By Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - Demand for aerospace engineers will accelerate over the next few years as three European companies announced plans that create nearly 200 jobs in Montreal.

The Austrian, French and German companies said Monday they were attracted to the city because of the availability of trained workers and their ability to work with large locally based companies such as Bombardier (TSX:BBD-B.TO - News).

German company PFW plans to move its Seattle-based aerospace tube and duct systems North American headquarters to Montreal.

"We're going to basically build on our engineering capability, hopefully go forward into manufacturing also over the next two or three years and build this as our North American hub," said Ian Sidsaff, general manager of PFW Aerospace Canada.

The firm hopes to hire about 100 people in the city over three years to join its global workforce of 2,500.

They will initially provide engineering services to the area's large equipment manufacturers and eventually become a parts supplier for Bombardier and other customers.

PFW plans to bring in about 25 engineers from abroad and then build up and train a local workforce of graduates and other employees.

Finding skilled engineers isn't easy given the number of Quebec aerospace companies working on new and existing programs.

But Sidsaff said the experience level in Montreal is relatively high compared with other aerospace hubs around the world.

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Three European aerospace firms to set up in Montreal, create nearly 200 jobs