Will Be Operated By Regional Subsidiary Socaero

On Wednesday, EADS Socata CEO Jean-Michel Léonard ceremonially placed the first stone for the industrial center of EADS Socata’s Moroccan subsidiary, Socaero.

Situated in the new industrial park at the Casablanca-Mohammed V International Airport, the 54,000 sq.ft facility will work on subassemblies for Socata and its aerostructures customers -- mainly elements for the Airbus A320 and A340, Eurocopter’s AS 350/355 helicopters, the Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X business jet, and Socata's own TBM 850 business aircraft.

Socaero began operations in 2007 in the Aeropôle zone near Casablanca airport. The company currently employs 90 people.

"This ceremony demonstrates our will to develop Socata's investments and facilities in coherence with the growth strategy for our activities," Léonard said. "We chose Morocco because of its geographical and cultural proximity with our other sites, as well as for the local competencies – particularly in the aeronautical sector, along with the hosting conditions we were looking for."

EADS Socata has built more than 17,000 aircraft built since its creation as Morane-Saulnier in 1911. Current products include the TBM family of high-speed turboprops, aerostructures for Airbus civil airliners, the A400M military transporter, Dassault Falcon jets, Eurocopter helicopters and Embraer regional jets.

French aerospace supplier Daher Group recently acquired a 70 percent stake in the company, as ANN reported.

FMI: www.socata.eads.net