Abu Dhabi-based Strata Manufacturing, the advanced composite aero-structures manufacturing facility wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, has signed an agreement to manufacture Belly Fairings for the PC-24, a twin-engine business jet produced by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.

The announcement was made at the Global Aerospace Summit being held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which opened today (April 30) to May 2.

The manufacturing of the PC-24 Belly Fairings is the first step of a long-term agreement between Pilatus and Strata targeting the production of the complete PC-24 composite shipset requirement in the UAE, said a statement.

Ismail Abdulla, CEO of Strata, said: “This partnership with Pilatus marks the expansion of our global business portfolio as it takes on new projects and enhances its competitiveness in the global aerospace sector.”

“Our advanced technological operations and growing local capabilities demonstrate that the company is ready to venture into new territories, and explore competing opportunities that will drive our business forward,” he said.

Strata has partnerships with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers. This latest agreement reinforces Strata’s credentials as a UAE success story with ambitions to be a global frontrunner in its field, it said.

Fredy Glarner, vice president manufacturing, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, said: “The partnership with Strata is not only a key element of our strategy for the UAE to embed Strata into our global supply chain, but is also envisioned to become a pillar in our portfolio of local manufacturing projects.”

“We look forward to growing the relationship with Strata and we are confident that it will be a driving force to further the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 objectives,” he said.

Advanced aircraft manufacturing is a key area of focus at the 2018 edition of the summit, where leading local and international experts are gathering to discuss the future of the industry.

Based at Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park and employing more than 700 people of 30 different nationalities – with 51 per cent of its workforce being Emirati nationals and 41 per cent of employees being female - Strata has partnerships with Airbus, Boeing, and Leonardo Aero-structures Division, and is a supplier to FACC AG, SAAB, and SABCA.

The company is part of Mubadala’s aerospace, renewables and ICT platform, which aims to advance the development of a leading aerospace hub in the emirate, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service