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Join on Telegram Marrakech – The 7th Marrakech Air Show 2024 kicked off Wednesday at the Royal Aero Club, spotlighting Morocco’s growing influence in the aeronautics industry.
A variety of aeronautics companies gathered at the event, with many showcasing their aircraft, including the U.S. Air Force’s impressive KC-135 Stratotanker and C-130J Super Hercules.
In an interview with Morocco World News, First Lieutenant Heather Kozad-Staley, a public affairs officer stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, expressed her excitement about attending this year’s Marrakech Air Show.
“I’m really excited to be here in Marrakech,” she said, reflecting on her previous visit in August for a site survey.
Kozad-Staley emphasized that they have received “amazing hospitality from the Royal Moroccan Air Force.”
One of her favorite aspects of the air show has been interacting with young women training with the Royal Moroccan Air Force and those attending aeronautical schools.
“Talking to them about their studies to be engineers and mechanics and pilots is so inspiring to me,” she shared. “The excitement that they have for their career fields and getting to show off our aircraft to them has been so fun.”
First Lieutenant Kozad-Staley described the aircraft on display, including the KC-135 Stratotanker, part of the Utah Air National Guard, which has partnered with Morocco for over 20 years.
“The KC-135 is an in-flight refueling aircraft,” she explained. “It’s a flying gas station. It carries large tanks that carry a lot of fuel. And while it’s in the air, any aircraft that is capable of doing in-flight refueling can fly right to the aircraft.”
“On the back of the aircraft, there are some little windows, and you can look down and see an aircraft such as a fighter plane pull up right underneath, high up in the sky while you’re flying. The boom comes down, connects, and refuels that aircraft so it does not have to land and can keep flying.”
“This aircraft is 60 years old, but it looks brand new. It’s been taken care of very well, and it has a long life ahead of it,” she noted.
She also highlighted the presence of the C-130J Super Hercules, a multifunctional cargo plane used for various configurations and transporting goods worldwide.
“It’s been really great getting to show off our aircraft to the public that is here,” she said.
Reflecting on her nearly 20 years of service in the Air Force, Kozad-Staley shared the inspiration she draws from her grandmother, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the 1950s.
“As a woman in the military, I’ve been very inspired by my grandmother,” she said.
“There were not a lot of women who served back then. So she was paving the way for the women who came after her.”
She encouraged other women interested in pursuing careers in the military or aeronautics, stating, “Follow your interests. If that’s what you want to do, then don’t listen to the people who might discourage you. Stay focused on what you hope to accomplish because you are able to do it.”
During her time at the air show, she had memorable interactions, such as welcoming children of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmes onto the KC-135.
“I got to tell them about how the airplane is a flying gas station,” she recalled.
“It was so cute listening to their questions. And I love getting to see Morocco’s future leaders come onto the airplane and just see the excitement in their faces.”
Kozad-Staley expressed her admiration for Morocco, saying, “Morocco is such a beautiful country, and the people are kind. It’s been so awesome getting to be a part of the air show. The aerial demonstrations have been exciting, and watching the parajumpers come down with the Moroccan flag is very neat.”
As the Marrakech Air Show wraps up, First Lieutenant Kozad-Staley’s passion for her work and dedication to inspiring the next generation of aviators reflects the strong partnership between the U.S. and Morocco in the aerospace sector.
Moroccan women soar in the aeronautics industry
The Moroccan aerospace industry now includes around 130 companies, specializing in producing essential components like wings and fuselages.
Women make up about 42% of the aerospace workforce, an impressive rate that exceeds that of Europe and North America, demonstrating the sector’s role in boosting women’s economic involvement.
Zahira Bouaouda has recently been appointed Managing Director of Safran Aircraft Engine Services Morocco, marking a pivotal achievement both in her career and for women in Morocco’s aerospace industry.
Bouaouda now leads the Casablanca-based subsidiary, which operates out of Mohammed V International Airport and specializes in maintaining CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines – a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Royal Air Maroc.
The company is essential in meeting the operational needs of the aviation sector, further positioning Morocco as a key player in global aerospace.
The aerospace sector is Morocco’s fastest-growing industry for jobs
Morocco is emerging as a key player in the aerospace sector, currently hosting 140 aerospace companies and aiming to expand this number to over 220 within its aerospace hubs.
The aeronautics industry has significant growth potential, with more than 80 new companies planning to invest in Morocco’s aerospace landscape in the coming years.
The sector, which currently hosts 140 companies, will have 220 in the next 11 years. Remarkably, Morocco has exceeded its local integration goal of 32% by achieving a rate of 38%, with an ambitious target of 42% by the end of 2020.
The country’s geographical position, political stability, and low labor costs have made it the most attractive investment hub in Africa.
Following the launch of the Industrial Acceleration Plan (PAI) in 2014, Morocco doubled its aerospace export turnover to reach MAD 17 billion, solidifying its status as a burgeoning force in the industry.
Marrakech Air Show 2024
The 7th edition of the Marrakech Air Show successfully concluded today, showcasing an impressive array of features, including 12,500 square meters of exhibition space, 300 exhibitors, and over 75 official delegations.
Attendees enjoyed thrilling aerial displays, a vibrant exhibition area, and a packed schedule of high-level conferences tackling emerging trends and challenges in the industry.
Meanwhile, First Lieutenant Kozad-Staley concluded her interview with MWN by stressing her enjoyment of visiting Marrakech. “I really enjoyed visiting Marrakech and the souk. There’s so much delicious food here and a lot of very beautiful people. I love the sunshine and the palm trees,” she said. “I really hope that I can come back when I have time to tour around more.”
