Tagged: Airbus Mobile Alabama

Airbus is breaking ground on its new aircraft assembly plant in Mobile.

Top executives will be in the port city Monday for a ceremony to mark the start of construction on the Airbus plant at Brookley Aeroplex.

The $600 million factory is expected to employ 1,000 people once production of the Airbus A320 jet begins around 2015.

The state's first major Airbus supplier, Safran Engineering Services, is opening its new office in Mobile on Monday. The company plans to employ as many as 50 people at an engineering support facility.

The Alabama Legislature has passed legislation designed to attract Airbus suppliers to the state.

The Senate gave final approval to the bill 27-0 Thursday and sent it to the governor, who endorsed it. The bill limits lawsuits against a plane's manufacturer and suppliers to causes of action arising within 12 years after a plane is delivered. It applies only to commercial planes with at least 100 seats.

Legislation to help protect Airbus from lawsuits involving planes built at the new plant in Mobile has moved closer to final passage in the Alabama Legislature.

The House voted unanimously Thursday for the bill that places a 12-year limit on filing lawsuits as a result of an accident involving a plane built at the new plant. A lawsuit would have to involve a problem with the airplane that arose within 12 years of when the plane was sold.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and other leaders are heading to Europe to promote Alabama at an aviation gathering.

The officials will attend the Aviation Forum 2012 for a special panel presentation about Airbus' decision to build aircraft in Mobile.

WKRG-TV (http://bit.ly/UyzeL2) reports the two-day gathering will be held in Hamburg, Germany, starting Tuesday.