Airbus plans greater use of valley firms.

After meetings with Airbus in Washington D.C., Councilmen Dennis Zinc and Greig Smith are working to help the company explore its options in Los Angeles as it considers expanding its base of subcontractors and its own operations.

Smith and Zinc, who were in Washington D.C. for the National League of Cities meeting, met with Airbus executives at the aircraft company's request.

"Where they're at is tapping into our current businesses, they're not looking to establish any new plants," said Zine. "What they want to do is connect with businesses that we already have in the region and have those companies produce items for their aircraft."

"We're talking about good paying jobs, and keeping people in the San Fernando Valley," Zinc added.

Airbus is currently developing the A380, a next-generation passenger liner the company has called the "Flagship of the 21st Century." Airbus has received over 145 orders for the A380 from companies like Air France, FedEx, Qantas, and is expected to enter service this year with Singapore Airlines.

The long-haul jet has a range of 8,000 nautical miles and can carry 555 passengers, about a third more than Boeing's 747 can handle. Airbus already works with dozens of area companies, but will need to increase that number as it starts to fill orders on the A380.

Last month, Bill Greet, vice president and general manager of Airbus North America Engineering said in testimony to a House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation that the United States needs to make sure it does not lose its dominance in engineering, and needs to make the creation of a large community of scientists and engineers a national priority.