MOBILE, Alabama — An expansion project that will double the production space at Airbus’ U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile is passing key milestones as it moves forward on schedule for completion next year.
Airbus recently held a “topping out” ceremony for a new A320 Final Assembly Line (FAL) that’s under construction as the centerpiece of the expansion project, which was launched in 2022.
In addition, construction was recently completed on two new paint shops at Airbus’ Mobile, Alabama campus. These facilities located on the west side of campus enable Airbus to triple its monthly paint production, according to Birmingham-based HPM, the program manager for the project.
Construction has also been completed on A320 hangar bays and new employee parking lots — important since Airbus is adding 1,000 jobs in Mobile through the expansion.
The completion of these projects supports Airbus’ global commercial aircraft objective to reach a production rate of 75 A320 Family aircraft per month in 2027.
When Airbus’ expansion project is complete, Mobile will further strengthen its presence as a major player in the global commercial aircraft manufacturing sector.
“Our operations in Alabama play a significant role in the expansion of Airbus’ global industrial capacity,” said Daryl Taylor, senior vice president of Commercial Aircraft Operations for Airbus in the U.S.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact that this growth will have on our region for many years to come.”
Progress report
HPM says construction of the new A320 FAL continues on schedule at the Airbus campus at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, where A320 Family and A220 aircraft are produced.
Structural steel for the new A320 FAL is topped out with exterior skin now being installed. Underground media channels and production floor slabs are in progress to meet the “Ready for Jigs & Tools handover” milestones later year.
Meanwhile, currently contracted hangars and infrastructure are on track to be completed in the same time frame. In addition to the A320 FAL, structures now under construction include A320 hangar bays, an A320 gauging hangar and an A220 quad bay hangar, along with an extension of the Delivery Center.
Construction of additional support structures will extend beyond 2025, according to HPM.
“HPM is continually honored to work alongside the world’s most prominent leader in aviation manufacturing as they exponentially increase their production capabilities within the U.S.,” HPM President Ryan Austin said. “The opportunity to partner with Airbus in achieving their goals from the inception of the Mobile campus through every stage of its growth has been a rewarding experience for our team members in Alabama and across the company.
“Bright days are ahead for Airbus as they look forward to completing the FAL 320 program, which will double the size of the Airbus footprint in North America and catapult the industry to new heights,” Austin added.
Birmingham construction firm Brasfield & Gorrie is involved in building the new, 360,000-square-foot A320 FAL, as well as other structures in the expansion. The firm laid more than 2,000 displacement piles and poured over 1,200 cubic meters of concrete for the foundation of the FAL.
Brasfield Gorrie has carried out over a dozen construction projects for Airbus since the European aerospace giant arrived in Alabama in 2012.
HPM’s relationship with Airbus began over 15 years ago with the construction of the aircraft maker’s Mobile Engineering Center, where engineers design interiors for Airbus aircraft.
From there, the HPM project team led the development of the original A320 FAL at Brookley. HPM also provided program management services for the A220 FAL, which came online in 2020.
Massive impact
Since beginning operations in 2015, Airbus’ Mobile facility has delivered over 400 A320 and A220 passenger jets.
The Alabama plant has given Airbus a strategic foothold in the large North American market at a time when many carriers are replacing aging aircraft with newer, more fuel-efficient models.
“Airbus’ ever-expanding footprint in Mobile has become the core of a rapidly growing aerospace cluster throughout the Gulf Coast. This continued growth is a big vote of confidence in the quality and caliber of its Alabama workforce,” said Angela Till, Deputy Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“Mobile remains on track to become one of the largest aerospace manufacturing hubs in the word, and I look forward to seeing Airbus reach future milestones at its Alabama home,” she added.
Deputy Secretary Till is leading a working team from Commerce on a business development mission to this week’s 2024 Farnborough International Airshow.
