Building a More Resilient Canadian Aviation Supply Chain

Canada's renewed focus on strengthening domestic industrial capabilities presents an important opportunity for the aviation sector. As investments continue across aerospace, defence and critical infrastructure, there is growing recognition that acquiring equipment is only one part of the equation. Long-term success also depends on having the maintenance, repair (MRO) capabilities needed to support those assets throughout their lifecycle.

Following a recent discussion with Doug from Elite-Logix, an idea emerged that continues to gain momentum. While the initial conversation centered on the need to develop local support capabilities for new equipment programs, it quickly expanded to a broader industry question:

What recurring component repair and recertification challenges faced by Canadian operators could be addressed through enhanced Canadian capabilities?

Today, many operators rely on MRO outside of Canada for specialized component repairs. While these services are necessary, they can introduce longer turnaround times, customs-related delays, additional costs and supply chain uncertainty. At the same time, Canadian MROs and repair organizations may have opportunities to expand their capabilities if industry demand and business cases can be clearly identified.

This has led to the concept of creating a stronger bridge between Canadian operators and Canada's MRO and repair community.

The goal is straightforward: identify capability gaps, understand where recurring repair challenges exist and explore opportunities to develop or expand Canadian-based solutions that benefit the entire industry. By bringing operators and service providers together, we can help create a more resilient and self-sustaining aviation ecosystem that improves reliability, reduces operational risk and strengthens the national aviation sector.

The concept was recently discussed at the ATAC Tech Ops & MRO Committee meeting and generated considerable interest among participants. We are now looking to build a working group of ATAC members to help identify priorities, assess opportunities and develop practical solutions.

This initiative offers an opportunity to:

• Improve component turnaround times and fleet availability

• Reduce operational and supply chain risks

• Identify new business opportunities for Canadian MROs

• Support the growth of Canadian aviation expertise and technical capability

• Foster collaboration between operators, maintenance providers and industry stakeholders

• Strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Canada's aviation sector

The initiative will be coordinated by ATAC in collaboration with industry partners and operators from across the country. Success will depend on industry participation and the collective sharing of challenges, opportunities and expertise.

Whether you are an airline, commercial operator, MRO, repair station, OEM representative, or service provider, your input can help shape the future of aviation resilience in Canada.

If you are interested in participating, developing new capabilities, identifying repair challenges or exploring potential partnerships, I encourage you to reach out directly (dlapierre@atac.ca). We are currently assembling the project group and welcome organizations that want to contribute to building a stronger, more resilient Canadian aviation industry.

Together, we can turn industry challenges into opportunities and strengthen Canada's aviation sustainment capability for years to come.