About the Inland NorthWest Aerospace Consortium.

The establishment of an aerospace cluster in Spokane began in 2004.

Through the independent evolution of demand-side private sector manufacturers and supply-side public sector entities and business organizations, each saw the tremendous contribution local aerospace OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and after-market aircraft providers were making on a global basis. Each envisioned the opportunity for further collaboration and partnership. The guiding principle in INWAC has always been synergy – the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

In 2004, the Spokane community (supply-side stakeholders) engaged in the process of responding to the European Aerospace Defense System’s (EADS) “Request For Information” for sites to construct the air tanker version of the A-340 to supply the US Air Force with the next generation of air re-fuelers. This was a collective effort that involved the City of Spokane, Spokane County, Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, Spokane Area Economic Development and Spokane International Airport. Spokane’s application was one of three sites submitted by the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development. None of the State’s sites were selected. EADS is currently pursuing the project in South Carolina.

However, the effort was an epiphany, or revelation, of the Spokane Region’s established aerospace industry and its substantial capacity to support further growth. The application devoted a listing or inventory of Airbus’ and other aerospace direct suppliers, as well as substantial attention to the entire supply chain, including our access to surface, air and ocean transportation networks. Much to the applicants’ surprise, they were able to fully respond to every section of the document and have used it since as a roadmap for other solicitations. The engaging process also led to an invitation to join Governor Gregoire as part of a Washington State aerospace trade delegation.

While in Paris, the Spokane contingent, which included Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and representatives from the Spokane Area EDC and Spokane International Airport used the opportunity to meet with Inland Northwest companies who were also in attendance such as Triumph, Kaiser Aluminum and Goodrich Corporation. Their discussions focused on potential suppliers who were also in attendance that may be interested in having a North American presence; and, on the business-side, how the Spokane community and State of Washington could improve their competitiveness. They also used this platform to focus the State’s efforts as a World-class aerospace provider to all aerospace companies and not position itself solely as a Boeing provider. With a more organized and defined aerospace cluster, Spokane is looking to joining the State again in 2008 at the Paris Air Show, which is the World’s premier industry event.

The project was also a springboard for Spokane International Airport’s two recent successful CERB funding applications (the first of their kind in Spokane County) that directly support three other aerospace companies: Absolute Aviation Services, Empire Airlines, and XN Air. The development of the Airport’s substantial acreage and cargo infrastructure is a community priority. Though it is not a Port Authority, it fulfills many of those functions on the region’s behalf and has a variety of assets and infrastructure that support in aerospace industry including:

5,400 acres of land available for development zoned for light industrial
The Airport is the worksite for 2,000 employees
The Airport has an annual economic impact of $900 million
All Weather Category III Instrument Landing System
9,000’ x 150’ Main Runway and 8,199’ x 150’ Alternative Runway

All high decibel noise concerns are contained within the airport boundaries, thereby allowing operators to perform engine run ups and other high noise activities 24/7. The Airport’s low 269 average daily aviation operations allows operators ample opportunities to access the runway system to perform hot brake and routine flight checks. The Airport Board is the Grantee to Foreign-Trade Zone No. 224, which encompass all the Airport and adjacent business park as well as other properties within Spokane County. Designated Port of Entry with on-site U.S. Customs facilities

Provides 800,000 gallon Jet-A fuel storage facility
Two FAA certified aircraft repair stations
Immediate access to Interstate 90 and Highway 2, which heavily supports the efficient movement of freight
Your corporate offices, warehousing, data processing and shipping can be integrated into one location.
Access to the regional post office, airfreight, cargo carriers, passenger airlines, and Highway 2/Interstate 90 is fast and easy.
Build to suit; long term leases & existing inventory of office, warehouse, and manufacturing facilities are available.
Expanding corporate and general aviation infrastructure.
Facilities are protected by the Airport’s police, fire, EMTs and maintenance crews.
The Airport is home to 10 airlines and annually process over 3,000,000 total passengers
It is ranked as the nation’s 69^th largest passenger airport

The Airport features high capacity City of Spokane sewer and water, natural gas, electricity, and fiber optics. Qwest’s Communications’ regional fiber optics facility is an adjacent Business Park tenant. The total tonnage of the Airport’s 3 integrated cargo carriers places Spokane International as the nation’s 47^th busy cargo facility

The second group and, arguably, the most important, were the demand-side stakeholders or major manufacturing suppliers that are actively engaged in the aerospace industry. Collectively, "three Ricks and two Mikes" came together with the intent of focusing on certification requirements and identifying potential local component suppliers whose processed product was specifically focused on the aerospace industry. The founding principal was the idea of synergy – the whole is more than the sum of the parts. They believed that acting as a group, they could maximize the results for all of the individual companies.

The goal was to try to involve as many of the local companies and organizations that were involved in the aerospace industry as possible. The experience of this group’s was similar to the first group because they were surprised at the amount of aerospace activity in the Inland Northwest. The more they found out about it, the more convinced they were that we could all help each other by working together in this effort.

The two groups convened in the Spring of 2006 and formed the “Inland Northwest Aerospace Consortium (INWAC).” Succeeding meetings have included additional interested parties from various segments of the cluster. During this time contact was also made and involvement of the Aerospace Futures Alliance of Washington was established. While the intent of the INWAC is to foster the development of a regional cluster, the importance of inclusion with a statewide organization and the potential for collaboration with their counterparts in Western Washington was clearly supported.