HAMBURG, Germany – Alabama’s business recruiters are seeking to grow the state’s robust aerospace sector by forging new connections with global industry leaders.
Representatives from the Alabama Department of Commerce attended the Aviation Forum, which was held earlier this month in Hamburg, Germany.
It is one of the leading conferences for worldwide aerospace interests and brings together manufacturers, suppliers and key decision makers from across the industry, said Nick Hadley, associate project manager for the Commerce Department.
Hadley attended the forum along with Christoph Dörr, the department’s European representative based in Stuttgart, Germany.
“The Aviation Forum gives us a chance to showcase the strength of Alabama’s aerospace sector, highlight opportunities for new investment and build relationships with companies that are looking to grow their footprint in the United States,” Hadley said. “With our aerospace cluster continuing to expand, having a strong presence at international events like this supports our broader recruitment and industry development goals.”
On the agenda were networking and business development opportunities, as well as insights into current priorities across the aviation supply chain. Speakers were officials from multinational aerospace and aviation companies, including Airbus, Boeing, Lufthansa, Diehl, Thyssenkrupp and Siemens, among others.
There also was a gala dinner, and Alabama was a sponsor for that event.
The Commerce Department regularly sends representatives to the Aviation Forum, as well as the international airshows held on alternating years in Paris and outside London. The gatherings help recruiters highlight the state’s ongoing success in the industry.
Alabama is home to more than 300 aerospace companies from more than 30 countries. Pillars of the industry include Airbus, which builds the A320 family and A220 passenger jets in Mobile, and Boeing, which has vast, longtime space and defense operations in Huntsville.
Lockheed Martin, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman are other major players in the state industry, which, in addition to jets, produces rockets, helicopters, weapons systems and more.
There’s also an extensive network of suppliers and service companies across Alabama, and the state’s aerospace exports totaled $8 billion from 2020 to 2024.
Alabama is a top three state for aerospace engineers, underscoring the deep well of expertise and experience in this area among the state workforce.
Airbus had a major presence at the Aviation Forum again this year as a foundational partner of the event, Hadley said.
“This is especially important considering the company’s significant operations in Mobile and its influence on Alabama’s broader aerospace ecosystem. Their involvement reinforces the relevance of this forum to Alabama and the opportunities its creates for supplier engagement,” he said.
Relationships formed at events like this are an important part of growing the industry, said Bob Smith, the Commerce Department’s aerospace specialist.
“The success of Alabama’s aerospace industry is built on a number of factors, including a skilled workforce and strong partnerships with local communities,” Smith said. “But the connections made at events like the Aviation Forum are a crucial part of our recruitment efforts, because they give us the time and opportunity to tell the great stories of aerospace and aviation success in cities and counties across our state.”
