The Kingdom of Morocco and the European Organisation for Safety in Air Navigation - EUROCONTROL, have today signed a Comprehensive Agreement.

The Agreement was signed by Mr Zouhair Mohammed El Aoufir, Director General of ONDA (Office National Des Aéroports), and Mr Frank Brenner, Director General of EUROCONTROL at a ceremony in Marrakech on the occasion of the International Marrakech Airshow which is currently taking place from 27 to 30 April.

In his speech for this event, Mr El Aoufir noted “With the signature and entry in force of this agreement, it is not only that our country achieves a global first – in that EUROCONTROL has never before signed such an agreement with a country outside Europe – but it also recognises the performance of the Moroccan air traffic management services and is consolidating a mutually desired and beneficial partnership between ONDA and EUROCONTROL”.

“EUROCONTROL has been working closely with the Kingdom of Morocco for many years, and we are delighted that this excellent working relationship is now being strengthened through the signing of a Comprehensive Agreement,” said Frank Brenner, Director General of EUROCONTROL. “With over 850 flights a day moving between Europe and Morocco’s airspace, it is a logical step for us to increase our level of integration and cooperation for the benefit of the airlines and the travelling public.”

“The Agreement is a clear sign of Morocco moving closer to Europe and becoming part of the European Aviation System. It means that Morocco will participate from now on to the working structures of EUROCONTROL and that it will be able to benefit from all services that the Agency provides,” Frank Brenner added.

The Kingdom of Morocco has signed a European Civil Aviation Agreement with the EU, thereby opening the two air traffic markets for open and unlimited access. Therefore it is logical and obvious that bigger volumes of air traffic need to be catered for. For these technical provisions, common airspace design and common air traffic procedures are prerequisites. EUROCONTROL is about ensuring that an effective and efficient network is available.

According to the Comprehensive Agreement, the Kingdom of Morocco will be fully integrated into EUROCONTROL’s working structures and will be able to benefit from all services the Agency provides. The Comprehensive Agreement will bring significant operational advantages to the airlines and passengers including improved crisis management, more organised and harmonised management of the traffic flows between North Africa/the Canary Islands and the European continent, improved predictability in planning of daily operations, improved safety of operations and a wider network approach to all developments such as airspace design, infrastructure coordination and management.

The Agreement will enter into force on 1 May 2016.

Hexcel today broke ground on a new $20 million engineered core facility at the MidParc Free Trade Zone Industrial Park in Casablanca, Morocco. Presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony were Hexcel Vice President and General Manager, Thierry Merlot, and Mr. Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Moroccan Minister for Industry, Commerce, Investment and Digital Economy. 

When fully operational in 2017, the facility will convert HexWeb® honeycomb materials into engineered core parts that are used for structural reinforcement and light weighting in aerospace applications, including aircraft structures, engine nacelles and helicopter blades. In the interim, Hexcel will occupy a temporary facility on the Midparc site that will begin operating in Q4 2016. The plant is expected to employ more than 200 people by 2020. 

The Casablanca facility is part of Hexcel’s ongoing worldwide investment to create a diversified and robust global supply chain to support aerospace customers’ growing demand for engineered core. In recent years, Hexcel has increased capacity at existing plants to support its engineered core business and plans further expansions to capture additional opportunities in a global market with excellent growth potential. 

At today’s ceremony, Mr. Merlot commented: “Morocco’s forward-looking industrial policy, economic growth plan and the establishment of industrial free trade zones influenced our choice of location. Morocco has a highly skilled, competitive workforce, is well situated geographically, and has a quality infrastructure -- all of which are key logistical criteria for our industry. Other deciding factors were the local Mohammed V international airport and the close proximity of several Hexcel customers including Safran (Aircelle), Airbus (STELIA), Daher, and Bombardier,” he said. 

Executive Vice President Performance and Competitiveness at Safran, Jean-Jacques Orsini, said at today’s event: “We welcome Hexcel’s decision to invest in Morocco and build an engineered core facility at the Midparc Industrial Park. Hexcel’s new plant will be close to our own Safran (Aircelle) plant that we opened in 2005, and having a supplier at such close proximity will create a very efficient supply chain that will benefit both of our companies and the aerospace industry more generally, not only in Morocco but around the world”.

Safran Engineering Services, a subsidiary of Labinal (Safran), announced last week a partnership agreement with the University of Moulay Ismail of Meknès and the University of Hassan II of Casablanca.

Safran Engineering Services has recently set up a new development plan for Morocco, with several objectives : support the business growth of its customers by fitting into the historical context of aeronautical development and reach a critical size. In keeping with this plan Safran Engineering Services Morrocco would double its capacity in 2015. This new partnership will be focused on training, aiming to offer career opportunities and high value added employment prospects to students in the aeronautical domain.

