Aerospace Industry Insights: Charleston’s momentum builds

December 5, 2018

The aerospace market is poised for continued growth with strong global demand for commercial airplanes. Analysts forecast airline demand for 41,000+ new airplanes over the next 20 years. The Charleston region continues to position itself as a globally competitive hub for aerospace and aviation as our industry ecosystem scales, diversifies, and matures. CRDA project activity is strong and we’ve also been busy connecting with allies and prospects at industry conferences. Here are some highlights:

Hamburg Aviation Forum

In early November, CRDA traveled to Germany to meet with decision-makers from various aerospace companies. Boeing, Airbus, and Tier 1 suppliers spoke candidly with delegates on issues related to changes in technology, supply chain globalization, and fielded questions regarding the need for suppliers to follow OEMs.

Appalachian Next Generation Aerospace Conference

In mid-October, I represented the Charleston market on a panel as one of three significant aerospace clusters, along with reps from the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast Aerospace Alliance. We provided insights on our experiences growing a cluster and guidance to local companies, economic development organizations, and state/national elected officials interested in using our regions as models for cluster building. I also shared with them the One Region Global Competitiveness Strategy and the importance of multi-year plans for strategic growth and economic diversification.

The Charleston market continues to build momentum and we are excited for the opportunities 2019 will bring. For example, Charleston will host Airfinance Journal’s Southeast Aerospace & Defence conference in April 2019, featuring commercial and space presentations from Boeing, NASA, and other global players. This ecosystem-building effort will generate continued international exposure for Charleston as recognized aerospace cluster for an audience of corporate executives, R&D leaders, education, and industry experts.

CRDA is focused on increasing global recognition of Charleston as an aerospace cluster, supporting others in the industry, and staying connected globally on industry trends. If you are seeking a new location to expand, we invite you to connect with us and see what Charleston has to offer.

Contact Us:
Phone: 843.767.9300
Email: [email protected]

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