Washington State continues to build on its proud history in the vanguard of aerospace, offering a highly productive and profitable place to do business for the industry’s global players.

That was Evergreen State’s clear message at June’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany and July’s Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) in the United Kingdom. The Washington State Department of Commerce made a strong showing at both trade shows, showcasing delegations of nine companies with 21 attendees in Hamburg and seventeen companies with 58 delegates in London.   

During these events, Commerce met with key trade partners and companies interested in expanding their operations in Washington, and shared with the world how our aerospace and defense companies benefit from doing business in the state. With more than 130,000 highly-skilled workers in the aerospace sector — many of whom are second or third-generation aircraft builders — Washingtonians are hard at work producing the most advanced aircraft, uncrewed aerial systems, and space exploration vehicles in the world, just as they have been for more than a century.  

Washington’s commitment to the aerospace industry is steadfast, as is our commitment to building an equitable, sustainable future. We know that the only way to reach that shared goal is by fostering a climate of innovation, giving companies the opportunity to create good, family-wage jobs that in turn, enable communities to prosper and grow. The state’s Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) is a vital part of that effort, and it includes two fast-growing, forward-thinking, public-private partnerships in the aerospace sector. 

• The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Cluster (PNAC), led by the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA), is working to maintain and increase the state’s competitiveness in aircraft manufacturing by focusing on technological innovation, sustainable manufacturing, supply chain mapping and resilience, and workforce development. This cluster is a vital part of the state’s efforts to foster the training network that will enable the next generation of workers and tradespeople to thrive in every facet of this industry, from the factory floors to the engineering offices located all across the state.  
• The Sustainable Aviation Technologies and Energies (SATE) cluster, led by the Aerospace Futures Alliance (AFA), is making important strides in the research, development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels, electrified aircraft and hydrogen-powered aviation. Their work is helping ensure a sustainable, equitable future by advancing the aviation world’s fight against climate change.

We are also building relationships with international clusters like the EMC2 Competitiveness Cluster and the Pays de la Loire region of France, the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Cluster in the United Kingdom and the ZAL Centre for Applied Aviation Research GmbH in Hamburg, Germany, in order to learn from their successes and supercharge the growth of Washington’s ICAP. By building new bridges with our global partners, we are giving our respective companies new opportunities to collaborate and innovate. We are incredibly inspired by the progress the ICAP program is already making and we look forward to seeing what exciting ideas our industry clusters produce in the coming months and years.  

Washington’s commitment is also reflected in the Department of Commerce, where the business development and trade assistance teams continue to promote the advantages of investing in Washington and working with the companies that are already doing business here. They provide a range of services geared to play to the state’s many strengths, including our entrepreneurial spirit, our talented workforce, and our robust, resilient supply chain.  The Commerce team looks forward to attending several upcoming trade shows, including MRO Europe 2022, the Avalon Air Show 2023, and the Paris Air Show 2023, where we hope to connect with you and your company.

Today, companies in Washington provide parts, components, interiors, avionics systems, and services to every major airline and aircraft manufacturer in the world.  That level of expertise and versatility is the reason Washington has always been on the cutting edge of aerospace and aviation technologies, uncrewed and autonomous systems, and commercial space flight. 

And that’s exactly where we intend to stay.  

If you would like to learn more about opportunities in our state, please reach out to:

James Mumford 

Program Manager 

Business Development

Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness 

Washington State Department of Commerce

james.mumford@commerce.wa.gov

+1 206-584-1523

Amandine Crabtree

Aerospace International Trade Specialist

Small Business Export Assistance

Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness 

Washington State Department of Commerce

amandine.crabtree@commerce.wa.gov

+1 206-485-8541