Aviation & Aerospace - Opportunities - Invest Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria
Aviation and Aerospace
*NEW* VIDEO: Melbourne for Aviation and Aerospace
Building on Victoria’s established competitive manufacturing capabilities, Melbourne has been at the centre of aircraft manufacturing and maintenance in Australia for over half a century.
Victoria’s aviation and aerospace sector employs more than 22,000 people in more than 500 businesses – making it the biggest in Australia.
Melbourne boasts Australia’s largest concentration of aviation and aerospace education and training facilities ensuring a steady supply of high-calibre skilled people are ready to enter the workforce.
Every two years, Melbourne hosts the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Expo, the southern hemisphere’s largest aviation, aerospace and defence trade show.
Victoria’s strategic location provides a time-zone advantage that suits global round-the-clock initiatives as well as excellent access to Asian aerospace markets and customers.
In 2008-09, the Victorian aviation and aerospace sector exported more than $800 million of products and services.
An established aerospace precinct at Fishermans Bend in Port Melbourne brings together manufacturers, design organisations, educational providers and research facilities.
Maintenance, repair and overhaul
Situated in one of the world’s most vibrant growth corridors for aviation, Melbourne is well-positioned to become a major global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre.
More than 40% of Australia’s civil aviation repair and overhaul activities already take place in Melbourne.
A recent study by IBM Plant Location International highlights Melbourne’s quality offering for MRO as one of the best in the Australasian region. Melbourne received the highest score for stability and risk, living environment and real estate (availability of hangars). Melbourne is also competitive on cost with other destinations in the region.
Key MRO players already in Melbourne include Qantas, Virgin Tech, LTQ Engineering, Honeywell Aerospace and Rockwell Collins.
Aerospace components
Melbourne is Australia’s Centre of Excellence for aerospace design, manufacture and testing, attracting global companies such as BAE Systems, Boeing and Thales.
Victorian firms supply components, tools and services to the world’s prime aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, EADS, Boeing, Eurocopter, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
Local companies are globally competitive in aerostructures, precision machining, robotic systems, tooling and ground handling equipment.
This is highlighted by their integral role in international supply chains for the Boeing 787 and Joint Strike Fighter programs.
The only company in Australia with the capability to both design and manufacture commercial aircraft from first principles, Gippsland Aeronautics, is based in regional Victoria. Recent investment in the company from Indian multinational Mahindra & Mahindra will enable GA to expand its existing product line.
Aviation services
As the international gateway to southern Australia, Melbourne provides access to a catchment area of seven million people with varying travel needs.
Melbourne has two high-quality airports, Melbourne and Avalon, with plenty of space to further increase capacity.
Melbourne Airport is one of the most cost-effective international airports in the Asia-Pacific region, named Low Cost Airport of the Year in 2009 by the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation.
One of Australia’s only curfew-free international airports, Melbourne Airport caters to almost 25 million passengers each year, and it continues to grow.
In 2009, Melbourne Airport increased its international capacity by 12%. Melbourne is fast becoming a destination of choice for global carriers with Etihad Airways, V AustraliaToll, DNATA and Menzies Aviation.
The Victorian Government is working to expand air access to priority markets such as China and India.
Aviation and Aerospace expertise
Melbourne has an excellent research and development base, with proven success in global design projects.
Key organisations include:
The Australian Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AusAMRC)
This new collaboration between Boeing and Swinburne University will develop technology-driven solutions to ensure Australian suppliers are among the most innovative, competitive and capable in the world.
The Co-operative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures (CRC-ACS)
Based at Monash University, this CRC has built a global reputation for composites research – in close collaboration with industry - over the last 20 years.
The Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC)
Based at Swinburne University, this CRC develops next-generation technology platforms across numerous manufacturing sectors.
Located at Fishermans Bend, the Platform Sciences Laboratory of the Defence Science & Technology Organisation is Australia’s leading aeronautical research institute.
The Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) provides technological solutions to enable industry to enhance Australian defence capability.
The Sir Lawrence Wackett Aerospace Centre at RMIT University works towards the development of next-generation aerospace technologies.
"Australia remains a great place to do business. There are competitive advantages we've found here - access to capital, highly skilled workers and high-value partnerships - and we'll continue to invest here quite heavily."
Ian Thomas, President, Boeing Australia at The Boeing Company
