Alabama Teams with Airbus for Aviation Education Center

To satisfy the need for a growing workforce in what Alabama Governor Kay Ivey calls a growing “aerospace cluster,” the state has announced plans for a $6.5 million Alabama Aviation Education Center.

The Alabama Aviation Education Center will feature classrooms, workshops and innovation rooms, providing aviation-themed activities and STEM-focused educational programs. The Alabama Governor’s Office is contributing $5 million to the center.

“The Alabama Aviation Education Center will enhance our efforts to show young people that they can find rewarding career opportunities in the state’s dynamic aerospace industry,” said Governor Ivey.

The center will be located at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley Field adjacent to a major Airbus aircraft manufacturing facility. Airbus is contributing $1.5 million to the development and will help create the educational programs at the center. Airbus Americas Inc, the North American subsidiary of Airbus, will manage and operate the center.

“We look forward to working hand-in-hand with Governor Ivey to bring the education center to reality and help ensure its relevance as well as the future of the aerospace industry in Alabama,” said Airbus Americas’ chairman Allan McArtor.

The $600 million Airbus A320 assembly line at the Mobile Aeroplex delivered its first customer airplane just last year. The facility has the capacity to produce four A320s per month at full production, supporting 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the area. Another major aviation player located at the Aeroplex is Continental Motors, manufacturer of general aviation engines.