | 176 | 44% |
| 4812 Non-scheduled air transportation | 44 | 11% |
| 4881 Support activities for air transportation | 68 | 17% |
(1) According to the Airport Strategic Development Plan completed in 2017.
Business Environment
Central location means Peterborough-based businesses can support repatriate flights 24/7 year-round for patients transportation to hospitals in Peterborough, Oshawa, Cobourg and Belleville.
Over 30 acres of fully-serviced industrial and commercial ground and air-sized lots are available. [1]
It has one of the longest civil paved runways between Ottawa and Toronto. At 200′ wide and 7,000′ long, the runway is designed to support narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 series.
Offers the Canadian Passenger Accelerated Service System (CANPASS) to streamline customs and immigration clearance for travelers flying on corporate and private aircraft.
