Mayor, Council return from Germany

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - On Wednesday, March 20, Mobile city and county officials returned from their trip to Germany, where they toured an Airbus production facility.

The trip was paid for with tax dollars that some have called an investment.

FOX10 News caught up with some of them at Mobile Regional Airport.

The first thing that many of you will get to see is the construction of the Airbus final assembly plant. When the ceremonial shovels hit dirt at Airbus's future home next month, officials said it will be the beginning of an economic game changer in Mobile.

Electrical contractors were at the site today putting in temporary power for the event.

"Well its going to be a big tent, and my understanding, right here on this taxi way, it will be a big huge tent. And they'll have it big and pretty and dressed up for the well-to-do," said Mark Massey, Superintendent with Pike Electric.

City officials returned home after a three-day trip to Germany where they witnessed Airbus operations first-hand.

"It's massive, they're very busy which is exactly what we'll do here, we went to the training center where people are trained to do it exactly correct it's a precise science," said Bess Rich, Mobile City Council member.

"I think in order to grasp the magnitude of what is happening in Mobile, we had to of made that trip," said city council member Fred Richardson

Construction on the $600-million  facility is estimated to begin later this year.

That includes site prep, hangar construction, identifying local suppliers, and employee training.

"And of course it's all about jobs and that's our main focus is trying to bring jobs to Mobile," said Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson

Once complete in 2015 an expected 1,000 workers will inhabit the Brookley Aeroplex site.

The first A320 airplanes should be delivered to customers in 2016.

A lot of this work will involve suppliers, and contract work, which Mayor Sam Jones wants to entice.

"I think it provides a whole lot of opportunities and I think what the trip showed us really there's just a number of opportunities that could come to the community if we can make a business community that's conducive to all those businesses," said Mobile Mayor Sam Jones.

Airbus officials said the facility will produce up to 4 aircraft per month by 2018, eventually doubling that output.

A Birmingham firm has been selected to manage the construction site and A-I-D-T will eventually train potential employees to work at the Mobile facility.