Aerospace

Airbus delivers first aircraft from Alabama facility to non-US customer

Volaris, a Mexican ultra-low-cost airline, is the first airline based outside of the United States to receive an Airbus A320neo built in Airbus’ Alabama production site.

By May 30, 2023, Airbus’ North American operation in Mobile, Alabama, had built 385 aircraft from the A320 and A220 families. But up to this point, all 13 customers—US airlines—had received these deliveries.

Airbus delivers its first aircraft produced in the USA.(Opens in a new browser tab)

A third Final Assembly Line, is now being added as part of a proposal to expand Airbus’ Alabama business and boost A320 Family aircraft manufacturing.

According to the Alabama Department of Commerce, the expansion will result in the creation of 1,000 jobs. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Airbus has sold more than 1,150 aircraft. In the region, more than 750 are in use, and another 500 are in the order backlog, accounting for a market share of approximately 60% of passenger aircraft now in service.

Congrats to #TeamAirbus in Mobile, Alabama for their first-ever delivery to an international customer! Mexican ultra-low-cost airline @flyvolaris — Latin America’s largest A320neo Family operator — has taken delivery of an #A320neo. pic.twitter.com/uUUuyOietT
— Airbus in the U.S. (@AirbusInTheUS) May 30, 2023

Source:

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.