COLUMBUS, MS—American Eurocopter has inaugurated a new plant that may have implications beyond the simple manufacture of helicopters. The new facility, located on 2,400 acres of industrial property, will employ about 100 engineers, technicians and administrative staff. Specific activities will include manufacturing, assembly and customization.
More importantly, the plant secures a North American presence for EADS, a European defense contractor that employs over 100,000 workers worldwide and is a majority shareholder in Europe’s Airbus consortium. Airbus is currently competing with Boeing for a multibillion dollar contract to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging fleet of refueling aircraft.