The Aerospace Alliance is Reaching New Heights in 2023
As we enter the second half of 2023, we want to look back and celebrate some of the many accomplishments that Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi have achieved in aerospace, aviation and commercial space.
Here are only some of the corridor’s recent wins and successes:
United Launch Alliance and Beyond Gravity, which builds payload fairings for ULA rockets, are growing in Decatur with a combined expansion project valued at $350 million, creating over 200 jobs at ULA’s campus. The growth is being driven by ULA’s selection to provide launch services for Amazon’s Kuiper satellite broadband project. Learn more here.
VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering Inc. plans to add 200 jobs as it equips its Mobile facility to modify Airbus A320 Family passenger jets as cargo aircraft. VT MAE’s Mobile operation currently has 579 full-time employees. Learn more here.
Resicum International, an aviation maintenance company, plans to open an aviation training academy at Craig Field in Selma that will prepare the next generation of industry professionals from around the world. The project will create 70 jobs. Learn more here.
The Department of the Air Force announced that is has selected Patrick Space Force Base as the preferred location for the headquarters of the Space Training and Readiness Command and Space Delta 10. Learn more here.
The Boeing Company has provided Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a $5.1 million donation for a research center that will drive safety improvements throughout the industry. The newly named Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry-Riddle, charged with advancing the safety of all who fly, will conduct independent research aimed at mitigating known and emerging operational safety risks. Learn more here.
Florida Power & Light Company launched its talent attraction campaign, WonderFL, in November. The campaign, centered around WonderFL.com, is a first-of-its-kind campaign to promote the state of Florida as an ideal location to live, work and play. It features statewide and regional websites promoting the unique work/life balance, employment opportunities and quality of life found in Florida.
Airbus Helicopters will build two military versions of its H125 turbine single at its U.S. manufacturing plant in Columbus. MAG Aerospace will perform the weapons installation design, engineering, certification and manufacturing. Learn more here.
Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences announced a joint effort to develop new defensive systems and countermeasures for the KC-46 and future tankers in Columbus. Aurora, a Boeing subsidiary, will lead the research and design of composite components that will improve the tanker’s operational survivability. Learn more here.
Following a successful launch of Artemis I in 2022, Michoud Assembly Facility workers have Core Stage II fully assembled and are beginning the process of installing the RS-25 engines. Production also continues on Core Stages III, IV, and V. Orion IV shipped out in February of this year to prepare for a future Artemis mission. Learn more here.
Michoud conducted a ribbon-cutting event in the first quarter of the year for the new Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) production area. EUS will replace the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion System and will have heavier payload capabilities to enable astronauts to go deeper into space. Learn more here.
Boeing announced a $1 million grant for STEM NOLA, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing STEM education to under-served communities in New Orleans and nationwide. The group offers various educational opportunities including weekly science tutorials at parks and during and after-school virtual lessons and programming. Learn more here.