Bruno Bernard, CEO of Safran Engineering Services, insists that “This agreement illustrates Safran Engineering Services’ will to develop a strong engineering unit in Morocco. For the Safran group, this is an opportunity to benefit from key skills both in Morocco and in France.”

Une délégation officielle conduite par le ministre de l'Industrie, du Commerce et des Nouvelles technologies, Abdelkader Amara, a fait le déplacement à Paris au Parc des expositions du Bourget, en région parisienne.

Amara devrait multiplier dans ce sens les rendez-vous professionnels et les rencontres d'information sur les opportunités d'investissement et d'affaires au Maroc et dans le secteur aéronautique en particulier, à la faveur des différentes mesures incitatives mises en place par le gouvernement marocain pour encourager le développement de cette industrie à fort potentiel, identifiée comme l'un des six métiers mondiaux du Maroc, dans le cadre du plan Emergence.

Dans cet effort de promotion du Maroc comme destination «privilégiée» et «compétitive» de l'investissement dans l'industrie aéronautique, est particulièrement concernée l'Agence marocaine de développement des investissements (AMDI) qui supervise la participation nationale, accompagnée de plusieurs autres entreprises et organismes nationaux, publics et privés.

Il s'agit, en autres, du Groupement des Industries marocaines aéronautiques et spatiales (GIMAS), de la compagnie Royal Air Maroc, de l'Office national des aéroports (ONDA), des zones franches Tanger Free Zone et MIDPARC (Nouaceur, près de Casablanca), de l'aménageur des zones d'activité économique MEDZ, en plus de l'Institut des métiers de l'aéronautique et de la Fédération nationale de l'électricité et de l'électronique (FENELEC).

Au Maroc, le secteur aéronautique connaît un développement soutenu, puisqu'il compte aujourd'hui plus d'une centaine d'entreprises de référence internationale et emploie près de 10.000 personnes hautement qualifiées, souligne-t-on auprès de l'AMDI.

Ses responsables évoquent «un secteur aux perspectives de croissance annuelle de plus de 20% et où les investissements continuent de converger» d'autant plus que «la base aéronautique au Maroc est considérée aujourd'hui comme étant la supply chain la plus compétitive dans le prolongement naturel de l'Europe».

Le développement remarquable du secteur aéronautique et spatial au Maroc se traduit, selon eux, notamment par la présence «de véritables centres d'excellence» couvrant la production, les services, la maintenance et l'ingénierie, l'évolution du nombre d'implantations qui «s'est fortement accru ces dernières années» pour atteindre aujourd'hui près de 100 entreprises (dont 70% ont moins de 5 ans d'existence), une situation confortée par la présence de grands groupes internationaux tels Boeing, Safran, Bombardier et EADS Aviation.
Le chiffre d'affaires des entreprises installées est estimé à 8 milliards de dirhams (0,7 milliards d'euros) au titre de l'exercice 2011.

Le potentiel estimé de ces mesures se chiffre à environ 4 milliards de dirhams (0,4 milliards d'euros) de PIB additionnels avec une création d'environ 15.000 nouveaux emplois directs à l'horizon 2015.

Since implementing the Oliver Wight Class A programme, service levels at Aircelle Maroc have improved a minimum of 98%, having previously fluctuated between 70% and 80%. At the same time, stockholding levels have been reduced by a third, saving hundreds of thousands of Euros, and the company has received formal recognition from Rolls-Royce for its ‘class-leading’ OTIF delivery achievements. There have also been significant reductions in manufacturing cycles, with assembly of some products reduced by as much as 50%. All this has been achieved in a remarkably short space of time – the business received Class A certification for planning and control after just 18 months.

 says supply chain manager, Ludovic Boisrame. “One of the key enablers was the breakdown of barriers between functions, underpinned by the Class A work. As soon as everybody was working from a single set of data, it was easy to see where the improvements could be made and measured.”

The programme is part of a wider Class A implementation across Aircelle and the €10 billion, 55,000 employee Safran group, it’s part of. Safran is a French-owned multi-national operating in 50 countries and three core markets: aerospace, defence and security. Aircelle’s customers include major engine and airframe manufacturers, such as Airbus, Gulfstream, Rolls-Royce and Power Jet. Aircelle Maroc, based in Casablanca, is the first non-French site within the Safran group to achieve the Oliver Wight Class A standard.

