Issue 78 – July 15, 2010

In this EADS North America Tanker Activity Update issue:

Mobile, Alabama rally celebrates the KC-45 Tanker team’s move to the Gulf Coast

The greater Mobile region held a community rally on July 12 to celebrate the relocation of EADS North America’s KC-45 Tanker program team to Mobile, Alabama.

This followed the company’s July 8 submittal of its proposal in the U.S. Air Force KC-X aerial refueling tanker competition, and the reaffirmation of its intention to build the KC-45 in Mobile.

KC-45 production will take place at a new aircraft center of excellence to be built at Mobile’s Brookley Industrial Complex, creating more than 1,500 direct jobs and thousands more in the greater Gulf Coast area. Nationwide, KC-45 production will create or support 48,000 American jobs across a supplier team of more than 200 companies.

While a final decision from the Air Force is months away, EADS North America is ready to begin work in Alabama, and today began the transfer of its KC-45 program management team of almost 200 employees to its new Mobile offices.

“We’re confident in our offering, and want to be ready to get to work right away when the Air Force selects the KC-45,” said EADS North America Chairman Ralph Crosby.  “Our fighting men and women have waited far too long for a new tanker, and the people of this part of the country have waited far too long for the jobs the KC-45 would bring.”

Crosby was joined at the July 12 rally by Alabama Governor Bob Riley, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, Alabama’s 1st Congressional District Representative Jo Bonner, Mobile Mayor Samuel L. Jones and Mobile County Commission President Merceria Ludgood. Crosby praised all the elected officials for unwavering support throughout EADS North America’s KC-45 campaign.

“All along we’ve asked for only one thing: for the Pentagon to select the airplane that is best for the men and women who serve our nation.  We’re confident that if the best airplane is selected, it will be the KC-45.  The KC-45 is the only one in this competition that is flying and refueling today.  It is the superior aircraft,” said Governor Riley.

"If the welfare of our warfighters trumps politics in this competition, the Air Force will select the EADS tanker," said Alabama Senator Richard Shelby. "It is clearly the most capable plane, and will be built by American workers to best serve and protect American warfighters."

“The Mobile community is proud to stand arm-in-arm with EADS in the competition for the Air Force tanker,” said Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions. “The EADS tanker is clearly the superior aircraft, offering more capabilities to the men and women who protect our nation, and at a better value to the taxpayer. EADS’ investment in Mobile, combined with a talented workforce and excellent resources and infrastructure, is an important step in turning South Alabama and the Gulf Coast into a world-class center for aviation manufacturing,” Sessions added.

If the KC-45 is selected, EADS North America also has committed to building commercial A330 freighter aircraft at Brookley Field – more than doubling the aircraft production that the tanker alone will bring. 

“EADS’ partnership with South Alabama is a natural fit,” said Congressman Bonner. “Our region has the talented workforce and the infrastructure to deliver the very best tanker to our war fighters, while laying the foundation for a new aviation corridor along America’s Gulf Coast. We are excited to be a part of an EADS team which offers our military the most advanced and adaptable refueling aircraft in the world.”

“I am thrilled to partner with a world-class company like EADS North America to help bring badly needed, high-skilled jobs to a workforce unsurpassed in its skill and dedication," added Mobile’s Mayor Jones. "As a United States military veteran with deep experience with combat aircraft, I could not be prouder that Mobilians will be at the forefront of building the EADS North America KC-45.”

"The partnership between Mobile and EADS North America offers the hardworking women and men of Mobile a critical shot in the arm as we feel the effects not only of the national economic downturn, but of an oil spill that has devastated our community,” said Mobile County Commission President Ludgood. “Mobilians are thrilled both at the much-needed jobs this partnership would bring, but also at the opportunity to contribute to the defense of the nation.”

EADS North America submits KC-X Tanker proposal one day early

EADS North America submitted its proposal in the United States Air Force KC-X aerial refueling tanker competition on July 8, a day ahead of the deadline.

