State Currently Handles Defense Work

The state of Alabama already plays a big role in rocket and missile production for Boeing's aerospace and defense departments... but the state is angling for a bigger role in production of Boeing's commercial planes, too.

Why? Because that's where the money's at... as evidenced by Boeing's recent production numbers, which saw big gains in commercial production but declines on the defense side.

Well, there may be some good news for people in the Heart of Dixie -- Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Alan Mulally was in Huntsville Monday, and he told 200 government and business leaders that Boeing is eyeing Alabama for more work on the manufacturer's future airliners.

"Alabama is one of the biggest relationships that we have in the United States in aerospace," said Mulally.

Already, about 80 engineers in Huntsville work on the 787 Dreamliner... and that number could grow as Boeing looks to the future. Huntsville-based PPG Aerospace is also developing the electronically-dimmable windows for the 787 (above).

FMI: www.boeing.com