Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, a major provider of aircraft landing and braking systems, will open an office and workshop at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, the industrial complex that’s the U.S. home of Airbus.
Messier-Buggatti-Dowty is a member of the France-based Safran family of aerospace companies, which already has a presence at the Aeroplex. Messier-Bugatti-Dowty will open an office and a workshop at the Aeroplex at the end of June, the Mobile Airport Authority, which operates the 1,650-acre complex, announced today.
Messier-Bugatti-Dowty’s presence in this growing aviation hub is in line with its strategy of being close to customers in the U.S. and around the world. The Mobile facility will serve to strengthen Messier-Bugatti-Dowty’s existing international support network.
“This decision reflects our commitment to support customers locally and expand our relationship with Airbus,” said Vincent Mascré, CEO of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty. “We look forward to being in Alabama and joining the Mobile aerospace community.”
A Safran building, scheduled to open at the Aeroplex within the next few years, will house Messier-Bugatti-Dowty and several other Safran group companies that will also contribute to the Airbus A320 single-aisle passenger jet program, according to the Mobile Airport Authority.
“We are very excited about our evolving partnership with Messier-Bugatti-Dowty. From design to renovation/construction, we have laid the groundwork for a collaborative partnership and we believe that having a world class partner with this capability set in particular will be a win for all parties for many years to come,” said Roger Wehner, the authority’s executive director.
AEROPLEX CAPABILITIES
The Aeroplex is the location of the new, $600 million Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility, which will begin assembling its first Alabama-made passenger jet in coming weeks. The Aeroplex also has substantial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services.
These capabilities supports the Airbus production center, a Messier-Bugatti-Dowty customer, the Mobile Airport Authority said in its announcement.
“We are pleased and excited to welcome Messier-Bugatti-Dowty to Mobile,” Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. “Our skilled workforce and strategic location are incredible assets for companies looking to grow in the aerospace industry, and we are grateful to Messier-Bugatti-Dowty for making this investment at the Brookley Aeroplex. Mobile is open for business, and I have never been more excited about the future of our city.”
This is the third project announcement at the Paris Air Show for the Mobile Aeroplex in three days. On Monday, France-based Hutchison said it plans to open an aerospace manufacturing Center of Excellence at the complex, and on Tuesday, MASS Aviation said it was teaming with the Mobile Airport Authority to open a $39 million paint shop operation there.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Mobile is throwing a parade to welcome the arrival of the first major aircraft components for the maiden Airbus aircraft to be assembled at the company’s Alabama facility.
