Overseas Trip Brings Hope For KC-45

Florida Alabama Local government leaders push tanker efforts at an international air show.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Thu, July 17, 2008 - 6:54 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, August 15, 2008 - 11:22 am CST

Some encouraging news on jobs for the Mobile area.
County commissioners from Mobile and Pensacola arrived home Thursday afternoon from an overseas trip that could have a huge economic impact on our area.
They were talking tankers in London at an international air show.
When asked if he thought EADS, Airbus, and Northrop Grumman are just as solidly behind the KC-45 as ever before, Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine said, "Absolutely. There's no doubt that our resolve is strong."
Escambia County, Florida Commissioner Gene Valentino added, "If there was any possibility in EADS, Airbus, or Northrop Grumman being discouraged, I think it went away when they saw how pumped Commissioner Nodine and I were, along with a dozen contingents from this area."
But more important than local officials having confidence, how do potential suppliers from overseas feel?
Nodine said, "What we also see is a great deal of confidence in the suppliers that believe the KC-45 is indeed the tanker that the Air Force will ultimately choose. We probably had 50 to 60 companies that are very interested and are looking very hard at Mobile and the Gulf Coast Region."
Nodine also said he received encouraging news from Singapore Technologies, which is the parent company of Mobile Aerospace Engineering.
He said, "They (Singapore Technologies) are looking to expand, not just because of what's happening with the KC-45, but (because of) the existing aerospace industry that we have here already."
Singapore Technologies announced last year that it will convert 87 passenger planes to freight carriers, creating 200 new jobs.
The Pentagon is expected to decide toward the end of the year which company will build the Air Force's refueling tankers.

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rosepetal Says:

Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 9:43 pm

bamabob, maybe you will know this, i heard years ago there was a large family theme park wanting to come to mobile and they were not allowed. do you remember this?

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 7:56 pm

I personally get very tired of local politicians shouting that they landed a 1 million dollar deal and then whispering that it only cost us taxpayers 2 million to get it.
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City government is growing with leaps and bounds in certain areas, this administration managed to gerrymander an annexation of extreme west Mobile and yet we keep hearing that all overtime needs to be cut and the City needs to borrow 50 million dollars to keep this town afloat.
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What is wrong with this picture?

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 7:29 pm

A lot of foreign entities are looking to invest in this country, because the dollar is cheap in comparison to foreign monies and our politicians are willing to sell the farm in order to keep the pig, so to speak.
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If EADS really wants to establish a commercial base in this country, then they should break ground and get the show on the road while all economic indicators are favorable for them.