Speaker predicts EADS plant

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Will the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. build an aircraft plant in the region even if it loses the tanker competition? Yes, according to Donald Epley, director of the Mitchell College of Business Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of South Alabama. He said EADS, parent of Airbus, is being killed by the exchange rate and thinks it will bring about 1,000 jobs to the region, tanker or no tanker. He made the comment Thursday at the annual Real Estate Trends Report and Forecast Conference in Pensacola at New World Landing. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 02/13/09) Northrop/EADS won the competition last year against Boeing to build the next generation of Air Force tanker and planned to build them in Mobile, Ala. But the decision was overturned after a Boeing protest. A new competition is expected this year.