Invest in Spain Aragón

Categories
Aerospace Sin categoría

Aerospace Cluster of Aragón celebrates anniversary highlighting the boost of the industry in the region

The Aeronautics, Space and Defence Cluster of Aragon (AERA) celebrated its 17th anniversary on 5 November at the Teruel Airport Platform (PLATA).

The anniversary was held at the facilities of Elson Space España, a pioneer in the manufacture of HAPS, and at the event, the president of the AERA Cluster and general director of the Teruel Airport (PLATA), Alejandro Ibrahim highlighted the great growth of the cluster, which has doubled its membership in 2 years and now totals almost 60 entities.

During the event Elson Space was awarded for its commitment to the development of advanced HAPS technologies, and also the company Teltronic, for its 50 years of dedication to the development of advanced communication solutions and its importance in the Aragonese business community. Special recognition was also given to Colonel Conrado Cebollero, defence delegate in Aragon, for his constant support and his dedication and promotion of the defence culture.

The anniversary also served to showcase the strengths of one of the region’s drivers of innovation and growth, which is still largely unknown. The aeronautics, space and defence sector employs 7,000 people throughout Aragon, including the auxiliary industry, with 700 of these jobs located at Teruel airport. The annual turnover is 1,500 million euros, which represents 4% of Aragon’s GDP, according to the Regional Minister of the Presidency, Economy and Justice and Vice-President of the Government of Aragon, Mar Vaquero. This growth in the weight of the aeronautical sector is mainly due to the defence and space sectors, with many projects related to artificial intelligence technology systems.

Aerospace industry in Aragon

The aeronautical, space and defence sector in Aragon has undergone a remarkable expansion in recent years, consolidating its position as a benchmark in innovation and advanced technology. With specialised centres such as the Teruel Airport Platform, the region has the largest European infrastructure for the storage, maintenance and recycling of aircraft, and is positioned as a unique space for the development of high-tech projects, including drones, HAPS (high-altitude pseudo-satellites) and aerospace testing. In addition, the synergy between companies, universities and research centres fosters a dynamic ecosystem in which areas such as artificial intelligence applied to defence, new propulsion technologies and the development of advanced composite materials stand out. All of this, together with institutional support and Aragon’s excellent logistical connectivity, strengthens its position as a key destination for investment in the aerospace and defence sector.

Categories
Aerospace

Teruel, the airport with most aircraft grounded in Europe

Teruel airport, dedicated exclusively to MRO and other industrial activities, has been reuniting the biggest number of grounded planes in Europe for the last months. More than 130 airplanes, from the smaller Boeing 737 to a dozen  impressive A-380, are sitting in the Teruel plains like a group of big white birds patiently waiting for their journey to continue.

The company behind this success story is Tarmac Aragón, an Airbus subsidiary that has been operating here since 2012. Tarmac provides storage, maintenance and recycling services for aircraft, a business that requires high precision, fast logistics – a grounded airplane is a costly issue for its owner – and sustainability. In the long files of planes parked at LETL airport, you can see the logos of some of the world’s biggest airlines, who trust in Tarmac to maintain their airplanes in perfect conditions. Some of the aircraft will be recycled by Tarmac, dismantling the machines piece by piece as most parts can be reused.

The dry climate of the Teruel region, with ist altitude of more than 1.000 meters above sea level, is perfect for the storage of aircraft. The strategic decision of the Government of Aragon to install an industrial airport here has brought, through Tarmac and other companies based at the airport, over 400 new jobs to the area.