Airbus bids on Polish helos

Poland has received three bids in a $3 billion military helicopter tender and expects to sign a deal in the second half of 2015, according to the defence ministry. Airbus Group, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, a unit of U.S. contractor United Technologies Corp., and AgustaWestland, a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica, offered bids, the ministry said. Poland has embarked on a $41 billion program to modernise its armed forces by 2022. (Source: Reuters, 12/30/14) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Airbus Group, is located in Columbus, Miss.

Miss. to build on economic strengths

Brent Christensen, Mississippi Development Authority’s executive director, foresees the state in 2015 to continue to build on its economic strengths. MDA expects the state to reap the rewards of several large projects that begin production in the coming year. MDA is targeting seven industries in the state for growth: aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, automotive, energy, healthcare and shipbuilding sectors. McDermott International plans to locate a pipeline operation at the Port of Gulfport expected to create 100 jobs, in addition to longshoremen who will be employed while vessels are at port. McDermott represents the first major jobs announcement of the Port of Gulfport Restoration Project. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 12/30/14) Central Mississippi Note: Mississippi is also home to aerospace companies Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, SpaceX, GE Aviation (Batesville), Airbus Helicopters (Columbus), Northrop Grumman, Aurora Flight Sciences (Columbus), ATK’s Aerospace Structures (Iuka), Stark Aerospace (Columbus). Another major asset is the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.

Rea to lead EMBD chamber

Meredith Rea has been named manager of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp. (EMBD) Chamber of Commerce. She joined EMBDC as public relations coordinator in 2010. As manager, Rea will manage Leadership Lauderdale, ambassadors, member services, Business Before and After Hours, and various other programs of the EMBDC Chamber. The Meridian native is in the process of completing her Institute for Organization Management certification. EMBD is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving economic vitality and quality of life for area citizens; and serves as the COC and economic development organization for the community. (Source: Meridian Star, 12/28/14) Central Mississippi Note: Among some of Meridian’s aviation-community partners are Lockheed Martin’s aircraft parts and sub-assembly (with about 300 employees) facility for the C-130J Super Hercules; and Meridian Naval Air Station (3,000 personnel), home to Navy jet training.

Hub City applies for runway grant

Hattiesburg’s Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport may be getting a facelift. The city has put in an application to the U.S. Department of Transformation for a $2.6 million grant to repave the airport's 6,100-foot runway. The grant would be a 90/10 percent match; but the city would split the latter cost with the state DOT. Hattiesburg would have to contribute $130,000. The city hopes to hear from the FAA on the application in the first quarter of 2015. The "Application for Federal Assistance" indicates a 5-month project that could start by May. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 12/26/14)

New Way to Reach Mars Cheaply

Getting spacecraft to Mars can be a hassle – and very costly - not to mention actions the spacecraft would have to perform to swing into orbit that requires hundreds of extra pounds of fuel; and could find up as a potential failure. The Hohmnn transfer brute force approach of attaining orbit has worked well historically. But in times of shrinking science funding, there is new research that lays out a smoother, safer way to achieve Martian orbit. It’s called ballistic capture - also called a low-energy transfer. "It's an eye-opener," says James Green, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division. While at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory 25 years ago, Edward Belbruno, now a visiting associated researcher at Princeton University, laid out the Hohmann fuel-and-cost-shaving orbital insertion method for probes to the Moon. But pulling off a similar maneuver for Mars seemed impossible because of the planet’s velocity. "I gave up on it," Belbruno says. However, while recently consulting for Boeing, one of four major contractors for NASA's Space Launch System, Belbruno and colleagues stumbled on an idea that would let the spacecraft be ballistically captured. Boeing, intrigued by the approach funded the study in which the authors crunched numbers and developed models for the capture. ATK Space Systems is among the four partners with NASA. (Source: Scientific American, 12/22/14) Central Mississippi Note: ATK’s aerospace and defense businesses operate in 21 states, including a machining and testing equipment site at ATK’s Aerospace Structures division in Iuka, Miss.

