Four trends lifting Alabama aerospace industry to new altitudes
One day last month, a barge floated along the Tennessee River toward NASA’s Alabama hub, the Marshall Space Flight Center. On board was a key piece of hardware for the agency’s Space Launch System, its new deep space exploration rocket. The hardware – fabricated at the United Launch Alliance rocket plant a few miles away…
Wheels Up: New video captures Alabama aerospace ascent
Alabama’s aerospace industry is blasting to new heights. With Airbus ramping up passenger jet production in Mobile and companies such as GE Aviation and UTC Aerospace Systems expanding their presence in the state, Alabama is primed for growth in the sector. “Alabama has a long history in aerospace and aviation, but the future for this…
Southeast Alabama targets aerospace connections at Farnborough
Southeast Alabama has a long history of successful aerospace operations, and its business and government leaders hope to build on that legacy with new jobs and investments. Representatives from Dothan, Enterprise, Andalusia and elsewhere in the region are part of the Alabama economic development team that will court business prospects at the Farnborough International Airshow…
Gov. Bentley to head Alabama team at Farnborough Airshow
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Governor Robert Bentley is leading an Alabama delegation that includes top economic development specialists to the Farnborough International Airshow near London next week for meetings aimed at fueling additional growth in the state’s aerospace sector. Governor Bentley and a small working team from the Alabama Department of Commerce will join recruiters and government…
GE Aviation kicks off work on unique materials factories in Alabama
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – GE Aviation executives joined Governor Robert Bentley today to formal launch a $200 million project to build two factories in Alabama that are critical to the company’s plans to produce revolutionary ultra-lightweight parts for jet engines. Leading state and local officials also attended a groundbreaking ceremony in Huntsville for the project, which…
Panasonic Avionics to join growing Mobile aerospace cluster
MOBILE, Alabama – The Mobile Airport Authority announced today that Panasonic Avionics Corp. will open an office at Mobile Aeroplex, adding another prominent industry player to the aerospace cluster growing around the Airbus final assembly plant. Panasonic Avionics is a leading supplier of inflight entertainment and communication systems in passenger aircraft. A unit of the…
American Airlines gets its first Alabama-made Airbus A321
MOBILE, Alabama — American Airlines today claimed its first Alabama-made Airbus A321 passenger jet after a ceremony at the manufacturer’s production facility at Mobile Aeroplex. The A321 sporting American’s logo and colors is the second aircraft to leave the assembly line at Airbus’ new $600 million Alabama plant. The first – named “BluesMobile” — went…
UTC Aerospace Systems to add 260 jobs with Alabama expansion
FOLEY, Alabama – UTC Aerospace Systems announced plans today to expand its Baldwin County aerostructures plant with a new $30 million facility that will supply jet engine systems to the Airbus A320 Family assembly line in Mobile, creating 260 jobs. At a groundbreaking ceremony today at its Foley site, UTC revealed plans to construct a…
World Stage: 2015 foreign investment reaches $3.4 billion
Foreign direct investment in Alabama topped $3.4 billion in 2015, as companies based in 18 different countries extended their reach into the state. The vast majority of the 95 FDI projects were expansions, including a major addition to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County. Other auto industry investments were growth at Hyundai’s Montgomery factory and…
First Alabama-made Airbus A321 ‘BluesMobile’ goes to JetBlue
MOBILE, Alabama – Airbus marked a major milestone at its new Alabama manufacturing facility today as the aviation giant delivered its first U.S.-made A321 passenger jet to customer JetBlue. The plane, which flew for first time on March 21, was nicknamed “BluesMobile.” Workers from the Alabama final assembly line joined the plane on the tarmac…
