State leaders and economic development experts, including representatives from Alabama Power, are in England today to promote Alabama as a growing force in aerospace.

Gov. Robert Bentley is leading the team attending the Farnborough International Air Show in London. The team will focus on building and strengthening relationships with aviation and aerospace companies while highlighting the state’s many advantages for the industry.

“The Farnborough Air Show is a special opportunity to meet with company leaders from many of the world’s largest aerospace and aviation companies and encourage them to choose Alabama,” Bentley said in a news release. “Companies like Boeing and Airbus already know the business climate in Alabama, and have created good jobs for Alabamians.”

Airbus assembly plant construction underway in Mobile.

Among the team’s objectives is to encourage suppliers for the Airbus A320 aircraft to locate in the state. Airbus is in the process of constructing a $600 million assembly plant in Mobile for the A320 family of planes.

Aviation giant Boeing has been in the state for more than 50 years, with a significant presence in Huntsville.

In all, Alabama’s aerospace and defense sectors employ some 83,000 workers at 300 companies, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, GE Aviation and GKN Aerospace. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville is also an important employer and part of the state’s rich aerospace heritage.

“We’re proud to be part of the unified effort to promote Alabama’s expanding role in aerospace,” said Alabama Power’s Patrick Murphy, who is part of the team in London. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the state’s growing reputation in aerospace and the strength of our workforce, with the goal of bringing even more aerospace jobs to Alabama.”

The air show continues through Friday.