ATK partners with NASA

ATK Space Systems and NASA have announced an unfunded partnership agreement to support core technologies for space logistics, payloads and space transportation. ATK will also be joined by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Final Frontier Design as part of a ‘Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities’ (CCSC) initiative to bring new space technologies to market in five years. The Space Act Agreement (SAA) allows ATK’s Space Systems division and NASA to collaborate on technologies and new product development. SAA allows ATK and NASA to develop solutions that support NASA’s 2014 Strategic Plan to advance commercial space efforts, said Tom Wilson, VP/GM of ATK’s Space Systems division. (Source: ATK, 12/23/14) Central Mississippi Note: ATK is an aerospace and defense firm operating in 21 states including a machining and testing equipment site for ATK’s Aerospace Structures division at Iuka, Miss. ATK’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., supports NASA’s new Space Launch Program.

GA earns logistics work for AF

The Air Force awarded General Atomics’ Aeronautical Systems Inc. a $375.2 million contract for logistical support for its unmanned Predator and Reaper aircraft. Work will be performed in Poway, Calif., and extend through the end of 2015. (Source: San Diego Business Journal, 12/23/14) Central Mississippi Note: GA Electromagnetic Systems Group has a manufacturing and testing facility outside of Tupelo, Miss., that provides advanced launch and recovery systems for aircraft carriers; manufactures large robotics, electrical motor winding equipment and a full range of computer numerical controlled machining and milling equipment - primarily for the U.S. Navy.

Forest to add AESA to SK order

WASHINGTON - Raytheon Co. was awarded a contract valued at $491 million to continue production of its Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles (AMRAAM) for the U.S. Air Force. The contract includes missiles, radars and other related equipment, and runs through Feb. 28, 2017. The latest AMRAAM contract includes missiles to be sold to South Korea, Oman, Singapore, and Thailand under government-to-government foreign military sales. (Source: Reuters, 12/22/14) Central Mississippi Note: Raytheon’s Space and Airborne System’s Forest, Miss., assembly plant produces hundreds of tactical Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for F/A-18s, F-15 and F-16s jets. It recently produced its 500th AESA drop-in radar design that can track both air and surface targets at the same time. South Korea had chosen the F-16 AESA model, known as the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), to upgrade its fleet.

USM studies Gulf’s ‘blue tech’ biz

JACKSON, Miss. - USM looks at Gulf’s ‘Blue tech’ biz A new Mississippi maritime industries study spotlights the importance of shipbuilding, fishing, oceanography and marine technology as a dominant force in the state’s economy. Data from the Mississippi’s Blue Economy: An Analysis of Mississippi’s Maritime Industry study shows that 35 percent of the workforces in the three coastal state counties are in “blue industries.” And it’s not just the Mississippi Gulf Coast that has a stake in the blue economy. The study looked at employment and other data on shipbuilding and fishing as well as industries such as construction that have maritime and non-maritime activities. It also included maritime technology or “blue tech” companies. The study was compiled by three members of the Masters of Economic Development Program at the University of Southern Mississippi. Laurie Jugan, project coordinator for the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology at Stennis Space Center, said the study confirms an expansive amount of marine science and technology work being done: along the Mississippi Coast. “Until now, there was no way to quantify the importance of this industry sector in our area,” she said. “With the USM study, we now have a place to start.” The Small Business Administration awarded MSET a competitive $523,742 grant based on the study’s findings. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 12/18/14)

DAs want airport study records

The district attorney offices of both Madison and Rankin (Miss.) counties have requested, and want to review, records regarding a $1.2 million study to determine the feasibility of another airport in Madison County. (Source: Clarion-Ledger 12/19/14

GTRA: Critical west-bound proposal

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Golden Triangle Regional Airport Director Mike Hainsey has a plan to help achieve westbound air-carrier service from the Columbus airport. He believes the plan is critical to the airport's long-term viability. In January, he will ask for $100,000 each from Columbus, Lowndes County, Starkville and Oktibbeha County; and $50,000 each from West Point and Clay County to help fund an incentive package essential to attracting an air carrier with a potential Dallas connection. (Routes to Houston or Denver are also possibilities.) The $500,000 is part of a $1.5-million package that includes a USDOT $750,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant. The remainder of the package includes $200,000 in gate fee waivers and $50,000 in marketing expenses that the airport will provide the carrier. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 12/20/14) Central Mississippi Note: The only airline serving GTRA currently is Delta, which operates three daily flights to and from Atlanta.