The 8,800-plus page proposal details the unequalled capabilities of the EADS North America KC-45, which is fully responsive to the U.S. Air Force Request for Proposal (RFP), and will be built in the U.S. by 48,000 Americans.

“We’re proud of our offering, which is the only one in this competition that is flying and refueling today, including a full array of receiver aircraft,” said EADS North America Chairman Ralph Crosby. “The Air Force will select the tanker that best meets the American warfighters’ requirements. We are anxious to conclude the acquisition process and are confident in the superior capabilities of the KC-45.”

The KC-45, based on the commercially successful A330, will be assembled in a new manufacturing facility to be built in Mobile, Alabama, which will also produce Airbus commercial freighter aircraft – more than doubling the aircraft production that the tanker alone would bring. “We’re also pleased that our significant industrial investment will provide an economic boost to the struggling Gulf Coast region,” said Crosby.

The KC-45 will also create and support jobs across a supplier base of more than 200 American companies. Along with prime contractor EADS North America, the KC-45 industry supplier team includes many trusted providers of equipment and services for America’s warfighters, including:

• EATON (actuators, pumps, valves, nozzles and other aerial refueling equipment)

• GE Aviation (engines and systems)

• Goodrich Corporation (various aircraft systems)

• Hamilton Sundstrand (generators, turbines and related systems)

• Honeywell (communications and navigation systems and other aircraft components)

• Moog Inc. (flight control systems)

• Parker Aerospace (aerial refueling receptacles, hydraulic system equipment, fluid conveyance products and fuel components)

• Rockwell Collins (electronics)

• Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division (wing structures)

The reliability and performance of the KC-45 and its refueling systems has been validated by over 1,000 boom/hose-and-drogue contacts and refuelings involving a wide range of aircraft, including F-16 and F/A-18 fighters, E-3 AWACS and other A330 tankers. The KC-45 is the U.S. Air Force configuration of the Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport, which has been selected by four allied nations, winning every head-to-head competition against Boeing tankers. The KC-45 carries more fuel, cargo and passengers over greater ranges than the NewGen aircraft concept that Boeing has described as its offering to the Air Force.

The KC-45 tanker would support 1,500 jobs across North Carolina

U.S. production of the KC-45 would support 1,500 North Carolina workers, part of the 48,000 Americans who will produce this important system for the U.S. warfighter.

If selected by the Air Force, North Carolina-based companies like AAR Cargo Systems will be among more than 200 American companies offering to build the KC-45 across America. Nationwide, assembly of the EADS North America KC-45 tanker will create or support 48,000 jobs.

“The KC-45 is the most technologically advanced tanker flying today. We are very proud that our tanker would support U.S. men and women in uniform around the globe, while also putting 48,000 Americans to work here at home,” said Ralph Crosby, EADS North America Chairman. “AAR is a first-class aerospace company, and its contribution to the KC-45 would help make it the world’s most capable tanker.”

“AAR’s cargo systems have been supporting commercial, military and humanitarian relief operations for more than 40 years and we’re looking forward to contributing to the success of the KC-45 program as a member of the EADS North America team,” said Vincent Misciagna, Vice President and General Manager, AAR Cargo Systems. “AAR delivers design innovation, engineering and technical precision, performance reliability and efficient cost containment that span the life-cycle of an aircraft. The KC-45 program is a natural extension of AAR's work over last several years on world class military aircraft like Airbus' A400M.”

EADS North America will build the KC-45 tanker, which is based on the commercially successful A330, in Mobile, Alabama. The company also will build A330 commercial freighters at the same production center. The addition of freighter manufacturing will significantly increase total U.S. aircraft production, with an associated increase in American jobs.

Contact:
Guy Hicks
Vice President – Communications and Public Relations
EADS North America
Tel: 703 236-3300
e-mail: guy.hicks@eads-na.com