Alabama’s business recruitment team completed its mission to the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow with its sights set on more than a half-dozen growth project opportunities and fresh insights into the trends shaping the future of aerospace, aviation and defense.

While in London and at the Farnborough exhibition venue, the Alabama working team engaged in 18 scheduled appointments with industry executives, as well as numerous informal discussions with officials at aerospace companies starting Sunday.

“Alabama is perfectly positioned to capitalize on the growth taking place in the aerospace industry, and that’s the message that we transmitted here at Farnborough,” said Angela Till, deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “We have everything in place that the industry needs, and I’m confident that our mission has planted seeds that will one day bear fruit.”

Bob Smith, the Department of Commerce’s point man on aerospace and a veteran of many international air shows, said the Alabama team at Farnborough identified seven new growth projects from companies interested in the state, along with 10 other solid prospects whose plans could include the state.

In addition to the 18 prearranged appointments with industry executives, Smith said the team made 20 additional meeting contacts at Farnborough through calls made at exhibitors’ booths or company representatives stopping by the “Made in Alabama” booth in the U.S. Pavilion.

The Alabama team also made presentations to four foreign aerospace associations during formal visits, he said.

“The Farnborough International Airshow is a traditional global showcase for aviation and aerospace companies,” Smith said. “There is nowhere else that the C-Suite of almost every aerospace company can be found in one place at the same time, providing great opportunities for Alabama to promote our rich aerospace assets to nurture future growth in the sector.”

Joining Till and Smith in the Alabama working team were Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth; Liz Filmore, Gov. Kay Ivey’s chief of staff; Veronica Crock, a senior project manager at the Department of Commerce; and Christoph Dörr, the department’s representative in Europe.

The working team for the Alabama Department of Commerce stands in front of the “Made in Alabama” booth at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow. (contributed)

‘International epicenter’

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt also represented Alabama at Farnborough.

She spoke to the team from the Alabama Department of Commerce, economic development specialists and business leaders from communities across the state at a breakfast kicking off the airshow. She also delivered remarks at a North Alabama reception, where she emphasized the region’s contributions to the nation’s aerospace, defense and intelligence capabilities.

Throughout the airshow, Britt met with industry leaders and foreign officials to advocate for continued strategic investments in Alabama.

“From making planes and helicopters, to leading world-class flight training, to building the most powerful rocket in world history – twice, Alabama is a pillar of the past, present and future of aviation and aerospace excellence,” Britt said. “The incredible showing of Alabama innovation and ingenuity on display at the Farnborough Airshow highlights why our great state is emerging as an international epicenter across these key sectors.”

While in London and at Farnborough, networking opportunities were abundant for the entire Alabama delegation at receptions and invitation-only events hosted by companies and associations.

The “Made in Alabama” booth, the headquarters for the state delegation, was busy with meetings taking place in two conference rooms and informally in the open pavilion areas.

“This is a place where we define our identity,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, who was part of a team from the Rocket City at the show. “We define our identity as an aerospace community, we define our identity as an engineering community, and we define our identity as a space community. All of those aspects are shown right here at the Farnborough Airshow.”

Veronica Crock, senior project manager at the Alabama Department of Commerce, sits in the Lilium prototype of an EVTOL air taxi at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow. (contributed)

Zone of interest

Farnborough was the center of attention for the aerospace industry this week. There were 1,260 exhibitors from 44 countries at the show, along with 250 civil, military and space delegations.

Alabama had plenty of competition from back home, with 33 states representing their aerospace sectors.

The Farnborough Airshow is celebrated for showcasing the latest technologies that are revolutionizing the aerospace and aviation sectors.

Smith said this year’s installment highlighted key trends shaping the industry’s future, including sustainable aviation fuels, military drones and electric takeoff and landing vehicles (EVTOL), which could one day serve as air taxis.

Also, the “Space” zone at Farnborough displayed the latest technology for satellites and launches, and it was populated by Alabama corporate partners such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.