Jackson part of Army launcher pact

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control of Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $32,416,755 modification (PZ0011) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract W31P4Q-14-C-0124 for life cycle launcher support III which provides technical and maintenance support services for all U.S. Army high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fire control systems and launcher modules and M270A1 fire control systems. Support is also provided to the Marine Corps' HIMARS program. FY14 and FY15 operations and maintenance (Army) and FY14 and FY15 military construction funds in the amount of $28,692,202 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2018. Work will be performed in Gulf Coast states at Jackson, Miss.; Huntsville and Brownsboro, Ala.; and Avon Park, Malabar and Boca Raton, Fla. Other sites include: Aberdeen, SD; Budd Lake, NJ; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Chambersburg, Pa.; Concord, NH; Dallas, Fort Worth, Fort Hood and El Paso, Texas; Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Chaffe, Ark.; Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Lee, Va.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Riley, Kan.; Oklahoma City and Fort Sill, Okla.; Grayling, Mich.; Hauppauge, NY; Jackson, Miss.; Lovell, Wyo.; Pulaski, Tenn.; Sumter, SC; Sussex, Wis.; Whippany, NJ; York, Pa.; Afghanistan; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Seoul, South Korea. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Missile), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD, 12/19/14)

6 of 8 universities to raise tuition

JACKSON - Mississippi’s College Board gave final approval to plans Dec. 18 for the state’s eight public universities to raise tuition by an average of 3.2 percent beginning in the 2015 fall semester. Under the plan, Delta State and Mississippi Valley State’s tuitions will remain flat for the third consecutive year. The other six universities would increase charges from 2.5 percent to 5 percent. The largest increases would come at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, both raising tuition by 5 percent to about $7,500 per year. (The AP, 12/18/14) Central Mississippi Note: MSU offers a bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering focused on design, fabrication, testing, and analysis of aircraft and spacecraft. Its Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is one of only a handful of university-based flight labs in the nation. Delta State offers a Commercial Aviation Program that provides courses in general aviation, aviation management, and airway science.

AF Secretary Lee at CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James was onboard Columbus, Miss., AFB for a two day visit which began Dec. 17. She will tour squadrons and meet with airmen to learn about key initiatives and base-wide missions. The 14th Flying Training Wing is “honored to have Secretary James visiting Columbus AFB,” said Col. John Nichols, 14th FTW commander, and are “excited about showing off our mission and our world-class airmen." Secretary James will get a first-hand view of Team BLAZE, and how it works to execute its mission of “producing pilots, advancing airmen, and feeding the fight." (Source: Columbus AFB, 12/17/14)

Tale of 2 helo markets

The rotorcraft industry is engulfed in “A Tale of Two Markets,” according to Raymond Jaworowski, senior aerospace analyst for Forecast International. The civil sector is growing; while the military market is likely to shrink. Light military helicopters’ production likely will be cut by about 50 percent through 2023. It will peak in 2016 with 208 buys; fall to 55 around 2028. In 2014, the two biggest potential competitions – Army’s Kiowa Warrior replacement, and India’s light utility helos – were cancelled. Manufacturers are going to have to “rethink their business strategy,” he said. They’re going to have to look hard to the civilian market to compensate for lost military sales and focus on customer support and sustainment. (Source: National Defense, 01/15) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss., is expected to manufacture 431 helicopters from 2014-28. Most are near-term sales of the Tiger attack helicopter - used by France, Germany, Australia and Spain - and the UH-72A Lakota, which the Army plans to buy to replace TH-67 training helicopters primarily used at Fort Rucker, Ala.