The Moroccan plant, which manufactures nacelles (engine casings), thrust reversers and carbon fibre composite components for airliners and executive jets, has gone from strength to strength since opening in 2006; revenue has grown from €10 to €70 million, and the site now employs nearly 450 people. But General Manager, Benoit Martin-Laprade, is determined to continue on this upward path, planning for 15% growth every year for the next five years.

Class A is crucial for continuous growth, says Benoit: “It gives us a methodology, a structure, and you need that if you plan to grow by 15% every year. Class A is a globally recognised standard and it really means something to our customers all over the world. There’s no doubt that it helps us secure new business. And we know we can do it without having to increase inventory,” he concludes.

USTDA awarded a grant that demonstrates the Administration's strong commitment to supporting Morocco's long-term economic growth. The grant will support Royal Air Maroc's plans to modernize its airline operations. In supporting Morocco's long-term plan to increase tourism and international aviation traffic, USTDA awarded a $337,880 grant to Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to fund a feasibility study to assess how best to enhance the airline's operations at Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport. The grant will also help RAM in meeting their business development goals.

"This feasibility study will provide substantial support to Royal Air Maroc, as it implements its ambitious development plans for the coming years," said U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Samuel L. Kaplan.
The grant was conferred during a signing ceremony by U.S. Ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan. Chief Executive Officer of Royal Air Maroc Driss Benhima signed the feasibility study grant which will provide a plan to help respond to future aviation demand and increased competition. The grant agreement was witnessed by Consul General Elisabeth Millards and Mr. Saad Azzioui, RAM's Vice President for Ground Operations, on behalf of the U.S. and Moroccan governments, respectively.

The opportunity to provide the USTDA-funded assistance under the grant awarded today will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted on USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement. RAM will select a U.S. firm to provide the assistance associated with their respective grant.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair, open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

Morocco's aeronautics industry is considered a key strategy of development, as outlined in the national industrial plan, dubbed "Emergence", Director General of Morocco Exports (Moroccan center of exports promotion), Saad Benabdellah told MAP.

Benabdellah, who stressed the advantages of Morocco in terms of investment in the aeronautics sector, recalled that the country has so far attracted more that 70 aeronautics'  companies, located mostly in the Casablanca-Rabat axe and in the free zone of Tangiers.

Morocco, which succeeded to develop within a few years a significant aeronautical background of first rank, figures currently among the countries where aeronautical subcontracting has the most promising future prospects.

By 2015, aeronautic industry in Morocco should create 17.000 employments and an additional sales turnover of about 800 million euros.

The first Aeroexpo Marrakech, held on 2008 under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, under the aegis of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and New Technologies, with the effective support of the Royal Air Forces, the National Office of Airports, the Royal Air Maroc, the Group of Moroccan Aerospace industrials (GIMAS) and inaugurated by H.E. the Prime Minister, was undoubtedly a great success and earned its mantle as the key aeronautic event in the year with world-wide news coverage !

The wide spectrum of business achieved during this first edition highlights the significant growth of the Moroccan aeronautic industry in recent years and the choice of this country to host this event.

The aeronautic industry in Morocco is a promising asset for the Moroccan economy. Its identification as such led to the creation of an industrial area “Nouasseur Aero pole” which currently lodges 15 companies operating in different aeronautic activities. This Aero pole will have to gear down the outputs of this activity in terms of added value and generation of new jobs.

Having a high potential for the aeronautic industry and the adequate environment to host a larger number of aeronautics companies , Morocco represents an ideal market for the aviation industry, especially sub-contracting which has highly developed within the last few years.

Aeroexpo Marrakech is Morocco's showcase meeting for civil & military aviation, technology and services that will attract exhibitors, delegations & trade visitors from around the world, and will be focusing on creating opportunities for the attendees to interact and meet new buyers & partners.

Websit: AeroExpo-Morocco

"A strong presence in national engineering through this great project shows that Morocco has taken another step in the field of aeronautics, which will not stop simply at construction, but will also include engineering and design."
In the past few years, the sector has seen considerable development, growing from near-zero in 2000 to a 250 million dollar industry employing 7,000 people. Seven major areas employ about 75% of those currently working in the sector: cabling, middle management, composites, mechatronics, sheet metals, fitting and machining.

"The rapid development in the sector has been carried forward by benchmark operators in the sector, such as EADS, Boeing and SAFRAN, who have given Morocco credibility as a destination," said Chami.
A number of companies in Morocco are suppliers to European and American-based companies placing orders. Morocco is among those countries where subcontracting has a promising future.

