Eurocopter's Australian subsidiary Australian Aerospace and European manufacturing services group Daher have started recruiting personnel for a new Australian joint venture company to be established this year.
Daher Australian Aerospace will be based at Queensland's Brisbane Airport and is due to be operational from September. The company is being established to focus on the manufacture and repair of advanced composite parts for helicopters and aircraft. The new company will employ 100 people within the next two years, according to the partners.
The venture is part of a major push into the composites field by both companies. Last year, Australian Aerospace launched a three-year helicopter composites research and development programme with Australia's Co-operative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures. The helicopter manufacturer intends to create a hub for composite component design, manufacture and through-life support at Brisbane. Australian Aerospace has already invested A$15 million ($13 million) in a new composites manufacturing plant in Queensland to support production of the Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters and medium-lift MRH90 helicopters for the Australian Army.
Daher, meanwhile, has been developing its composite expertise for a number of years, producing thermoplastic and thermoset composite structures.
Source: Flight International
