Plane order expected to boost American Airlines' Tulsa facility

American Airlines' purchase of 460 airplanes is expected to affect the maintenance facility in Tulsa. American, a unit of AMR Corp., focuses heavy maintenance for its existing all-Boeing fleet at its Tulsa facility at Tulsa International Airport. The facility employs more than 6,000 people.

The carrier's disclosure this month of the order - which has the potential for an additional 465 planes - has created a number of operational questions, said Susan Gordon, American Airlines spokeswoman. More than half of the new jets will be made by Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. The remainder of the planes will be made by Boeing Co. AMR has yet to decide where the Airbus fleet will be maintained. Gordon said AMR will work with stakeholders, including employees and unions, in the integration planning process. "We have a lot of work to do to plan for the integration of the fleet," said Gordon. "We will use the time between today and the date of the first delivery to address the large number of operational questions created by the announcement. " The purchase is a real positive for Tulsa, said Mike Bunney, city of Tulsa economic development director. Bunney understands the aviation sector, as he started his business career at the McDonnell Douglas facility in Tulsa, where he was director of financial management. Bunney joined Boeing, serving as general manager at an out-of-state site and site director for Boeing's Oklahoma City operations. "The reason is that big an order will have a large ripple in the supply chain," Bunney said. "With Nordam and Spirit AeroSystems - those folks are both heavy suppliers for Boeing. " The effect is expected to last for years, Bunney said. "Aircraft manufacturing is in a typical 10-year upswing," Bunney said. The European manufacturer's breakthrough order with American is expected to trigger a contest among states eager to capture the maintenance and repair work for a fleet of hundreds of Airbus A320-family planes, Bunney said. "Other large carriers are going to take a hard look at American's modernization plan and follow suit," he said. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin discussed the issue briefly with American Airlines officials this month just ahead of American's announcement, said Aaron Cooper, press secretary. Fallin has said on a number of occasions that the aerospace sector is a priority for her administration. At the same time, Fallin is pushing to establish the state as a center of excellence in the fast-growing market for unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs. Fallin is also promoting the state for its commercial and military maintenance, repair and overhaul sites.`