The aeronautical sector is characterised by a strong French presence.
The chairman of the French Union of Metallurgical Trades and Industries, Frédéric Saint-Geoure, said that Morocco's economic and industrial development strategy to support high added-value industrial sectors, such as aeronautics, can only encourage French companies to open other nearby markets.
"The strength of the Moroccan aeronautical sector lies in that it has developed as a network where customers and suppliers are right next door to each other," said Thomas Corbel, manufacturer of aircraft engine components for the Airbus A320 and A340. "With geographical proximity restricting logistical costs, aeronautics subcontractors in Morocco have what they need to deal with the downward pressure on costs."

Chairman of the Moroccan Space and Aeronautical Industries Group (GIMAS) Hamid Benbrahim El Andaloussi is delighted with the development of the sector, feeling that it could not be more competitive. "Morocco has very quickly realised the potential of the fledgling industry that is aeronautics, identifying it as a top-priority strategic sector in its Emergence plan. Training is one of the keys to success in our development strategy for this sector."

Great groups, inter alia, the Franco-German EADS and American Lockheed Martin are already established in Morocco, mainly in Casablanca and Rabat.

According to the statement, the advantages of setting up shop in Morocco are "multiple" --there are qualified labour, which costs 70 per cent less than in Europe, the geographical proximity with Europe and tax exemption for the campanies which invest in this sector.

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a contract totaling $233.6 million to begin production of 24 aircraft, along with associated support equipment, alternate mission equipment and other support elements for Morocco. This effort will support the Foreign Military Sales program for Morocco.

"We are pleased the Royal Moroccan Air Force selected the F-16 to modernize its fighter force and look forward to working with them as the newest member of the F-16 family," said John Larson, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' F-16 program. "The F-16 provides the Kingdom of Morocco with the world's most affordable and technologically advanced multirole fighter available today, with the added benefit of interoperability with the U.S. Air Force and many other air forces."

The F-16 provides advanced technology and capability across all missions, and its operations and maintenance costs for the life of the aircraft are the best value available today. Operating day and night in all environments and weather, the F-16 remains the safest multirole fighter in U.S. Air Force history. The F-16 will continue to be the backbone of the U.S. Air Force for many years to come, assuring proven support and sustainment throughout the life of Morocco's F-16 program.

The Moroccan announcement adds to the F-16's reputation as the world's most sought-after multi-role fighter. More than 4,400 F-16 aircraft have been delivered to date and production is expected to continue beyond 2012, with major upgrades being incorporated for all F-16 versions.

More than 4,400 aircraft have been delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five countries. The F-16 program has been characterized by unprecedented international cooperation among governments, air forces and aerospace industries. Major upgrades to all F-16 versions are being incorporated to keep the fleet modern and fully supportable over the aircraft's long service life.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

The United States government awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] an Undefinitized Contract Authorization (UCA) for the production of 24 Advanced F-16 Block 52 aircraft for Morocco, making the Kingdom of Morocco the 25th nation to select the F-16.

Morocco will acquire a Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). The sale will include the aircraft, mission equipment and a support package provided by Lockheed Martin and other U.S. and international contractors. The new aircraft will supplement the RMAF's existing fleet of fighter aircraft and will contribute to the upgrade and modernization of the RMAF.

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a contract totaling $233.6 million to begin production of 24 aircraft, along with associated support equipment, alternate mission equipment and other support elements for Morocco. This effort will support the Foreign Military Sales program for Morocco.

"We are pleased the Royal Moroccan Air Force selected the F-16 to modernize its fighter force and look forward to working with them as the newest member of the F-16 family," said John Larson, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' F-16 program. "The F-16 provides the Kingdom of Morocco with the world's most affordable and technologically advanced multirole fighter available today, with the added benefit of interoperability with the U.S. Air Force and many other air forces."

"The F-16 provides the Kingdom of Morocco with the world's most affordable and technologically advanced multirole fighter available today, with the added benefit of interoperability with the U.S. Air Force and many other air forces."

Lockheed Martin will have a backlog of about 125 F-16s to produce at its Fort Worth plant. Productions have notably reduced as the backlog has decreased. Company officials expect 30 jets to produced this year and with the existing backlog keeping the production line going till 2011.

Organisé conjointement par l'association française ""les citoyens du ciel"" et l'Office National des Aéroports (ONDA), cet événement, le premier du genre est destiné aux personnes handicapées paraplégiques non brevetées et devra se poursuivre jusqu'au 4 novembre prochain dans les villes de Béni Mellal, Marrakech, Agadir, Tata, Foum Zguid , Zagora, Tazarim et Merzouga et devra se clôturer en apothéose à Ifrane.

Ce rallye qui sera un rendez-vous annuel pour les jeunes handicapés, a indiqué à la MAP, le directeur de l'aéroport Saïss Fès, M. Kinani, est constitué de deux avions ultra légers motorisés (ULM) et dirigé par une équipe de dix pilotes et mécaniciens français avec la participation de deux enfants paraplégiques et quatre enfants normaux également français.

