Michelle Hurdle of Airbus Americas, Inc. joined the Gulf South Mastermind group for its May meeting. Airbus has become a major economic driver in the Mobile-Baldwin area, employing 360 people at the Mobile Final Assembly Line (FAL) and working with numerous suppliers and contractors with local offices, 19 of whom are co-located with Airbus at the Brookley Complex. Michelle said that the FAL is currently running at “Rate 3”, which means that they are producing three aircraft per month. The goal is to reach Rate 4 by October. Hurdle said the State of Alabama recently announced the State Aviation Center in partnership with Airbus in Mobile, which will provide about 20,000 square feet of classroom space, an auditorium, and exhibits centered around the history of flight.