MANUFACTURING ICON AIRCRAFT: INVESTING $150 MILLION IN IT’S NEW TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA FACILITY

Baja California is home to over 110 aerospace and defense manufacturers with a 35,000 strong workforce. Now considered global hub, Tijuana’s aerospace cluster boasts a nearly 50-year history supporting aerospace and aeronautical equipment manufacturing which include global powerhouses such as Gulfstream, Eaton, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin. ICON is planning to employ 1,000 people over the next three years as they ramp up production to meet demand for their innovative A5 aircraft. Universities and technical training schools in Baja California offer advanced engineering degrees, as well as work directly with manufacturers to develop training and curriculum based on industry needs.

The daunting shipping times of products made overseas, often close to a month’s time, is what attracts manufacturers to nearshore Mexico and Tijuana. Just-in-time logistics get your products back to the US in days, not weeks. Along with labor cost savings, it is no surprise that Mexico has registered a growth rate in the sector of approximately 20% since 2004 and is also the 6th largest supplier of aerospace & defense products to the world’s largest aerospace market; the United States.

ICON Aircraft is a consumer aircraft manufacturer founded in response to the sport flying category created by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Given these enabling regulations, ICON’s mission is to reinvent personal flying by providing consumer-friendly, safe, technologically advanced aircraft that allow the freedom, fun, and adventure of flying to be accessible to those who have dreamed of it. ICON’s long- term vision is the ultimate democratization of personal flight. For more information, visit: www.iconaircraft.com