Ces derniers ont pour mission, selon le responsable, d'être les ambassadeurs auprès de leurs petits compatriotes pour rapporter l'événement, donner de l'espoir en expliquant que les handicaps peuvent être surmontables.

Cette édition humanitaire dont le coup d'envoi s'est déroulée en présence des parents d'enfants et adolescents paraplégiques, des responsables de l'aéroport ainsi que des représentants des autorités locales, a consisté à faire prendre aux jeunes, des écoliers en somme, des baptêmes de l'air, offerts gracieusement par les organisateurs qui les ont fait voyager et rêver durant une dizaine de minutes à travers la ville.

Cette manifestation émouvante qui a coïncidé avec le jour de la fête Aïd Fitr, a été marquée par une cérémonie festive et d'enthousiasme général.

L'ambition, souligne M. Kinani, est, ""de briser l'isolement dans lequel se trouvent ces personnes en repoussant les limites relatives à la mobilité, en prenant place à bord de l'ULM"". ""La perspective serait leur apprentissage de pilotage d'avions"".

PROGRAMME

Mercredi 01 novembre 2006
FSSM : « Les Dernières nouvelles du satellite Titan de Saturne », animé par
Christian BOURDEILLE Président de l'Uranoscope de l'île de France.

10 h : Atelier
« La glace dans le système solaire », animée par Christian BOURDEILLE
Président de l'Uranoscope de l'île de France.

18 h : Conférence

Jeudi 02 novembre 2006

Collège : Tamaslouhte
« Généralités sur les Sciences de l'Univers », animée par Mohammed
BENAMARA ( 3AM).

16 h : Conférence « La glace dans le système solaire », animée par Christian BOURDEILLE
Président de l'Uranoscope de l'île de France.

18 h : Conférence Lycée : Aboualabbase ESSABTI

Vendredi 03 novembre 2006

Collège : Al chourafa Tassaltante
« Généralités sur les Sciences de l'Univers », animée par Mohammed
BENAMARA ( 3AM).

16 h : Conférence « l'Histoire de l'Astronomie », animée par Tarik KHALLA & Brahim
KERMAM ( 3AM ).

16 h : Conférence
Lycée : Hassan II

Samedi 04 novembre 2006

FSSM : « Rôle des Sciences de l'Univers dans le développement humain »,

10 h : Table ronde
Observatoire d'Astronomie de l'Oukeimeden :
« Lecture du ciel »

19 h : Présentation

21 h : Lecture du ciel à l'oeil nu et à l'aide des instruments
astronomiques

dimanche 04 novembre 2006

Observatoire d'Astronomie de l'Oukeimeden :
10 h : Observation des tâches solaires

14 h : Retour sur Marrakech

N.B : Pour la nuit des étoiles, s'inscrire auprès du service de la communication
de la FSSM.

Source: 3AM

Les Forces Royales Air (FRA) ont été fondées le 2 Mars 1956, alors qu'elles s'appelaient encore L'Aviation Royale Sherifienne. La colonne vertébrale de l'Armée de l'air est formée par des avions de fabrication française. L'Armée de l'air se compose de quatre commandements.

A Marrakech, la formation utilise l'AS202 Bravo pour la sélection initiale et la  formation basique. Plus tard la formation est faite sur le T-34C et le CM170. Après avoir reçu leurs diplômes, les pilotes de chasse sont formés sur l'Alpha jet ou le T-37B a Meknès, les pilotes des avions de transport sur le King Air et les pilotes d'Hélicoptère sur le B205, B206 et SA342. 
 
La flotte des avions de transport est basée à Kenitra dans le nord et utilise le C-130H et B707 pour le transport et le ravitaillement en vol. Le CN235 est aussi utilisé pour le transport, le Faucon 50 et Gulfstream sont utilisés pour le transport des VIP.

A la base de Rabat-Sale on trouve une variété de types d’Hélicoptères. Excepté le SA330 et le CH-47 utilisé pour le transport, l'Armée de l'air utilise des B205, des B206 ainsi que des hélicoptères SA342. A Rabat-Sale on trouvera aussi les gardes de cotes qui utilisent le Do28 pour protéger les eaux côtières marocaines. 

Enfin, à Casablanca se trouve l’Atelier Magasin Général (AMG), ou la plupart des opérations des maintenances préventive et curative sont effectuées. 
 
