Riley Feeling Positive About Tanker Contest

Northrop Grumman Air Force Gov. Bob Riley left the Paris Air Show on Thursday feeling good about Mobile's chances of landing the $40 billion tanker contract for a second time.

by WKRG Staff

Published: Thu, June 18, 2009 - 2:39 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, June 18, 2009 - 2:46 pm CST

Alabama Governor Bob Riley left the Paris Air Show on Thursday feeling good about Mobile's chances of landing the $40 billion tanker contract for a second time.

“We had very productive meetings with the Northrop/EADS group,” Riley said. “The attitude is very positive. We have the right team, the right strategy, and we are all more committed than ever to building tankers in Alabama.

Northrop Grumman/EADS won the contract to build 179 aircraft refueling tankers for the Air Force in February 2008. But the Government Accountability Office upheld a protest filed by Boeing and the Pentagon canceled the contract.

If Northrop Grumman/EADS wins the contract again, the planes will be built at Brookley Field in Mobile.

“We have won this project once," Riley said. "Now we’ll just have to win it again.”

Riley attended the Paris Air Show with a delegation of 100 people, including Senator Richard Shelby, Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade, Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson, County Commissioners Mike Dean and Merceria Ludgood and representatives from Mississippi and Florida

Sunday night, the Alabama delegation hosted a reception in the Eiffel Tower. Shelby and Riley attended, as did Senator Daniel Inouye, President Barack Obama's personal representative to the Air Show and chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

The Alabama delegation also met with 14 other aerospace companies that could potentially locate operations in Alabama.

“The aerospace and aviation industry truly is taking off in Alabama,” Riley said. “Even though the economy hasn’t fully recovered, most companies are planning ahead for when it does. Our job is to make sure that Alabama is at the top of their lists when they start making decisions about where to build that next plant or technology center. These international companies need to know that Alabama is open for business and we have the workforce and economic environment that will help them succeed.”

Riley will now travel to Singapore, where he is scheduled to meet with corporate officials from Singapore Technologies, parent company of Mobile Aerospace.

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bobcat Says:

Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 3:10 pm

14 other aerospace companies that could potentially locate operations in Alabama?

That’s what I’ve been hoping to hear. More options on the table just in case EADS/NG doesn’t win this one so that Mobile will win another without worries from government interference.

Good times are ahead for Mobile no doubt.