Refining new manufacturing techniques and advancing developments in aviation, aerospace companies in Alabama are cultivating a hub of excellence within the industry.
Between the testing, designing and building of rockets and airplanes alike taking place at local companies GE Aviation, UTC Aerospace Systems and the United Launch Alliance in Decatur, Alabama, the aerospace industry in the state is reaching new heights, according to Yellowhammer News.
Across Alabama, military helicopters are refurbished, large jet planes are designed and key missile defense systems are manufactured.
And as these organizations expand their facilities, at the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility – the first stateside production site of the company headquartered in France – passenger jet production in Mobile is also revving up.
“Alabama has a long history in aerospace and aviation, but the future for this industry in our state looks brighter than ever as Airbus’ manufacturing operation scales up and a series of new projects come to fruition,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
For a state that already boasts one of the most robust concentrations of aerospace engineers in the country, the figures are only continuing to rise, reported Alabama Newscenter.
Ranking No. 5 nationwide in aerospace engineers, this southeastern state had 4,200 employed as of spring 2015, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, noted the source. When presented as a share of the total jobs in the state, however, the number of aerospace engineers is 450 percent higher than the U.S. average.