La Colonne vertébrale de l'Armée de l'air marocaine Royale est formée par quatre escadrons de combat, deux équipes avec des F-5 et deux avec des  Mirage F1. Les pilotes de chasse marocains sont parfois en exercice en Europe comme dans le cadre de l'ODAX en 2000 en France, ils sont aussi régulièrement vus en Espagne et en Portugal dans le cadre des visites d’échange.
Le F-5 est plutôt vieux, sa mise a niveau s’avère coûteuse.

Depuis le début des années 90, les FRA ont participé à plusieurs missions internationales pour des raisons humanitaires ou pour instaurer la paix, comme la Somalie (1993), la Bosnie (1995), le Kosovo (1999) et dernièrement a al Hoceima lors du tremblement de terre (2004).

Cette année le Maroc célèbre le cinquantième anniversaire de son indépendance. A cette occasion, une série de 'Journée Portes Ouvertes’ a été organisé à plusieurs aérodromes partout dans le pays entre janvier et avril 2006 pour le grand public Marocain. Une occasion aussi pour aeronautique.ma pour présenter une galerie commentée de la panoplie d’avions dont dispose les Forces Armées Royales…

MirageF1 (Nombre: 40) - Avions de combat /Bombardiers
La flotte des MiragesF1, composée de 40 appareils, est divisée en deux escadrons. Les deux stationnent à la Base de Sidi-Slimane AB:
-  L'Escadre de Chasse 'Atlas' qui opère avec la version de combat F-1CH (Fighter-interceptors) commandée a Dassault-Breguet en 1976 et reçue au début 1978.
-  L'Escadre de Chasse 'Assad' avec le F-1EH pour des missions d'attaque terrestres (Ground attack), ce type d'avions a été reçu entre décembre 1979 et Juin 1982.
27 de ces Mirage F1 ont été modernisé en 2004 avec des Radar SAGEM + missiles MICA + AASM bomb-kit.

Alpha Jet (Nombre : 21) - Avions de combat / Bombardiers
Livrés entre 1979 et 1981 pour la formation des pilotes et pour des missions d'attaques légères. Un de ces avions AlGhait est notamment utilisé pour l'ensemencement des nuages.

F-5A/B (Nombre : 13) - Avions de combat / Bombardiers 
Une vingtaine a été acquise au début des années 60, d'autres sont reçus plus tard dans le cadre d'une donation du Shah D'Iran pour le Royaume du Maroc.

F-5E/F Tiger II (Nombre : 24) - Avions de combat / Bombardiers
Acquis au début des années 80, grâce a l'aide financière de l'Arabie saoudite (Seize F-5E et quatre F-5F). En 1989, 10 anciens F-5E Agressors sont reçus des Etats-Unis, ils sont toujours opérationnels.

 T-34C-1 (Nombre : 12) - Formation
Utilisés surtout pour la formation des pilotes.

T-37B (Nombre: 14)
Jets pour formation, acquis au milieu des années 90, utilisés pour la formation des pilotes à Meknes.

  FFA AS-202 Bravo (Nombre: 10):
Jets pour formation, ils sont surtout utilisés pour la sélection initiale des pilotes.

C-130 Hercules (Nombre: 15) - Transport
Deux de ces C-130 sont équipes par le SLAR (Side Looking Airborne Radars- Radar embarqué à couverture latéral).
"A propos des cas d'urgence, nous devons à cette occasion souligner l'apport, ô combien précieux et salutaire, d'un appareil qui était devenu familier tant aux marcheurs qu'à l'encadrement durant toute la durée de campement à Tarfaya et à Tan-Tan. Cet énorme oiseau du ciel arrivait toujours comme une Providence aux moments cruciaux pour soulager les épuisements de stocks, en apportant de nouvelles denrées à la joie de tout le monde. Il s'agissait de l'avion C-130 des Forces Royales Air (FRA) auxquelles il faut rendre hommage pour leur performance et leur hardiesse.
Afin de permettre à cet avion d'atterrir à Tarfaya -au début, il larguait ses chargements à basse altitude-, 2 000 marcheurs se portèrent volontaires et se relayèrent à la tâche pour réaliser en plein désert et en l'espace de deux jours une piste nivelée, arrosée et compactée sur une longueur de deux kilomètres et une largeur de 75 mètres. Cette piste de fortune a eu le privilège d'accueillir des C-130 marocains et des avions de pays amis."
TEMOIGNAGE de JUAN GOYTISOLO (Ecrivain, Prix Europalia)

Casa CN235 (Nombre: 7) - Transport
Acquis en 1990.

