Partner Perspectives: Bombardier

The OLIP interns greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet with our esteemed programme partner, Bombardier, and experience a site tour of the Aircraft Assembly Centre with our hosts: Sandra Buckler, Senior Director, External Affairs and Public Relations; Michael Murphy, Director of Methods, New Product Development; as well as Government Affairs interns, Nolan Pittman and Ela Ince.

Though founded in 1942, Bombardier’s story started in 1907, with Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s invention of his first snow vehicle to navigate the snowy streets of Quebec. Since then, the company has grown to diversify into new markets and enter various fields, from railway to aerospace manufacturing. It was these origins that ultimately contributed to Bombardier’s current industry-leading portfolios.

Situated in Mississauga, the OLIP interns’ site tour began with a presentation of Bombardier’s overarching operations and foundations. With over 18,000 employees worldwide, and 30 product developments over a span of 30 years, we were fascinated to learn about Bombardier’s leading role in business aircraft manufacturing. Specifically, we enjoyed discussing the specifics of acquisition and development as they applied to the Global and Challenger series, as well as the Learjet models and varying defence models.

Bridging off these subjects, we also had the opportunity to discuss Bombardier’s diverse offices. Stretching from the organization’s headquarters in Montreal to the Wichita service centre and Global 7500/8000 wing manufacturing centre in Queretaro, Mexico, it was enlightening to learn of Bombardier’s cross-continental processes.

Following this presentation, Sandra and Michael guided us through a tour of the hangar and the production facilities of the Aircraft Assembly Centre. This plant was a replacement of Bombardier’s preceding Downsview campus property, and as we navigated its immersive designation, we came to appreciate every nuance of its construction. Over the course of the tour, we learned about the planes’ mechanical systems and performance parameters, as well as their operational intricacies, including the robots that assemble aircraft machinery and refine current human capacities. We particularly enjoyed stepping aboard the 8000 and exploring its interior, which gave us a glimpse into an aircraft in-process of development.

Concluding our incredible meeting, we would like to thank Sandra and Michael for taking the time to host our site visit, as well as curating such an informative presentation and tour. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Bombardier for continuing to support our programme – we appreciate the many things we learned about aircraft assemblage and Bombardier’s rise in aerospace manufacturing!