No confirmation on Airbus deal

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Local and state leaders remain tight-lipped about recent news of Airbus building a manufacturing plant in Mobile. It would be the company's first U.S. plant.

Mayor Sam Jones' office said he could not comment because it is extremely confidential.

United States Congressman Jo Bonner's office said he is not commenting. Neither is the Chamber of Commerce or the Mobile Airport Authority.

But one group is talking about the possibility and what it could mean for the area.

The Alabama Aviation Center at Mobile's Brookley Field is poised for take off. The school trains people to repair and maintain all kinds of aircraft.

Its 175 students are already in high demand, and if Airbus builds a manufacturing plant here things can only get better.

"If that happens, it makes us fairly significant in the area of training aviation mechanics," said Dr. David Mosow, director of the Alabama Aviation Center at Mobile.

Most of the students enrolled early on with hopes of eventually working on the KC-45 Air Force tanker, a deal that ultimately fell through .

Airbus already has a facility at Brookley Field and on its website calls "Mobile a great investment."

Mosow hopes for the sake of Brookley Field the city lands the deal. He said it will breathe new life into the complex.

"Yes, I think it will. I really do. If it materializes it will be a long while before we see huge effects from that. But, I think in the long run it will be really good for Mobile," Mosow said.

Mobile is already home to several aerospace companies, including ST Aerospace Mobile and Star Aviation .