April 3, 2006
EADS North America has added a new element to its long-term U.S. strategy with the decision to build a delivery center for EADS CASA CN-235/C-295 transports in Alabama, which could be further expanded to include a final assembly facility for the Army/Air Force’s Joint Cargo Aircraft.
This decision was announced at Mobile Regional Airport today during a ceremony led by EADS North America Chairman & CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., who was joined by Alabama Governor Bob Riley, U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner and many of the state’s senior government leaders.
Construction of the new 20,000 sq. ft. delivery center will begin almost immediately, and will be ready in time to process the first military transport for delivery by Team JCA – the Raytheon Company/EADS CASA North America industry teaming that is offering CN-235/C-295 airlifters for the Army/Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft mission requirement.
Today’s announcement marks the latest growth of EADS North America’s industrial presence, and is a further demonstration of the company’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen through the insourcing of jobs and bringing leading-edge aerospace/defense technology to the U.S.
“At EADS North America, when we promise something, we ‘walk the talk,” Crosby told invited guests at the ceremony marking today’s announcement.
He noted that EADS North America launched the strategy for building its U.S. industrial base in April 2004, with the announcement that EADS CASA North America would establish a customer service and training facility at Mobile Regional Airport to support the U.S. Coast Guard’s HC-235As. This 13,000 sq. ft. facility became operational in April 2005, and today operates as a spares, support and training center for the fleet of EADS CASA transports in service with numerous North American operators.
In June 2005, EADS North America selected Mobile’s Brookley Industrial Complex as the industrial site for KC-30 advanced aerial refueling aircraft, in what is now a joint response with Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Air Force’s recapitalization of its tanker fleet. This was followed by the Airbus decision to locate its new U.S. engineering center at the Brookley Industrial Complex, and is in addition to the separate creation of a new helicopter production/assembly plant in Columbus, Mississippi for EADS North America’s American Eurocopter business unit.
“These initiatives, both independently and with our partners, reflect EADS North America’s commitment to strengthening our industrial presence and to the insourcing of jobs in the United States,” Crosby said. “This has evolved dramatically over the past two years with our key initiatives – all which have a positive global impact.”
The CN-235/C-295 aircraft delivery center/final assembly facility decision for Mobile Regional Airport was welcomed by Alabama state officials, including Governor Riley, who said the announcement further reinforces Mobile as “a new center of excellence for aerospace in the U.S.”
His comments were echoed by Congressman Bonner, who thanked Crosby and EADS North America for their continued confidence in the Alabama workforce. “We believe that Mobile is the future of aviation excellence, and I thank Ralph and his superb team at EADS North America for this new opportunity, and for bringing in another internationally-known and respected industrial partner – the Raytheon Corporation – to Mobile,” Bonner said.