IAI-Boeing missile fails

JERUSALEM – The test-exercise of an advance missile defense system, a development between Israel Aerospace Industries and the U.S. aviation firm Boeing, failed Dec. 16 following a launch from the Mediterranean Sea. A senior Israeli Defense Ministry official said the exercise was to test the first live interception by the Arrow 3. The system locked and did not deploy. Arrow 3 is part of the multi-layered system Israel is developing to protect itself against both long- and short-range missile threats. (Source: The Associated Press, 12/16/14) Central Mississippi Note: Stark Aerospace of Columbus, Miss., is an American subsidiary of IAI and located at the GTR Global Industrial Aerospace Park. Stark operates Unmanned Aerial Systems, Sensors, Production Services and Engineering divisions. Stark’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Division produces the ArrowLite – a small UAS system - and supports the Army’s Hunter MQ-5B UAS. Stark’s Sensors Division assembles and repairs payloads and variants used on the Army RQ-7 Shadow UAS.

Wicker retains Senate seniority

JACKSON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has retained his seniority positions on the Senate Armed Service and Commerce committees. The senator will also serve on the Budget, Environment, Public Works and Rules committees. Wicker is the second ranking Republican on the Commerce Committee, which works on issues related to ports, aviation, NASA, and the Coast Guard. (Source: The Associated Press, 12/16/14)

Miss. STEP gets SBA boost

The U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded the Mississippi Development Authority funding for the Mississippi State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program that allows MDA to provide financial/technical assistance to Mississippi companies interested in growing through trade. STEP helps reduce some of the financial obstacles qualifying businesses face when identifying export opportunities. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 12/16/14) Central Mississippi Note: Among companies that have participated in STEP are aviation and aerospace firms such as Hyperion Technology Group of Tupelo and Mississippi Aerospace Corporation of Picayune.

AeroDef conference in April

DEARBORN, Mich. - Aerospace manufacturers have an established – and growing - presence across the South; and some notable ones (Northrop, Be.., GE Aviation) will be partnering with SME to produce an AeroDef Manufacturing Conference from April 20-23 in Dallas. SME’s AeroDef will feature keynote speakers and panel discussions on the most promising technologies, including flexible manufacturing and the digital tapestry; additive manufacturing/advanced materials resource center; and a comprehensive technical conference. Registration is free. Visit aerodefevent.com/papers to download complimentary SME technical papers on aerospace manufacturing, including the drilling and machining of composites and advanced materials. For more information visit aerodefevent.com. (Source: PR Wire, 12/11/14)

Lakotas in spending bill

The Senate voted Saturday night to approve a $1.1 trillion deal sending the legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature after an unusual weekend session and days of drama in the House. In the end, the Senate passed the $1.1 trillion spending bill, 56-40. Mississippi’s Ingalls Shipyard secured a 12th LPD 17 San Antonio-class amphibious warship - saving about 3,000 jobs. Also, some other key Gulf Coast provisions are: 55 Lakota Light Utility Helicopters, which are made by Airbus Helicopters in Columbus, Miss.; three Littoral Combat Ships - plus advanced funding for a fourth - and an 11th Joint High Speed Vessel for the Mobile, Ala.-based Austal USA shipyard; nearly $1 billion for partial funding of a new amphibious ship, LPD 28 expected to be built at Ingalls in Pascagoula. (Source: Defense News, 12/12/14) Gulf Coast Note: The 56-40 Senate roll call vote Saturday. Gulf Coast states' senators voting for and against the measure: "Yes" is for passage: Landrieu, D-La.; Nelson, D-Fla.; Cochran, R-Miss.; Wicker, R-Miss. “No” votes: Sessions, R-Ala.; Shelby, R-Ala.; Vitter, R-La. Not voting: Feinstein, D-Calif.

