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BCEDA News
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December 3, 2008 |
EADS Aircraft Center
Expands
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During this time of recession, one major
aircraft company is planning an expansion. Mobile and Baldwin will
benefit from EADS North America's plan to build an aircraft
maintenance delivery center. The $5.6 million center will be under
construction at the Mobile Regional Airport in 2009. The company
hopes it will be finished by the end of the year. The aircraft
center will provide aircraft support, overhauls and modifications.
The new center will be built across from EADS CASA North America's
current facility at the airport. EADS says the new delivery center
could also open a door for a new training facility.
EADS North America will further expand the company’s U.S. industrial
presence with the construction of a new 27,000-sq. ft. aircraft
maintenance delivery center at the Mobile, Alabama facility of its
EADS CASA North America business unit.
The $5.6 million facility expansion, located at the Mobile Regional
Airport, will provide a modern support, overhaul and modification
center for the growing number of EADS CASA multi-role transport
aircraft operated by government and civilian customers in North,
Central and South America – including the U.S. Coast Guard.
Groundbreaking for the new center is planned for early 2009, with
the completion targeted by year end. It will be located adjacent to
the existing EADS CASA North America facility, which has 5,000 sq.
ft. of office space and an 8,000 sq. ft. warehouse. The current
staff of 18 employees, led by EADS CASA North America’s CEO, Jose
Morales, is expected to triple over the next five years as EADS CASA
North America expands its aircraft support, maintenance and
modification work with the new delivery center and potential for an
additional training facility.
EADS CASA’s family of twin-engine transport aircraft are employed in
a variety of missions by customers in North, Central and South
America, including passenger and cargo transport, paratroop training
and utility purposes.
The U.S. Coast Guard will become one of the world’s largest
operators of EADS CASA products, acquiring an expected fleet of 36
HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime surveillance aircraft. Six of these
twin-engine, medium-range platforms already have been delivered to
the Coast Guard, with operational test and evaluation now underway
in preparation for the Ocean Sentry’s service introduction.
EADS CASA North America’s facility at Mobile Regional Airport
supports the HC-144A program, providing technical assistance on the
HC-144A’s airframe and mission systems; supplying spare parts and
related services; delivering specialized ground support equipment;
and developing computer-based training programs for Coast Guard
personnel.
The expansion of EADS CASA North America’s operations at Mobile
Regional Airport will further increase EADS’ industrial footprint in
the U.S. The Airbus Engineering Center located at Mobile’s Brookley
Industrial complex, recently announced that its total employment has
reached 100 engineers and support personnel. EADS North America
previously selected the Brookley Industrial complex as the final
assembly site of the proposed Northrop Grumman KC-45 aerial
refueling tanker and commercial A330 freighter aircraft.
- Alabama Development Office |
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