Aerospace

Macon County offers many benefits to the growing aerospace industry. We are flanked by Boeing to our south and the large aerospace complex to our north in Huntsville, with more than 80 aerospace industries and service providers within the region. Macon County is also centrally located to five large military bases with an aviation/aerospace mission.

The legendary Moton Field, located in Tuskegee, features a 5000+ foot runway, with plans to expand to 8400 feet and offers flight training and FBO services from Golden Eagle Aviation. It also boasts immediate access to Interstate 85 and available space for building and development on the airfield property. Other large sites are available just outside the airfield property, offering aerospace manufacturers of all sizes quick access and a great location. Major commercial airports are nearby, including Atlanta Hartsfield, Birmingham, and Montgomery.

The industry is growing as well, with Aerospace Engineering and Research graduates from Auburn and Tuskegee University – both programs located just a few miles from Moton Field. Engineering graduates have more than doubled in the past ten years with many seeking local opportunities. Just to our Northwest, the University of Alabama also offers an Aerospace Engineering degree as well.

Area Aerospace Companies

GKN

Leading global tier one supplier of airframe and engine structures, landing gear, electrical interconnection systems, transparencies, and aftermarket services
Supplies products and services to a wide range of commercial and military aircraft and engine prime contractors, and other tier one suppliers

GE Aviation

Among the top aircraft engine suppliers
Offers engines for the majority of commercial aircraft

Aerojet Rocketdyne

American rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer

BAE Systems, Inc.

Aerospace and Defense company
Top 10 supplier to the Pentagon
Develops civilian and military aerospace equipment, guidance systems, and electronic warfare systems

Lockheed Martin

Global aerospace, defense, securtity and technology company
One of the largest companies in the aerospace industry, and largest defense company
Develops aircraft, radar technologies, and other military systems

Education

Tuskegee University

5 Mechanical and Aerospace degree programs
51 graduates of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2015
Access to several facilities such as wind tunnels and a satellite laboratory
Only historically black college or university (HBCU) with an accredited aerospace engineering program

Auburn University

6 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering degree programs
297 graduates of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2015
Provides unique cutting-edge educational and research opportunities, including space exploration, national defense, air transportation, communications and sustainable energy
Covers areas including aeroacoustics, aerospace structures, orbital mechanisms, rocket propulsion and more

University of Alabama

8 Mechanical and Aerospace degree programs
476 graduates of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2016

Wallace State Community College Dothan

The Aviation/Flight Technology program consists of flight and ground instruction, which will qualify students for various careers in the aviation industry
Students will have the opportunity to acquire FAA certification for the Private Pilot, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot certificates
An articulation agreement with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University allows WSCC aviation students to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics upon completion of their Wallace State course work

Aerospace Companies in our Labor Shed

32 Machine Shops
18 All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing
14 Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
4 Plate Work Manufacturing
4 Mineral Wool Manufacturing
3 Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
3 Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing
3 Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
2 Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing
2 Plastics Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing
2 Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring
2 Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2 Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
2 Hardware Manufacturing
2 Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing
2 Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing
1 Spring Manufacturing
1 Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping (except Automotive)
1 Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1 Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing
1 Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1 Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1 Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing
1 Stationery Product Manufacturing

Aerospace Companies vs US Average

417% more Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing
333% more Hardware Manufacturing
315% more Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
303% more Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing
292% more Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing
238% more Stationery Product Manufacturing
192% more All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing
104% more Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
76% more Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
71% more Spring Manufacturing

Skilled Labor in our Labor Shed

1,929 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
1,525 Industrial Machinery Mechanics
981 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
625 Computer Occupations, All Other
519 First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
420 Industrial Production Managers
389 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
299 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
274 Mechanical Engineers
256 Helpers- Electricians
214 Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
156 Industrial Engineering Technicians
124 Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians
94 Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
64 Aerospace Engineers
50 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
39 Mechanical Engineering Technicians
36 Upholsterers
34 Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
21 Materials Engineers

1,649 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
1,030 Computer Programmers
764 Machinists
572 Industrial Engineers
482 Helpers- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
406 Computer and Information Systems Managers
382 Extruding/Drawing Machine Setters/Operators/Tenders, Metal/Plastic
293 Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
265 Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
242 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
158 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
135 Painters, Transportation Equipment
119 Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
86 Engineers, All Other
72 Mechanical Drafters
51 Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
46 Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal/Plastic
38 Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
34 Sales Engineers
27 Avionics Technicians
20 Physicists

1,929 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
1,649 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
1,525 Industrial Machinery Mechanics
1,030 Computer Programmers
981 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
764 Machinists
625 Computer Occupations, All Other
572 Industrial Engineers
519 First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
482 Helpers- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
420 Industrial Production Managers
406 Computer and Information Systems Managers
389 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
382 Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
299 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
293 Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
274 Mechanical Engineers
265 Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
256 Helpers- Electricians
242 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
214 Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
158 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
156 Industrial Engineering Technicians
135 Painters, Transportation Equipment
124 Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians
119 Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
94 Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
86 Engineers, All Other
80 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
72 Mechanical Drafters
64 Aerospace Engineers
51 Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
50 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
46 Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic
39 Mechanical Engineering Technicians
38 Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
36 Upholsterers
34 Sales Engineers
34 Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
27 Avionics Technicians
21 Materials Engineers
20 Physicists

Skilled Labor Vs US Average

327% more Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
196% more Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
172% more Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
140% more Industrial Machinery Mechanics
112% more Helpers- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
99% more Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
96% more Computer Programmers
89% more Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
84% more Helpers- Electricians
76% more Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
60% more Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
53% more Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
50% more First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
46% more First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
40% more Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
33% more Industrial Engineering Technicians
33% more Industrial Production Managers
25% more Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
24% more Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
22% more Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
22% more Industrial Engineers
22% more Painters, Transportation Equipment
20% more Computer Occupations, All Other
18% more Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
15% more First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
9% more Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
6% more Machinists

Growth Occupations

34% more Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
24% more Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
20% more Industrial Machinery Mechanics
18% more Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic
17% more Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
15% more Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
13% more Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
13% more Industrial Engineering Technicians
13% more Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
12% more First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
12% more Machinists
12% more Helpers- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
10% more Industrial Engineers
10% more Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
9% more Computer and Information Systems Managers
9% more Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
8% more Industrial Production Managers
8% more First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
7% more Computer Programmers
6% more Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
6% more Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
6% more Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
6% more Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
5% more First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
5% more Computer Occupations, All Other
4% more Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
3% more Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians
3% more Sales Engineers
1% more Mechanical Engineers

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