The aeronautical sector can generate a very attractive economic benefit: Bajío Aerospace Cluster

The aerospace sector of the Bajío is young, it is constantly growing. We see a great opportunity where we can join as Guanajuato to make alliances and this project together with the different key actors. The development of the aeronautical and aerospace sectors has to be a country project, complementing each other is the only way to be competitive, said Óscar A. Rodríguez Yáñez, president of the Bajio Aerospace Cluster and CEO of Optimen.

In interview with The Economist, said that Guanajuato has a different DNA from other states with which they can join forces. “We have identified that the muscle of development that we have as a State and if we could tropicalize it to reach this sector in a faster way with a differentiator, it is mainly technological development, what we call here mind-making, we are trying to diversify and move from what is traditional manufacturing to the theme of design and software development very much in line with the Industry 4.0.

first aircraft

In the Bajío Aerospace Cluster, the iconic project stands out, which is the development of the first 100% Mexican aircraft, the Falcon II “That goes from design, development, conceptualization and now, beginning with the manufacture and sale of the first aircraft, said Rodríguez, who has more than 20 years of international experience in aeronautical operations, software development methodologies, project management and process improvement.

The Halcón II aircraft was built in Celaya, Guanajuato and has a light two-seater, whose missions are aimed at pilot training, recreational flying and aerial surveillance, the development and design is appropriate for a sports aircraft, and it is mainly used in flight schools.

“The Mexican plane is our iconic project, which is going to start to bear fruit, we have been working on it for a long time. It is not just the generation of these high-impact projects, but also the technological platform that is being used for the development of the aircraft, which is made of carbon fiber for a high level of performance.”

The Halcón II belongs to the company Horizontec, owned by Giovanni Angelucci, even two months ago the first official flight was made, at the Captain Rogelio Castillo National Airport, which is located in Celaya, Guanajuato.

“Before the Federal Civil Aviation Agency of Mexico, we obtained the first 50 test flights that we have already carried out. We are already in a process of maturation of the production line, we have the correct inputs.

“We are in the scaling process to be able to produce for the public soon in a couple of months. There is enormous potential in the growth of the sector, in the next 20 years it is projected that the number of aircraft will double, there is talk of 43,000 aircraft worldwide, which indicates that there is a great opportunity”, concluded Óscar A. Rodriguez.

patricia.ortega@eleconomista.mx