Aerospace

Renfrew County has had a significant history in aviation and aerospace research, development, manufacturing and flight training. The original location for the National Research Council of Canada’s Flight Research Laboratory was in Arnprior, which also became home to a major Boeing design and manufacturing facility, now Arnprior Aerospace. In Haley Station, Aerospace metals mining, processing and manufacturing developed through the 1950’s which included supplying metals and castings for the construction of the Canadian designed and built prototype of the AVRO Arrow CF-105 jet fighter in the later part of the 1950’s, the most advanced fighter/interceptor in the world at the time.

Today the aerospace industry continues to operate within Renfrew County, hosting companies like Magellan Aerospace, Arnprior Aerospace, Hypernetics, Inter-Aero, ETM and others, all contributing to the aerospace industry supply chain. Given the significance and size of the industry, Renfrew County has become home to a skilled labour force able to support this and others in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Though there is no commercial passenger services operating at any of the airports within Renfrew County, two principal licensed airports operate in the region, one in Arnprior and the other in Pembroke/Petawawa. As well as the many lakes and rivers able to accommodate float planes, there are also a number of small landing strips located throughout the region to fly in and out, accommodating plane owners and travelers using small aircraft.

For enthusiasts, pilot training and sky diving are also available within Renfrew County.