Airbus could build freighters in Alabama

Airbus could build freighters in Alabama Airbus said it would build civilian freighter aircraft in Mobile, Ala., if the U.S. Air Force selects it and Northrop Grumman to build a fleet of tanker aircraft.
   European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS), which builds Airbus jets, said it will co-locate production of the Northrop Grumman KC-30 tankers and the Airbus A330 civilian freighter aircraft at its factory at Brookley Field.
   The co-production would result in “a robust final assembly line that ensures low risk, high efficiency and increased capacity for both military and commercial customers,” Airbus said.
   Both the KC-30 tanker and A330 commercial freighter would be based on the Airbus A330 twin-engine jetliner.
   An announcement by EADS and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley said the site would be expanded to support the production of up to four aircraft per month.
   There are 66 A330 freighters on order.