King100 (Nombre: 5) - Transport

Super King 200/300 (Nombre: 5) - Transport 

Falcon 20 (Nombre: 4) - Transport

KC-130 (Nombre: 2) - Tanker

KC-135 (Nombre: 1) - Tanker

Gulfstream II/III (Nombre: 3) - VIP Jets

Falcon 50 (Nombre: 2) - VIP Jets

Gazelle SA-342 (Nombre: 24) - Helicoptere de combat
12 sont équipés par des missiles anti-tank
12 sont équipés par des mitrailleuses 20mm

AB-205 (Nombre: 25) - Transport et autres

Acquis vers la fin des années 60, ils sont toujours opérationnels. Stationnés a Rabat-Sale, ils sont utilisés pour des missions de transport léger.

AB-206 (Nombre: 20) - Transport et autres

SA-330F/G  Puma (Nombre: 27) - Transport et autres
Opérationnel depuis le milieu des années 70 pour des missions de transport, de recherche et de sauvetage.

AB-212 (Nombre: 5) - Transport et autres  

CH-47C Chinook (Nombre: 12) - Transport et autres

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Veuillez noter que ce site n'a aucune source officielle, ni aucune relation avec les Forces Royales Air, et que la liste ci-dessus est une synthèse d'informations recueillies sur le net, principalement sur l'encyclopédie libre Wikipedia.

Snecma Morocco Engine Services (SMES), co-entreprise contrôlée par Snecma Services (51 %) - société du Groupe SAFRAN - en partenariat avec Royal Air Maroc (49 %) vient de terminer l'adaptation de son banc pour les essais du CFM56-7 dans ses ateliers de Casablanca. Cet outil, doté des technologies et systèmes d'acquisition et de contrôle les plus récents est opérationnel depuis le 1er juillet 2006.

Grâce à un investissement de plus de 3,5M$, SMES devient le premier atelier de réparation des moteurs Boeing 737 Nouvelle Génération sur le continent africain et le sud du bassin méditerranéen.

Les outillages, la formation des techniciens, ainsi que les ressources logistiques ont été adaptés pour accueillir cette nouvelle activité synonyme de nouveaux contrats. Actuellement plus de 4 000 moteurs CFM56-7 sont livrés avec un potentiel de croissance très prometteur.

La décision de SMES d'investir le marché de la maintenance du CFM56-7 confirme son rôle de pionnier et de leader sur la région. Depuis sa création en 1999, l'entreprise n'a cessé de croître pour tripler son Chiffre d'Affaires sur les 3 dernières années.

Pour Jean-Lin Fournereaux, président-directeur général de Snecma Services, « ce renforcement de notre unité marocaine s'inscrit dans notre stratégie de développement au plan mondial. Ces nouvelles compétences associées au très haut niveau de compétitivité de cet atelier contribueront à renforcer considérablement notre présence commerciale sur le marché du CFM56-7 ».

Pour sa part Mohamed Bellatig, directeur du Centre Industriel Aéronautique de Royal Air Maroc et président du Conseil d'administration de SMES souligne que « cet élargissement de notre offre de services constitue une étape essentielle dans le développement et la croissance de notre centre de réparation aéronautique. SMES a dorénavant la capacité de poursuivre son développement et d'augmenter de plus 50 % le nombre des moteurs à réparer dans les prochaines années. »

Snecma - Communique de presse

The aeronautics industry has a longhistory in Morocco. In the late 1950s, the national carrier Royal AirMaroc (RAM) established a maintenance business that laid thetechnological foundation for aeronautical parts processing. Yet it wasonly in the late 1990s that the sector started to develop into asignificant contributor to economic growth and employment, as a numberof leading French aeronautical companies identified Morocco as adestination to establish new production centres.

This trend has recently accelerated,with investment in the sector totalling some Dh900m ($103m) between2002 and 2005, resulting in the creation of 4300 jobs.

As a result of the intensifyingcompetition between the major global airplane producers, primarilyAirbus and Boeing, pressure has been put on suppliers to reduce costs.Competition is moving down the supply chain. To stay in the race,suppliers typically commit to a cost reduction of 2% to 3% per year intheir contracts with main airplane producers.

As a result, equipment suppliers arefollowing the global trend of locating their new production units inlow-cost regions. Suppliers from the EU, who chose to relocate, aremoving to destinations mostly around the Mediterranean and in easternEurope. One such company, the Safran group, an internationalhigh-technology outfit with 58,000 employees in over 30 countries andannual revenues exceeding $12bn, has established new businesses inMorocco, where it currently has some 1000 staff in five subsidiaries.

According to Hamid Benbrahim, Safran'snational executive for Morocco, the kingdom's competitive advantage canbe summarised in what he calls "the three Ps", whereby P stands forproximity.

