REPORT: Airbus planning Mobile factory

"Airbus, the European plane maker, plans to build its first assembly line in the United States in Mobile, in an aggressive foray into the world’s largest market for single-aisle airplanes, according to the N.Y. Times."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/business/global/airbus-said-to-plan-first-us-plant.html?_r=2&ref=business

That's going to be a logistical nightmare for them unless they manufacture the parts in the US too.

Pensacola isn't too far away to commute. Hell, I commuted from the West side of Atlanta to Birmingham.

This should be a big boost to the area!!!

Yomama wrote:That's going to be a logistical nightmare for them unless they manufacture the parts in the US too.

Pensacola isn't too far away to commute. Hell, I commuted from the West side of Atlanta to Birmingham.

This should be a big boost to the area!!!

I certainly hope so! I only wish we could attract this type of industry to Pensacola. Geez, I'm surprised we can't, what with Gene Valentino going on those fancy European vacations to airshows to attract airline manufacturing industry to Pensacola. LOL He's done such a phenomenal effort at it that he has vowed to remain secretive about it. The irony!

The question is, why is it Alabama seem to be able to put deals together with these large program, international manufactures?
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Talladega County, Alabama
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing, : Montgomery County, Alabama
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Inc. in Huntsville, Alabama
International Diesel, which produces advanced technology diesel engines in Huntsville, Alabama
And now Airbus has announced a Mobile manufacturing plant

I think Florida has put its coins into the tourism industry.

If our elected officials play their cards right, this will have a big economic impact on Escambia and Santa Rosa County. The suppliers will have to local plants close to the building site. This is one of the reasons for the Mayors overseas trip.

Captn Kaoz wrote:If our elected officials play their cards right, this will have a big economic impact on Escambia and Santa Rosa County. The suppliers will have to local plants close to the building site. This is one of the reasons for the Mayors overseas trip.

I most certainly hope that is the case. We need high quality, high paying jobs here. Not ferris wheel operators and peanut sellers at the ball games.

We are land-locked. Only one interstate. We missed the mark with an Interstate connection to I-65. Why build here when they would have to go through Mobile anyway?

I go to Mobile often.. .. they need to get some flow on I10.. that damn tunnel sucks for traffic..

Driving past the back gate to Whiting field I noticed a sign for an Air industrial park. I asked a friend that works at whiting field what the deal was with the sign. She said there are plans to build a massive industrial park that connected to whiting field and uses whiting fields runways. She said she didn't know why they haven't started on it yet. So I'm wondering whats the hold up, something like that would bring good jobs to this area yet all they have is a sign by the road.

Joanimaroni wrote:We are land-locked. Only one interstate. We missed the mark with an Interstate connection to I-65. Why build here when they would have to go through Mobile anyway?

Trucks have no problem using 29 and 113 to access I-65. And we have a port that could provide the necessary shipping.
The only infrastructure difference that matters in a choice between Mobile and us for this is that Mobile has an available industrial location with an airfield long enough to fly the Airbus out of and we don't (unless that Whiting location has long enough runways).
But the really big difference is that Alabama is willing to give away the store to get major industry. And Mobile is a crown jewel for the State of Alabama.
Florida barely even knows Pensacola is part of the state. And Florida isn't willing to give away as much of it's store as Alabama is.

alecto wrote:Driving past the back gate to Whiting field I noticed a sign for an Air industrial park. I asked a friend that works at whiting field what the deal was with the sign. She said there are plans to build a massive industrial park that connected to whiting field and uses whiting fields runways. She said she didn't know why they haven't started on it yet. So I'm wondering whats the hold up, something like that would bring good jobs to this area yet all they have is a sign by the road.

This was another failed plan by Team Santa Rosa. They were offering 50 acres of land free and access to Whiting Fields runway....only problem was....neither the Navy or Whiting Field has authorized access to and
use of the 6,000 foot runway mentioned in the Board of County
Commissioner's request to the Legislative Delegation.

Captn Kaoz wrote:If our elected officials play their cards right, this will have a big economic impact on Escambia and Santa Rosa County. The suppliers will have to local plants close to the building site. This is one of the reasons for the Mayors overseas trip.

Agreed, There will be spin-off of item or items specific needs that will be a boost to our economy here in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Maybe the article I read this morning was dated (old), but Airbus didn't confirm that they were coming to Mobile. They said that they were considering it.

According to USA Today, http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2012-06-28/Report-Airbus-to-build-first--factory-in-the-US/55891484/1
"We have made no secret of our hopes to expand our global footprint, including in the U.S., as we have a very strong market here," said Airbus spokeswoman Mary Anne Greczyn, who added that no decision has been made by the company's board.

ButtMan wrote:

Joanimaroni wrote:We are land-locked. Only one interstate. We missed the mark with an Interstate connection to I-65. Why build here when they would have to go through Mobile anyway?

Trucks have no problem using 29 and 113 to access I-65. And we have a port that could provide the necessary shipping.
The only infrastructure difference that matters in a choice between Mobile and us for this is that Mobile has an available industrial location with an airfield long enough to fly the Airbus out of and we don't (unless that Whiting location has long enough runways).
But the really big difference is that Alabama is willing to give away the store to get major industry. And Mobile is a crown jewel for the State of Alabama.
Florida barely even knows Pensacola is part of the state. And Florida isn't willing to give away as much of it's store as Alabama is.

An A320 can takeoff in as little as 4500 feet. PNS has 2 seven thousand foot runways. The UPS A300 is only slightly smaller and has no problem taking off fully loaded with cargo.

TrunkMonkey wrote:

An A320 can takeoff in as little as 4500 feet. PNS has 2 seven thousand foot runways. The UPS A300 is only slightly smaller and has no problem taking off fully loaded with cargo.

Pensacola would have a little problem with land. Maybe we could persuade Cordova Park, Pensacola State College and Cordova Mall to relocate somewhere else?

All we can hope for is that some tier 1 and 2 suppliers will locate here and offer a few tech jobs.

Airbus is supposed to make an "announcement" Monday morning. Golly, gee. I wonder what that is?

I bet it aint a new ferriswheel and 2 new sno cone booths.