Gov. touts state econ power

Gov. Phil Bryant touted Mississippi's success as an economic power and a job creator during a stop in Southaven on Dec. 10 - hosted by the DeSoto County Economic Council - as part of his statewide tour of "Mississippi Works". "Good things are happening," he said, referring to job-related growth. Bryant touted the state’s 120 aerospace industries from testing “engines that will put man on Mars someday" regarding work at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County to providing for the nation's most advanced warships built in Pascagoula. Workforce development is critically important, he Bryant. "If we don't have a supply chain coming out of the community colleges we are going to lose." (Source: DeSoto Times Daily, 12/11/14)

Nashville demand at TRA

TUPELO – With demand for flights to Nashville higher in demand than to Memphis from Tupelo Regional Airport, SeaPort Airlines hopes to find a near-term solution. At a reception Dec. 11 at TRA, SeaPort President Rob McKinney said passenger preferences are running 10-to-1 favoring Nashville. SeaPort began subsidized air service from TRA in October and offering 18 round-trips per week to Nashville and 12 to Memphis. SeaPort VP Tim Sieber said there are plan to meet with TRA’s Josh Abramson to look at the possibilities of switching more flights to Nashville. SeaPort is getting an annual $2.5 million subsidy through the federal Essential Air Service program to operate at TRA. (Source: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 12/12/14)

MS transportation cooperation

TUPELO – Major transportation sector leaders in Mississippi were stressing the necessity for intermodal cooperation – to move the economy forward – at an Itawamba Community College-sponsored event that included representatives of highways, railroads, airports, waterways and ports. Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert stressed the need to maximize, coordinate and cooperate across transportation sectors. Mississippi is a state of mostly small airports, with only two airports – at Jackson and Gulfport – having robust passenger service. Tupelo Regional Airport produces a $114 million economic impact; Golden Triangle Regional near Columbus a $272.5 million impact; Jackson’s impact is $873.5 million and Gulfport’s is $426 million. (Source: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 12/12/14)

New CEO for Jackson airport

JACKSON, Miss. – Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport general manager Carl D. Newman was named the new CEO for the Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Jackson on Dec. 11. The first order of business is to evaluate the airport with input from the community and business leaders. "What we need to do over time is assess what the real transportation needs are from an airport development standpoint and we'll work collaboratively with the community," Newman said. Among those assessments is to find a new air carrier to replace Southwest, which pulled out of Jackson in early 2014. (The Associated Press, 12/12/14)

Memphis hires airport manager

The Memphis-Shelby County (Tenn.) Airport Authority tapped former American Airlines network planner Will Livsey to serve as its new senior manager of Air Service Research and Development at Memphis International Airport. Livsey will be responsible for researching, developing and executing an increase of air service at MIA, which lost dozens of flights following Delta Airlines’ downsizing. He will serve as liaison between passengers, regional corporations, and leisure and convention travel executives to help target appropriate destinations. Livsey is a Memphis-area native. (Source: Memphis Daily News, 12/13/14)

CAFB ‘Pilot Partner’ honors

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Col. John Nichols, commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing, recognized a pair of community business leaders for their support of CAFB’s Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class graduation Dec. 12. Nichols presented plaques of support, as part of the community’s ‘Pilot Partner’ program, to Chuck Bigelow of Stark Aerospace and Marleen Hansen of Cartney-Hunt House Bed & Breakfast. The business leaders were community liaisons and mentors to the pilot training class during their one-year journey toward earning their Air Force silver pilot wings. The Pilot Partner program is a partnership with the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce, the local chapter of the Air Force Association and CAFB. (Source: Real Media, 12/12/14) Central Mississippi Note: Stark Aerospace develops, produces and supports unmanned aerial systems. Stark produced ArrowLite, its first completely organic sUAS. Stark’s main manufacturing and support facility is located at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus.

81st FS to reactivate at CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - The 81st Fighter Squadron – first activated in January 1942 at Key Field - will be reactivated on January 15 under the 14th Operations Group at Columbus Air Force Base for training up to 30 international pilots and 90 maintenance personnel on the A-29 Super Tucano. "This is a great opportunity for the 14th Flying Training Wing to continue to support international training," said Col. John Nichols, 14th FTW commander. The squadron will eventually grow to 65 personnel and 20 aircraft with training slated to begin in February. This is a temporary training mission programmed to be complete by 2018. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James had announced Aug. 22 that the overall program for coalition partner-training would be based at Moody AFB, Ga. (Source: Columbus AFB, 12/11/14)

