The memory of Deutsche Airbus, the giant German airplane manufacturer that was supposed to bring thousands of jobs to Pease, is not that faded. After months of near hysteria surrounding Airbus in the early 1990s, the company withdrew without investing a penny, even though it had taken out an option on the land at Pease. Alliance has its own option on a very large and valuable piece of Pease, which could be drawing attention from other, more viable enterprises. If Alliance doesn't start to walk the talk soon, the PDA would be well-advised to examine its options with the company to ensure that the land in question is put to the best possible use. It may well bring the 2,000 jobs promised, but certainly not as soon as initially projected.
Money follows money.
If one major manufacturer like Rolls-Royce steps up to the plate with a commitment to build the jet engines, and join as an equity partner, millions of other dollars could follow quickly. Let's hope news to that effect comes soon, before Alliance joins Airbus and Business Express on the list of Pease-related projects that started with great promise, only to end in disappointment. Editorials Seacoast Online posts the top news stories from the Portsmouth Herald newspaper every day.