Fact Sheet: Mobile at Farnborough International Airshow 2014

Jul 18th, 2014

MOBILE, Ala. - Mayor Sandy Stimpson joined state and local officials at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow on a mission to recruit jobs and new investment to the Mobile area.

The local delegation, including elected and business leaders from Mobile and Baldwin counties, conducted dozens of meetings with many of the world’s leading aerospace companies, positioning the Mobile area as the best place for them to do business.

Much of the focus was on potential suppliers to Airbus, which is constructing a $600 million assembly line at the Brookley Aeroplex. The 1,000-worker plant will produce A320 jets beginning in 2015.

Mayor Stimpson also met with top executives from existing companies including VT Aerospace, which employs more than 1,200 at its aircraft maintenance and repair center at Brookley.

"Mobile, because of the Airbus project, has an incredible opportunity to become the world’s next major aerospace destination,” Stimpson said. “The next 1-2 years will be critical for recruiting suppliers and related businesses. These are high-paying jobs and our competitors are after them in full force. It’s vital that we make the most of our opportunity.”

Highlights of the trip including direct meetings with Tom Enders, chairman and chief executive officer of the Airbus Group, and with Tan Pheng Hock, president and chief executive officer of Singapore Technologies.

Stimpson and other members of the Mobile area team promoted the region’s outstanding work force, transportation infrastructure, job training programs and great quality of life.
“We have a great story to tell, and we are building relationships today that will benefit our region for years to come,” Stimpson said.

WHO:
Mayor Stimpson led a local delegation of about 27 from the Mobile area. The group included U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, Mobile County Commissioners Jerry Carl and Connie Hudson as well as Mobile City Council members Gina Gregory, Fred Richardson and C.J. Small. Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey and the mayors of Daphne, Fairhope and Foley also were in attendance.
The state delegation of about 80 total (including Mobile) was led by Gov. Robert Bentley along with Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield and Seth Hammett, chief of staff for the governor’s office. The cities of Huntsville, Birmingham and Dothan also sent delegations.
U.S. Sens. Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby also attended.

WHAT:
Mayor Stimpson’s mission was to continue building relationships with Airbus and its suppliers, positioning Mobile as the best place for new aerospace investment and new jobs.

WHEN:
Mayor Stimpson departed Mobile Regional Airport on Friday, July 11, arriving at Heathrow Airport in London on the morning of July 12. He departed London on Wednesday, July 16, and returned to Mobile Regional Airport later that night.

FIA 2014 fast facts:
Farnborough is a biennial event that takes place in Hampshire, south England
The trade show this year ran from July 11-17 (pubic portion is July 18-20)
One of the biggest events in the aerospace industry
The airshow has been going on for more than 60 years and began in 1948
The theme for the airshow was 100 years of aviation and featured aircraft from every decade of the past century.

FIA 2014 by the numbers:
1,500 exhibitors
100,000 attendees at trade show
More than 860,000 square feet of exhibit space
More than 300 aerospace companies represented
70 aircraft on exhibit
23 aircraft performed flying demonstrations

Key statistic:
Airbus ended the show with 496 order commitments at a value of more than $75.3 billion. That total included 369 commitments for the A320 family of aircraft, which will be assembled in Mobile. Rival Boeing announced commitments for 269 aircraft worth $40.2 billion.