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Good Economic News For Mobile

By Emily Forrester

Published: Tue, December 02, 2008 - 4:23 pm Last Updated: Tue, December 02, 2008 - 7:46 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/21476/

During this time of recession, one major aircraft company is planning an expansion. Mobile 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.

You can read the entire EADS announcement below:

EADS North America to Expand its Mobile, Alabama Facility

Company to build new delivery center for aircraft maintenance, overhaul and modification

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.

This $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.