Thunderbirds to fly at KAFB

NELLIS AFB, Nev. - The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron – known as the Thunderbirds - recently released its 2015 air show schedule. It will be the squad’s 62nd season and they will perform 71 demonstrations at 39 locations. Among multiple Gulf Coast states’ appearances include these dates/sites: March 28-29 at Keesler AFB, Miss.; April 11-12: Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Oct. 17-18 at Houston, Texas; and Oct. 24-25 at Lake Charles, La. Lt. Col. Christopher Hammond, an experienced fighter pilot with more than 2,000 flight hours, will take the lead of the squadron for the 2015-16 seasons beginning January. (Source: Thunderbirds, 12/10/15) Gulf Coast Note: Left-wing #2 pilot is Maj. Joshua Boudreaux of Covington, La. Talks about action in Afghanistan.)

Miss. ‘Doc’ of Army-Navy football

Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Felix ‘Doc’ Blanchard, one of the U.S. Military Academy’s Heisman Trophy award winners and retired Air Force Colonel, would be 90 years old Dec. 11 on the eve of the 84th consecutive Army-Navy football game Saturday in Baltimore, Md. During his three years of football at West Point, Army compiled an undefeated 27-0-1 record – tying Notre Dame 0-0. In 1945, Blanchard played against the Naval Academy’s Leon Bramlett, a two-time All-American running back who had played at Ole Miss and Alabama before going to Annapolis. Army won, 32-13. Both Blanchard and Bramlett, later a farmer-politician from Clarksville, Miss., were inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and 1988 respectively. Saturday's game will air at 2 p.m. CT on CBS. (Wikipedia 12/11/14)

Romney at MSU

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will be featured speaker on the Mississippi State University campus Jan. 28 as part of the Global Lecture Series. The event is a free, public lecture at Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium. (Source: Clarion-Ledger, 12/10/14)

MDA #9 in econ development

The Mississippi Development Authority, the state’s lead economic and community development agency, ranked No. 9 among the Top 10 State Economic Development Organizations in the U.S. based on research from the American Economic Development Institute. Louisiana ranked sixth and Alabama No. 8. MDA works to recruit, retain and expand Mississippi’s businesses. The annual study is designed to analyze and identify the most effective state economic development organizations. “Economic development in Mississippi is a team sport,” said MDA Executive Director Brent Christensen. ”It would not be possible without the great business relationships we have with our economic development partners at the regional and local levels throughout Mississippi.” AEDI is a non-partisan public policy and economics research institution with the mission to improve the American economy by fostering economic growth and prosperity through employment creation and international trade. (Source: AEDI, 12/09/14)

Happy birthday Mississippi

Today, Dec. 10, is the 197th anniversary of Mississippi becoming the 20th state admitted into the United States of America. David Holmes, who had previously been President Thomas Jefferson’s appointed governor of the Mississippi Territory, became the first elected governor of the state.

Orbital’s limited options

With heightened political tensions between the U.S. and Russia, the American government and the spaceflight industry wants to reduce space reliance on the Russian rocket engines that power a number of American private and military space launch vehicles. While Congress considers banning Russian launch technology, Orbital Sciences’ search for a new rocket engine demonstrates the difficulty of those type firms to wean themselves off Russian rocket hardware - or field American-made replacements. Orbital announced it would stop using the Russian AJ26 engine. But how will they replace it? With contract obligations to NASA and no obvious replacement option on the market, they may not have any choices. It can’t just go to the local hardware story and pick up cutting edge pieces of equipment. That’s a problem for the domestic rocket engine industry dominated by two non-competitive companies: Aerojet Rocketdyne, which produces liquid-fueled rocket engines, and Alliant Techsystems (ATK), whose expertise lies in solid-fuel rockets. ATK especially serves government clients that tend to push up the price of hardware beyond what the private space industry wants to pay. (Source: Fortune, 12/09/14) Centeral Mississippi Note: See previous story of potential merger.

