Governors Riley, Barbour and Jindal Announce Launch of The Aerospace Alliance

501(c)(6) Will Establish Region as a World Class Aerospace, Space and Aviation
Corridor. First objective: Help Secure KC-45 Tanker Contract for Region

BAY MINETTE, Ala., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Bob Riley
(R-AL), Governor Haley Barbour (R-MS), and Governor Bobby Jindal (R- LA) today
announced the launch of The Aerospace Alliance, a 501(c)(6) private/public
organization that will establish the Gulf Coast and surrounding region as a
world class aerospace, space and aviation corridor. The announcement was made
before hundreds of supporters at an event in Bay Minette, Alabama.

The members of The Aerospace Alliance include business leaders, economic
development professionals and government officials. By promoting their common
assets and the region's long-standing tradition of excellence in the aerospace
industry, participating states and organizations will seize opportunities to
grow the sector, attracting more jobs and suppliers to the region. Members
will advocate for policies, programs and specific aerospace projects on the
local, state and national level.

The Gulf Coast region is already home to some of the world's most advanced
aerospace installations, a number of key NASA facilities and numerous military
installations critical to the Department of Defense flight missions and
training. The region is centrally located to markets across the United States
and offers access to global markets via numerous air and deep water ports.

The first priority of The Aerospace Alliance is to help secure the KC-45
aerial tanker program for the region. If the KC-45 aircraft is selected, the
tankers will be assembled in Mobile, Alabama, bringing 48,000 direct and
indirect jobs to the country, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs to the
region. With the tanker program, the region would be one of the largest in
the world to build large-body aircraft, along with France and the Pacific
Northwest. The Aerospace Alliance will identify, educate, organize and
activate allies to aggressively communicate why the KC-45 is the best solution
for the warfighter, for the Gulf Coast and surrounding region, and ultimately
for the United States.

While the KC-45 is the first priority for The Aerospace Alliance, it is not
the only one. Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida are currently home
to manufacturers of helicopters, missile defense systems, composite aircraft
structures, engine components and many R &D firms. The Aerospace Alliance
will collaborate to working towards growing these aerospace, aviation, space
and defense industries in the region.

Governor Riley said, "Last year taught us something: while we all know about
our long tradition of aerospace excellence and the quality and skillsets of
our workforce, obviously some parts of the country (Kansas and Washington
State), might not be aware. We are going to educate them, and you are going
to help us. We will work together to promote our region's many assets. We
will work together to advocate for policies, programs and specific aerospace
projects on the local, state and national level. The programs we attract will
in turn attract suppliers, bringing even more jobs and development. Our first
initiative is to win the KC-45 tanker, our first lesson is Geography --
Mobile, Alabama and the Gulf Coast States are part of the U.S. and our jobs
are American."

"This alliance will go far in promoting our region for what it is -- one of
the largest aerospace corridors in the world and a great place for companies
in this sector to do business," said Governor Barbour, who addressed the event
via video uplink. "The Gulf Coast states share geographic proximity, a long
tradition of aerospace and aviation activities and a skilled and experienced
workforce, and by joining together, we will be well-positioned to take
advantage of opportunities to grow this sector in our region."

Mitch Waldman, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Vice President applauded
their efforts, saying, "We already know that the Gulf Coast is a center of
excellence in defense, aviation and aerospace. We look forward to working
with Governors and leaders of Aerospace Alliance states, and the many members
and supporters of The Alliance, to spread the word to the rest of the world."

Participants emphasized the need for jobs in the region's economy, badly
damaged by both Hurricane Katrina and the recession. Unemployment rates are
high throughout the entire Southeast, and both Alabama and Florida have
unemployment over 10%.

The Aerospace Alliance is a 501(c)(6) private/public organization. For more
information, visit www.aerospacealliance.com.

SOURCE The Aerospace Alliance

Todd Stacy -- Governor Riley, +1-334-242-7150; Neal Wade-- Alabama
Development, +1-334-242-0421; Buddy Bynum -- Governor Barbour,
+1-601-576-2026, +1-601-720-8762, bbynum@governor.state.ms.us; or Matt Braud
-- Louisiana Economic Devt., +1-225-342-3437