In 2012 Airbus announced that they would build a final assembly facility in Mobile, AL in the US assembling the A319, A-320, and A-321 aircraft. Over the last three years, the Company has built the systems and assets to fully produce an airplane in North America, and that’s a pretty significant milestone for Airbus but also for the aerospace industry. In addition to Mobile, Airbus has final assembly facilities in Toulouse, France; Hamburg, Germany; Tianjin, China; and Seville, Spain. The China facility is a joint venture, with Airbus having a minority stake.

What’s interesting is why they chose Mobile. Much of that is for another story, but effectively Mobil represented: 1) a business friendly US State environment, 2) reasonable proximity to a large part of the existing supply chain, 3) a strong workforce premise, and 4) quite importantly, a highly connected logistics location with the Port of Mobile as well as an uncongested airport that could serve their needs well.

The matrix of corporate global assets in the Company’s corporate strategy is now representing a strategy to locate assembly facilities close to their customer bases. In the US, Airbus customers have included the following air carriers: American Airlines, FedEx, UPS, Frontier, Delta, United, JetBlue, etc. What is particularly interesting is how their supply chain model has evolved to a very complex system that is similar to the auto industry. Airbus moves aircraft parts between the different factories and the assembly plants in what they call “Belugas” specially enlarged jets which they own, capable of carrying entire sections of fuselage. Other parts are moved by ocean, rail and truck.

The last data we have showed that 42% of their parts, components and tooling for all their aircraft, even the ones not assembled in the US are produced in the US.  As globalization of production occurs, things get more complicated for the firm, but in this there are new business and economic development opportunities.  This example is but a microcosm of how industry growth and supply chain evolution is changing the shape of things – leading to opportunities around places that can demonstrate high-tech competitiveness, especially at and around connected logistics hubs.

Read the article:

http://centreforaviation.com/news/first-airbus-aircraft-produced-in-the-us-takes-flight-537032

The first Airbus aircraft produced in the U.S. Manufacturing Facility has flown for the first time. The A321, destined for JetBlue took off from the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley in Mobile, Alabama, at 9:36 a.m., performed its test sequences, and landed safely at 1:02 p.m.

The aircraft was flown by Test Pilots Mark McCullins and Bruce Macdonald. They were accompanied on the flight by Flight Test Engineers Thierry Cros and Nick Picconi, and Ground Test Engineers/Cabin Specialists Alexander Gentzsch and Mike Johns.

The flight lasted 3 hours and 26 minutes during which tests were performed on systems, engines and structure performance.

More than 300 employees who work at the facility cheered as the plane took-off. “We’ve come to an exciting milestone in the production of any aircraft, but this one is particularly special,” said Daryl Taylor, Vice President and General Manager of the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility. “The Mobile team has worked hard, and I’m proud that their skill and talent have brought us to this moment. Together we are fulfilling the promise we made to the city of Mobile, the state of Alabama, and the Gulf Coast region—we’re creating a new center of commercial aircraft production in the U.S. This is just the first of many aircraft to come.”

Following the maiden flight, the aircraft will go through a few more weeks in final production before being delivered to JetBlue.

The A321 is the largest member of the A320 Family offering passengers state-of-the-art cabin design, wider seats and superior comfort whilst airlines benefit from the unique operational flexibility of Airbus’ single-aisle aircraft. With a range of up to 7,400km / 4,000nm, the A321 is able to fly longer routes as for example Europe to U.S. The A320 Family is the world’s best- selling single aisle product line with over 12,400 orders and close to 6,700 aircraft delivered to some 300 customers worldwide.