ATK, Orbital talk merger

A prospective $4.5 billion merger between Orbital Sciences Corp. and its largest supplier, Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) has gained the go-ahead from the Department of Justice following an antitrust review. Orbital developed the Antares rocket - a booster that exploded in October after launching from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on a re-supply mission to the International Space Station. Antares had previously made four successful launches. ATK is an aerospace and defense contractor and ammunition manufacturer. If the merger is OK’d by shareholders in special meetings in January, the combo-firm would be known as Orbital ATK. The merger could be completed as early as February. Such mergers must pass federal muster under antitrust laws. (Source: Daily Press, Va., 12/08/14) Central Mississippi Note: In 2009, ATK announced it would locate high-tech aerospace and defense operations, in the area of manufacturing composite structures, at Iuka, Miss.

GC military housing kudos

Balfour Beatty Communities, the property and facilities management service company for military housing at NAS Meridian and NCBC Gulfport, Miss., was awarded 2014 Multifamily Real Estate Awards for Customer Service by CEL & Associations across 115 neighborhoods. The “A List” awards are the results of military customers’ feedback. Balfour earned the awards for resident satisfaction at 16 Air Force, 15 Navy and six Army bases. Across the Gulf Coast, Balfour’s other properties include Naval Air Stations Pensacola and Whiting Field, Naval Support Activity Panama City and Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. (Balfour Beatty, 12/09/14)

TANG pumps $73M into Memphis

MEMPHIS - The 164th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard (TANG) does exactly what one would expect of an airborne unit operating out of the world's second largest cargo airport – moves supplies and equipment around the world. It operates at the NE corner of Memphis International Airport. The base has an economic impact of about $73 million it pumps directly or indirectly into the region. TANG provides jobs and payroll, and makes local purchases and capital improvements into the area - like a $1.2 million flight simulator and training facility unveiled last week. The 164th AW has 870 employees and annual payroll of about $43 million, says base commander, Col. Mark Devine. The flight simulator marked one of the final steps in the wing's conversion to C-17 Globemaster III from the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Devine believes the Air Force has increased utilization of the wing to support combat operations and missions such as combat-related medevac flights between the Middle East, Germany and the U.S. (Memphis Commercial Appeal, 12/06/14)

3 Rivers partners with Itawamba

FULTON, Miss. – The Itawamba County Board of Supervisors has contracted with the Pontotoc-based Three Rivers Planning and Development District on a trial basis to serve as interim director of the Itawamba County Development Council through September 2015. The 3-person economic development team will begin immediately. Three Rivers is a non-profit that promotes economic development and provides guidance in an 8-county area - many of NE Mississippi’s major economic projects were completed with at least some guidance from them. Three Rivers served as administrator of the Pontotoc Union Lee (PUL) Alliance, which helped recruit Toyota. Three Rivers’ 30-day focus will be to complete at least 10 industrial site visits, get up to speed on the county’s current projects and industries by the end of December; and move forward in promoting Itawamba’s economic growth. (Source: Itawamba County Times, 12/04/14)

USM: Among tops in mil.edu

The University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University were named "Top Schools" for the 2015 Military Advanced Education Guide to Colleges & Universities guide. The December-released guide measures best practices in military and veteran education; and presents the results of a questionnaire of the military-supportive policies at more than 600 colleges. The institutes were evaluated on their military culture, financial aid, flexibility, on-campus support and online support services. Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond, director of veteran and military student services at USM, said the university was honored to receive the designation. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 12/06/14) Central Mississippi Note: USM’s School of Aerospace Engineering provides education in the field of aeronautics and astronautics through comprehensive learning and research activities to meet the nation’s aerospace demands. The school offers an accredited Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering as part of building human capitals of aerospace engineers for the country.

L-3 wins OK flight ops pact

For the first time since civilian contractors began providing most services at Vance AFB, Okla., two firms will split the work load. L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace took over all flight operations at Vance when awarded a $35.2 million pact to perform all aircraft support functions. The contract runs through Sept. 30, 2015. Previously, PAE-Applied Technologies LLC provided comprehensive base services on the flight line and off. But PAE was awarded a $43.5 million bridge contract to perform all other service functions at Vance through February 2016. (Source: Enid News, 12/06/14) Central Mississippi Note: L-3 Vertex has a Madison, Miss., location that provides aviation and aerospace technical services primarily for U.S. government customers including aircraft maintenance at Pensacola and Whiting Field Naval Air Stations in Florida.

