Flight Works Alabama, Mobile

Unintended consequences can pay huge dividends. Such is the case with Airbus’ only final assembly manufacturing facility in the United States. Both the A320 passenger jet and now the newly added A220 are all assembled, painted, and delivered in Mobile, Alabama. This story concerns joy, disappointment, and a massive win for the city and the entire Scenic 98 Coastal community.

In 2006, Michelle Hurdle was on the State of Alabama team that recruited Airbus to choose Mobile’s Brookley Field to build the military’s new refueling tanker. It would replace the aging fleet that is currently in use. Boeing, who was a competitor for the government contract, appealed the Airbus contract decision; Congress rescinded the contract, and in 2011, Boeing won the bid after three long years of haggling.

This was a huge blow for the Mobile Area, yet, Airbus decided to shift gears and locate its final assembly facility for its A320 passenger aircraft (where the refueling tanker was to be built)—a big win for Mobile and Airbus. As a recruitment team member that landed Airbus, Michelle was immediately hired to represent Airbus Alabama as its economic and community relations director—Credit Airbus for recognizing talent when they saw it.

Michelle, from Satsuma, located in north Mobile County, earned her degree at Troy University in Geography and Social Sciences and her graduate degree in Economic Development at the University of Southern Mississippi. From there, her career took her to Mississippi, Georgia, and back to Alabama, where she worked in an economic development capacity for PowerSouth in Montgomery.

Arriving at Airbus in 2008, Michelle worked with state and local officials on project agreements, government relations, and community engagement opportunities as Airbus moved forward with building the A320 final assembly plant at Brookley Field. In June 2015, the first main fuselage was delivered to the plant, and the first aircraft, an A321, was delivered to JetBlue in April 2016.

In 2018, the State of Alabama and Airbus partnered to create Flight Works Alabama. The focus was on workforce development through inspiration, education, and certification. Michelle was named President of Flight Works Alabama, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit responsible for helping create and develop all of its programs.

In 2019, the construction of Flight Works Alabama began, and the doors opened in August 2020. A creative design firm contributed to the development of the exhibit gallery, which uniquely and engagingly connects manufacturing, careers, and the story of aviation. 

“Our goal was to showcase hundreds of careers associated with aerospace and aircraft manufacturing,” stated Michelle. “Through more than 40 hands-on exhibits, our guests leave Flight Works Alabama with the knowledge and understanding of the many opportunities Airbus and similar industries offer.”

The Exhibit Gallery has an abundance of hands-on and static exhibits, eleven virtual experiences like Forces of Flight, Aerodynamics, and Flight and Drone simulators, and an outdoor drone aviary. There is a virtual paint exhibit where you can design your own livery on your virtual aircraft. Flight Works Alabama is also the starting point for all Airbus final assembly line tours.

Of course, there’s a Covid aspect to this story. When the pandemic hit, Michelle and her team had to devise another way to reach students through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) education. Partnering with the State of Alabama, Airbus, Alabama Power, Snap-on Tools, Amazon Web Services, and Mott MacDonald Engineering, they created and developed the We Build It Better program targeted toward middle school-aged children.

We Build It Better recently completed its second full year of implementation and has had an enormous impact nationwide. The curriculum is now taught in 13 states and 256 schools and has recently expanded to the United Kingdom. “The fact that this educational program was created and developed right here at Flight Works Alabama and is now being adopted nationally and internationally is just incredible,” says Michelle. 

Schools purchase the program, which includes curriculum, a Snap-on Tool cart, industry-grade tools, a 3D printer, consumable materials, professional development, and abundant resources to ensure all teachers successfully deliver the program to students.

The professional development includes one week of teacher training. This summer, these sessions will be offered in Huntsville, Virginia, Kansas, and the UK and for two weeks at the Flight Works Alabama facility in Mobile. 

Each session is a 5-day program. “We are receiving a lot of positive data from We Build It Better,” says Michelle. “Some of the unexpected data includes higher grades in math, less absenteeism, and better conflict management.” All of these aspects are important and impactful, especially in the post-COVID classroom.

The program has been so successful that teachers in the industry requested a new elementary cross-curriculum be developed for first through fifth-grade elementary students. Flight Works Alabama will launch We Will Build It Better this September for this age group.

The team at Flight Works Alabama also created FlightPath9, a pre-employment training program that can lead students to an apprenticeship and future opportunities at Airbus. Flight Works Alabama partnered with Bishop State Community College in Mobile to develop the curriculum for the Aviation Manufacturing Technology short certificate program and the opportunity to earn 18 college credits.

FlightPath9 offers three programs: one program for high school seniors and two programs for high school graduates who are early in their careers. The high school program consists of two-night classes per week at Flight Works Alabama or Bishop State Community College over ten months. 

The post-education “early-career” track is for individuals with 0-5 years of work experience and requires ten weeks of classes, five days per week. Coastal Community College offers a technical training program as well. This program is for students who are working on their Airframe certification.

Since Covid restrictions have been lifted, Flight Works Alabama has ten to twelve thousand visitors annually. As the only facility of its kind with access to the final assembly tour, people come from all over the world. “All our programs are tied together and start here at Flight Works Alabama.”

“Being from this area and being a part of its inception and watching it grow up has been an awe-inspiring experience,” says Michelle. “Airbus has had a generational impact transforming the community. We now see the 2nd generation of Airbus employees creating opportunities for themselves here. Airbus has changed the economic landscape of this region, and we will continue to grow - employing more people and building more aircraft.”

Flight Works Alabama is open to the public from 9 AM until 4:30 PM every Tuesday through Friday. The 15,000 sq. ft. interactive and educational facility also has a chartered bus tour of the Airbus Final Assembly on four Saturdays each year, with four tours daily. The next scheduled tour is in October 2023.

The Flight Works Alabama Gallery Tour is $13.50 per person, with group rates and children’s rates available. This gallery is geared toward middle school students and above. It is self-guided and takes approximately an hour and a half. Flight Works Alabama is also available for private parties, corporate events, and business receptions, seminars, and they have even hosted a wedding and reception there.

“Flight Works Alabama has an incredible staff who work hard and well together to deliver all our programs. We try to ensure that each guest has a great experience.”

Thank you, Michelle. I don’t think Airbus could have selected anyone better to lead the way for Flight Works Alabama. This is an inspiring story, and you are to be commended for the great success you have helped create!