Roadfour SA opens branch in Ostend, West-Flanders
SEAGLE by Roadfour , the Belgian startup developing the SEAGLE, the new generation of amphibious aerial firefighting aircraft, has established a branch at Ostend's North Sea Aviation Center (NSAC) with the branch name: "Roadfour Ostend"
Roadfour is investigating options for the location of the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the SEAGLE, the new European firefighting aircraft. The establishment of a branch in Ostend is a necessity to facilitate conversations with the various stakeholders in Flanders says Luc Stultjens , Roadfour 's Community Manager Benelux.
Ostend is currently one of the possible European locations for the location of the FAL. This location will eventually provide employment for approximately 450 direct and 450 indirect full-time employees.
Roadfour's choice to open a branch in Ostend is welcomed by Filip Roelandt , CEO of the ECONOMISCH HUIS OOSTENDE . Ostend-Bruges Airport is therefore the ideal place to host such an ambitious project as the 'SEAGLE'. An airport that matches the company's needs in terms of its size, a strong airport community, support from all levels of government, easy accessibility and the region's high level of education are important assets to offer Roadfour a great future here, Filip Roelandt said.
As a Belgian startup, we wish to explore our own country's assets as widely as possible. This allows us to be able to make a strictly objective decision for the final implantation of our FAL. This decision will have a long-term impact on an entire ecosystem. To prepare for this decision, close cooperation with local stakeholders is a must. The choice to open our "Roadfour Ostend" branch for this purpose is fully in line with our strategy says Gaëtan Du Four , CEO and co-founder.
The "SEAGLE" contributes greatly to global CO2 reduction.
It is Roadfour 's vision to reduce the environmental footprint of current and future wildfires to protect our future generations. Therefore, the mission is to develop unique and innovative products for aerial firefighting.
The 7 Gigaton annual CO2 emissions caused by the mega-forest fires, representing 20% of the global CO2 emissions, are the cause of loss of human life, loss of fauna and flora, of entire habitats. The economic impact is estimated at more than 100 Billion Euros per year. Think of the loss of homes, businesses, infrastructure and agriculture with the accompanying rising air pollution.
Our SEAGLE amphibious forest firefighting aircraft in the heaviest category, use state-of-the-art technologies in all areas. The most innovative raw materials, digital products and processes through to a climate-neutral production environment are applied. This makes the SEAGLE the most advanced and the most mission efficient aircraft on the market.
The availability of the European RescEU budget of 800MIO€ for the purchase of forest fire-fighting equipment, including the purchase of forest fire-fighting aircraft, should make it possible to ensure European sovereignty in this domain. More than that, by investing these budgets in Europe itself, we encourage comprehensive European knowledge building and invest in the value chain and jobs. In addition to direct and indirect employment at the FAL site (total of 900 FTEs), there is employment of 5,000 FTEs in the European value chain.
The support of our respective governments, under this European project, is certainly needed. The economic created return in the Belgian and European value chain, over the period 2023 - 2050, is more than 14B€. It will put Belgium and Ostend Flanders even better on the global industrial map of the aircraft industry.
Contact:
Interested in our project as a collaborator, partner or investor? Contact:
Community Manager Benelux
Roadfour Ostend
l.stultjens@roadfour.com
+32 473 558 301
You may certainly share this post in your own network! In doing so, you will contribute to raising awareness of the need for a new and European amphibious aerial fire fighting fleet. Thank you.
Ingénieur systèmes embarqués
2yStill waiting for the announcement. Hope the decision will be for Bordeaux-Mérignac... 🤞😉
Govt. Relations @ TUI | Pres. @ BAR Belgium
2yThese yellow planes would fit perfectly next to our blue ones at Ostend-Bruges Airport ;)
Maire de la commune de Montoir de Bretagne en Loire Atlantique chez Mairie de Montoir de Bretagne
2yThe town of Montoir de Bretagne is also waiting for you…😉