From the point of view of theFrench-based producer, Morocco combines geographical proximity withlinguistic and cultural proximity - three crucial factors, especiallyfor medium-sized suppliers that do not have the necessary resources toadapt to different business and legal environments. Morocco is hencefocusing on attracting French suppliers, although officials insisteverybody is welcome.

In this respect, Benbrahim emphasisesthat beyond objective, rational criteria such as labour andtransportation costs, the decision to establish a business in a givencountry is based on a subjective appreciation of how practical,reliable and stable the location will be in the medium to long term.

In addition, with Morocco's authoritiescurrently focused on attracting foreign investment and expertise todevelop high value-added industries, savvy investors are finding veryfavourable conditions in the kingdom.

As an example of this, it took Aircelle,a subsidiary of the Safran group with annual turnover of around $1bn,no more than six months to launch its first production centre inMorocco. Aircelle drafted its business plan in January 2005, concludedthe investment convention with the government in March, and thenlaunched actual production in July.

Aircelle is investing a total of $23m inthe first stage of the project, phased over 2005-09, including $7.5m tobuild the plant and another $15m for cutting-edge equipment. Thecompany hopes to achieve export revenues of $38m by 2009.

Benbrahim underlined that Aircellebenefited from government incentives aimed at promoting strategicindustries, in the form of subsidies from the Hassan II Fund foreconomic and social development for the construction of the plant andthe training of local staff.

Other key players in the development ofthe Moroccan aeronautics industry include some 40 companies, amongwhich Labinal - another Safran subsidiary, which produces electriccables for both Boeing and Airbus - as well as EADS, Creuzet, DaherLhotellier, and the list goes on.

The industry has achieved a turnover of around Dh2bn in 2005 ($233m), and should reach Dh2.5bn ($292m) in 2006.

Morocco is sparing no effort to boost the sector's development, withthe creation of a dedicated 70-ha industrial park in Nouasser, next toCasablanca's Mohamed V international airport.

The park already features a trainingcentre in civil aviation, which is gearing up to develop aeronauticsengineering training, and is set to include a services zone, as well asa four-star hotel and restaurants.

Despite the favourable conditionsoffered by Morocco, players are pointing out that the long-term successof the sector will rest on the country's ability to train largernumbers of competent aeronautics engineers, while maintaining lowlabour costs. In this respect, while the development of specialisedtraining at the Nouasser technopark is seen as a positive initiative,it seems clear this will not be sufficient in the medium to long term,with insiders insisting on the need for Morocco to adapt its scientificand technical education system to the actual needs of the market.

While Morocco has made great strides increating favourable conditions for the development of the industry, itfaces the challenge of meeting the human resources demands of thisgrowing sector in tandem with maintaining a competitive cost base.

Source: Oxford Business Group

Boeing Commercial Airplanes regional sales director Ihssane Mounir said the agreement sets the stage for the revolutionary Dreamliner to join Royal Air Maroc's fleet. Boeing and Royal Air Maroc expect to conclude formal negotiations in September.

"Royal Air Maroc selected the 787 because of its unmatched capability and value after a thorough analysis," said Mounir. "We look forward to working closely with Royal Air Maroc to bring the efficient, reliable, comfortable and quiet 787 into service."

Royal Air Maroc's Board of Directors agreed to purchase the Boeing 787s on July 29, following a long and well-defined competition that had been extended on two occasions. After declaring the tender to be clear and transparent, RAM's Board of Directors instructed the airline to directly engage Boeing in negotiations for the purchase of the 787 as the best solution for its long-haul fleet.

The airline noted the distinct advantages of the 787 that will allow it to operate more profitably with lower fuel burn, while providing its passengers the Dreamliner's unique comfort and interior enhancements.

The lower weight, superior strength and maintenance advantages of the 787's composite fuselage allows for higher humidity inside the cabin, larger windows, better air filtration and lower cabin altitude, which translates to more comfort and a physiologically less stressful trip for passengers.

The launch of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which enters commercial service in 2008, has been the most successful in Boeing's history. Currently, Boeing has 257 total orders and commitments from 21 airlines worldwide.

www.boeing.com

Morocco obtains much of its military systems from France. The Snecma group has supplied to Rabat such systems as the Larzac-powered Alpha Jet and the Atar 9K50-powered Mirage F1.

Executives said Assystem Maroc will apply its design engineering skills to the aerospace, rail, automotive and naval industries. The joint venture will train 20 Moroccan engineers hired in September.

Later, the training program will be extended to employees hired in 2001 and next year.

Assystem is the leading French provider of high value-added technical services for industry. It has more 3,500 employees, half of whom are engineers and management.

Snecma produces engines and propulsion systems for military aircraft, training and transport aircraft, helicopters, missiles, satellites and launch vehicles.

Source