Facility Would Build The KC-45 Tanker Airframe, If It Is
Selected
EADS North America has further expanded its industrial
presence with a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Delivery
Center at the Mobile Regional Airport to better support EADS’
family of tactical multi-mission aircraft.
The new 30,000 square-foot facility will provide North American
operators of the C-212 and CN-235 tactical transports with the
capabilities of a certified FAA Repair Station, as well as direct
support from the aircraft manufacturer. The C-212 and CN-235 are
used by a variety of military and civil operators, including the
U.S. Coast Guard, which is building up a fleet of HC-144A Ocean
Sentry maritime patrol aircraft based on the CN-235.
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, Mobile City Council President Reggie
Copeland, Mobile County Commission President Mike Dean and company
officials participated today in a grand opening ceremony for the
new center, which expands upon an already-existing EADS CASA North
America facility that has provided training, spares and customer
support since 2005.
The ceremony was also the venue to announce the renaming of EADS
CASA North America to Airbus Military North America, an EADS North
America company. The new name reflects the support, expertise and
capabilities customers can expect from the EADS family of
companies, which includes Airbus and Airbus Military.
"The opening of the Airbus Military North America facility is a
tremendous asset to our city’s workforce and an investment
that will certainly lead to bigger and better economic development
initiatives in the future," said Mayor Jones. "We are extremely
optimistic that Northrop Grumman/EADS will be the successful bidder
in the tanker competition. Therefore we are looking forward to a
long and prosperous relationship with Airbus Military North America
and it suppliers. Mobile is the right place for this company, and
we're elated that they believe in us."
“We're pleased to be able to open this new facility here
at a time when so many parts of the nation have struggled to hold
onto their local industries,” said Commissioner Dean.
“This shows what we can achieve for our workforce with
companies that are serious about creating American
employment.”
The new Airbus Military North America facility is in addition to
a planned EADS production site at Mobile’s Brookley
Industrial Complex, which would build the airframes for Northrop
Grumman KC-45 Tankers if this aircraft is selected to modernize the
U.S. Air Force’s aerial refueling fleet. U.S. production of
the Northrop Grumman KC-45 would support 48,000 direct and indirect
American jobs. An Airbus engineering center was opened in 2007 at
the Brookley Industrial Complex to support a broad range of
Airbus’ programs, including the A330, A350 XWB and A380.
“The facility we opened today is an exciting step to take
with our friends in the Mobile community, which has a tremendously
skilled workforce, and government and business leaders committed to
continued growth,” said Dave Oliver, Chief Operating Officer
of EADS North America. “We’ve enjoyed outstanding
support here, and we look forward to our future together with this
community.”