Aerospace

Hartzell Aerospace

• Located less than one hour from Chilton County, Hartzell produces turbocharger systems, alternators, starters, Janitrol heaters, fuel pumps, oil filters, ignition harnesses, magnetos, voltage regulators, and other electrical components for the aviation industry. Click here for more information about the facility.

GKN Aerospace

• Located only one hour from Chilton County, GKN manufactures advanced composite structures for civil, military, commercial, and space programs. This facility has been in operation for over 30 years and employs 1,000+ people. Click here for more information about the facility.

Boeing

• Boeing is the largest aerospace company in Alabama. Boeing’s core business areas in the state are manufacturing of missile and weapons systems, satellite production, support services for US Army helicopters, engineering design center, and research in advances in avionics systems.  Click here to read about recent Boeing investments in Alabama

Airbus

• Airbus recently constructed a new $300 million assembly plant in Alabama to manufacture the A220 jetliner. The current facility employs 700 people and a recent expansion is expected to create an addition 432 full-time jobs. Click here to read more about the $300 million Airbus investment

Lockheed Martin

• Lockheed Martin’s Alabama facility is a manufacturing, final assembly, test and storage operation for supported missile programs. Supported missile programs include: Javelin, THAAD, JASSM, and air-to-ground missiles. Click here to read more about this facility

• 40% growth in people employed in Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
• 40% growth in people employed as Software Developers, Applications
• 37% growth in people employed as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• 29% growth in people employed as Logisticians
• 24% growth in people employed as Commercial Pilots
• 22% growth in people employed as Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• 20% growth in people employed as Mechanical Engineers
• 19% growth in people employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
• 19% growth in people employed as Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

• 10% growth in people employed as Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
• 9% growth in people employed as Assemblers and Fabricators, Including Team Assemblers
• 9% growth in people employed as Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• 9% growth in people employed as Millwrights
• 7% growth in people employed as Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• 6% growth in people employed as Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
• 6% growth in people employed as Electrical Engineers

• 3 times the US average of people employed in Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
• 3 times the US average of people employed as Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• 3 times the US average of people employed as Assemblers and Fabricators, Including Team Assemblers
• 2.6 times the US average of people employed as Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• 2.6 times the US average of people employed as Millwrights
• 2.5 times the US average of people employed as Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• 2.4 times the US average of people employed as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal

• 2.3 times the US average of people employed as Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• 2.2 times the US average of people employed as Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Over the US average of people employed as Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Over the US average of people employed as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Over the US average of people employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
• Over the US average of people employed as Electrical Engineers
• Over the US average of people employed as Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators

• 5,285 employed as Assemblers and Fabricators, Including Team Assemblers
• 1,235 employed as Military-only occupations
• 1,199 employed as Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• 857 employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
• 837 employed as Electricians
• 615 employed as Machinists
• 579 employed as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal
• 494 employed as Software Developers, Applications
• 417 employed in Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
• 379 employed as Electrical Engineers
• 352 employed as Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• 337 employed as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

• 336 employed as Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• 304 employed as Mechanical Engineers
• 242 employed as Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• 215 employed as Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• 188 employed as Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• 149 employed as Tool and Die Makers
• 147 employed as Millwrights
• 143 employed as Sheet Metal Workers
• 128 employed as Logisticians
• 114 employed as Industrial Engineering Technicians
• 111 employed as Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• 110 employed as Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

AIDT is recognized as one of the top 5 workforce training agencies in the US. Their services include:

• Pre-Employment (Training Development, Videography, Media and Project Support)
• Post-Employment/On-the-Job Training Support
• Maintenance Assessments
• Safety Assistance and Training
• Leadership Development
• Process Improvement (Continuous Improvement)

Today’s demanding global marketplace not only encourages continual improvements in profitability and productivity—it demands it. That is where this innovative collaboration comes in, a strategic partnership between Alabama’s community colleges, the University of Alabama System, Auburn University, and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

Strategic advice and training is available from ATN in more than a half dozen areas including:

• Information technology
• Lean manufacturing
• Quality systems and engineering
• Environmental safety and health
• Human resources and organizational development
• Business services and management
• Industrial maintenance
• Engineering and technical services

Calhoun Community College
Aerospace Technology

Coastal Alabama Community College
Airframe Technology
Avionics Technology
Powerplant Technology

Enterprise State Community College
Airframe Structures
Airframe Technology
Aviation Composites Material
Aviation Maintenance Foundations
Avionics Technology
Powerplant Technology

Jefferson State Community College
Engineering-Aerospace Major

Lawson State Community College
Engineering-Aerospace

Marion Military Institute
Private Pilot License

Northeast Alabama Community College
Engineering-Aerospace

Snead State Community College
Aerospace Engineering
Aircraft Structures
Airframe Technology
General Aviation

Wallace State Community College
Airfield Operations
Commercial Pilot Airplane (Flight Technology)
Commercial Pilot Helicopter (Flight Technology)
Certified Flight Instructor (Flight Technology)
Certified Flight Instructor (Flight Technology Option I, II or III)
Instrument Pilot Airplane Rating (Flight Technology)
Instrument Pilot Helicopter Rating (Flight Technology)
Private Pilot Airplane (Flight Technology)
Private Pilot Helicopter (Flight Technology)

Auburn University

• Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of engineering, located only one hour from Chilton County, is proud to be among the top aerospace engineering programs in the country providing unique cutting-edge educational and research opportunities, including space exploration, national defense, air transportation, communications and sustainable energy.

The University of Alabama

• The University of Alabama, located only one hour from Chilton County, offers a variety of Aerospace related programs. The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the university focuses on educating aerospace, science, and mechanics engineering students on innovative scientific research and improving the economic development of the state of Alabama.

Noteworthy programs:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Industrial Systems
• Computer Science and Software Airframe and Powerplant Certificate

Jefferson State Community College

• Jefferson State Community College offers Welding Technology Certificate & AAS degree program with the following courses:

• SMAW Groove Plate
• Principles of Welding & Metal Cutting Techniques
• Mechanical Tools
• SMAW Fillet/PAC/CAC Welding
• Flux Core Arc Welding
• Gas Metal Arc/Flux Cored Arc Welding
• Welding Inspection and Testing Theory
• NCCER Core Curriculum
• GTAW Carbon Pipe Welding
• Pipefitting and Fabrication – Welding

Alabama Power

• Operated by the Southern Company
• $5.5 billion in annual revenue
• Supplies over 1.4 million customers
• Alabama Power actively supports economic and community development throughout its area.
• Click Here to read more about economic development support.

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative

• Central Alabama Electric Cooperative is a not for profit, member-owned electric distribution utility.
• The cooperative’s service area covers most of the rural areas of Autauga, Elmore, Coosa, and Chilton counties as well as members in Tallapoosa, Talladega, Bibb, Perry, Dallas, and Lowndes counties.
• The cooperative is a $199 million company with 5,500 miles of line.
• Central Alabama Electric Cooperative actively supports economic and community development throughout its area.
• Click Here to read more about economic development support.

Road Access

• Chilton County is located on Interstate 65, halfway between Birmingham and Montgomery.

Class I Rail Access

• Rail service is provided by CSX and Norfolk Southern.