Its no wonder that Alabama has sent a top-level economic development team to the major air shows in Europe for many years. The annual trips to aerospace trade events in Paris and London have set the stage for growth in an industry important to the states future.

The Paris Air Show, going on this week, and its alternating sibling, the Farnborough International Airshow, offer Alabamas team an unmatched opportunity to develop and build relationships with key industry figures.

In some cases, air show discussions have led directly to projects that have created jobs in Alabama.

Over the years, Alabamas team has engaged in scores of private meetings with industry decision-makers in Paris and Farnborough. With Gov. Kay Ivey leading the team in Paris, this year is no different.

Bob Smith, the Alabama Department of Commerces point man on aerospace and a veteran of many air show missions, said the event is structured to foster relationships and accelerate potential deals.

How else could the governor meet with a dozen C-suite executives in just two days? She would have to fly all over the world to do that, said Smith, the departments assistant director of business development-European strategy.

At the Paris Air Show, you just have access to people you normally wouldnt have access to, he said. Thats why every viable aerospace company in the world convenes at these air shows.

Alabamas team can point to notable successes at the air shows.

No. 1: BUILDING TIES WITH AIRBUS

Alabama economic development officials have spent years cultivating a relationship with France-based Airbus. That became even more important after the companys plans to build a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker were dashed in 2011.

Alabama officials stayed in touch with Airbus officials, connecting with them at air shows and other opportunities. It paid off: Airbus is now assembling A320 Family passenger jets at a new $600 million manufacturing facility in Mobile.

The relationship continues to grow. In May, Ivey and Airbus announced plans for a $6.5 million aviation education center in Mobile that aims to interest young people in aviation careers.

We look forward to working hand-in-hand with Governor Ivey to bring the education center to reality and help ensure its relevance as well as the future of the aerospace industry in Alabama, Airbus Americas Inc. CEO Allan McArtor said at the time.

No. 2: MAKING A SPLASH AT THE AIR SHOW

At Farnborough in 2014, Alabama was the center of three project announcements that involved the creation of 700 aerospace jobs.

The splashiest was held at GE Aviations exhibition hall, where the companys leadership revealed groundbreaking plans to launch mass production of a 3-D printed jet engine nozzlein Auburn.

The global aerospace industry press was there for an announcement that put Alabama on the cutting edge of technology.

The same day, U.K.-based GKN Aerospace rolled out plans for a composite design engineering center at its aerostructures plant in Elmore County, and Huntsville-based SES announced a $70 million expansion of its helicopter-modification facility.

In one eventful day, Alabamas aerospace industry gained around 700 future jobs.

No. 3: SPARKING JOB-CREATING PROJECTS

Talks initiated at the air shows can lead companies to make investments in Alabama.

One example is RUAG Space, a Swiss company that just opened a 130,000-square-foot manufacturing center on the campus of United Launch Alliances rocket factory in Decatur. The $30 million project is expected to create at least 100 jobs.

The project got started at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow, when Alabama officials met with RUAG Spaces Swiss executive team. Talks with ULA leaders about the collaboration took place at that Farnborough show and the next year at the Paris Air Show.

A grand opening for the RUAG facility, which produces aerodynamic fairings for rockets, was held May 31.

The RUAG Space USA partnership with ULA will help keep our state on the cutting edge of aerospace innovation, U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., said at the event.

Another example is GE Aviations additive manufacturing project in Auburn.

Plans for that facility in were first discussed at the 2013 Paris Air Show when GE Aviation CEO David Joyce met with Alabama leaders. They discussed what the next generation of technology would look like and how the existing Auburn facility could fit into that.

At the 2014 Farnbough show, GE Aviation executives joined Alabama leaders to announce the $50 million project.

No. 4: LIFTING OFF WITH THE MADE IN ALABAMA BRAND

The air shows are also a platform for promoting Alabama. In Paris, the teams home baseis the Department of Commerces Made in Alabama booth, which features a conference room thats booked solid for meetings.

Looking good counts. The booth won a top design award at Farnborough last year.

To compete in this technologically forward industry, its important for us to present Alabama in a way thats sophisticated and appealing, said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

The Made In Alabama booth helps us tell our story at the air show.

Standing out at the air show is important because the U.S. Pavilion will be packed with exhibition booths from around two dozen states, cities and economic development agencies, according to air show organizers.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerces Made in Alabama website.

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Checklist: Alabama air show missions boost aerospace sector - Alabama NewsCenter