Iuka eyes’ affixed to the heavens

IUKA, Miss. - Workers at the ATK Aerospace manufacturing plant in Tishomingo County will have their eyes toward the heavens Friday. ATK Aerospace built components for the Orion EFT-1 rocket, which is tentatively set to be launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral, Fla., weather permitting. It's the nation's first new spacecraft intended for outer-space travel by humans since the Apollo moon program. Many critical parts of the launch vehicle and capsule were made at the North Mississippi site. (Source: WTVA-Tupelo, 12/03/14)

Aerospace command tracks Santa

PETERSON AFB, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command’s ‘NORAD Tracks Santa’ website has launched; and it features a mobile version, a holiday countdown, new games and daily activities. It’s also available in eight languages. (Source: NORAD, 12/01/14)

DOD seeks tech ideas

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department is seeking technology and innovative ideas – from space to undersea technologies - as part of its Long Range Research Development Plan within the Defense Innovation Initiative, a broad effort examining future capabilities, dominance and strategy. The newly-released LRRDP Request for Information will provide a way for DOD technology scouts to collaborate with industry, academia, and the general public to explore topics and ideas to better identify the “art of the possible,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering Stephen P. Welby. (Source: Defense Media Activity, 12/03/14)

Japan defense chief at CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff was onboard Dec. 1-2 to check in on 10 of his nation’s student-pilots undergoing Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training with the Air Force. Columbus AFB is “one of the best places for flight training," said Gen. Harukazu Saitoh. “The extensive training range … enables the U.S. Air Force to train pilots quite effectively, and its three runways allow them to respond to unexpected situations flexibly." Saitoh said the U.S.-Japan Security Arrangements are a cornerstone of Japan's security. The JASDF student-pilot training with the Air Force began in 1991. To date, 215 JASDF pilots have completed their training with the Air Force. (Source: 14th Flying Training Wing, 12/03/14)

Boeing mum on AF T-X

ORLANDO, Fla. - Boeing continues to develop a custom-designed solution for the US Air Force’s T-X trainer replacement program with an eye on contract award in 2017. But Boeing VP Bob Gower indicated Dec. 1 that a preview is still a ways away. “We have not defined the timeframe that we will roll out the family of systems, including the new aircraft,” he told reporters. Boeing’s T-X plans are closely guarded. Almost nothing about its design has leaked. It is known that Boeing has teamed with Sweden-based Saab to develop the aircraft. But Boeing officials have insisted it won’t be a modified version of Saab’s Gripen fighter. The winner of the T-X competition will replace the service’s T-38 trainers with 350 new aircraft. (Source: Defense News, 12/02/14) Central Mississippi Note: Columbus AFB, Miss., is home of the 14th Flying Training Wing. Its mission is specialized undergraduate pilot training in the T-6 Texan II, T-38C Talon and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft. Following the T-6 phase of training, student pilots enter specialized track specific training - depending on the type aircraft they've been selected to fly – they use T-38s for fighter and bomber pilots or T-1As for tanker and airlift pilots. Student pilots selected to fly helicopters conduct training at the Army’s Fort Rucker, Ala.

AHI delivers helos to OKC police

The Oklahoma City Police Department’s aviation unit has placed two new Airbus AS350B3e AStar helicopters into service. The helicopters, built by Airbus Helicopters Inc. at its facility in Columbus, Miss., include technological and equipment upgrades to enable the OKC police department to significantly improve its airborne law enforcement and public safety mission capabilities. “The successful process of transitioning to a helicopter that allows for greater functionality, safety and reduced pilot fatigue is a testimony to Airbus Helicopters and their product,” said OKC Police Chief William Citty. (Source: PR Web, 12/01/14)

MSU grad earns SWE award

DAHLGREN, Va. - Navy engineer Brandie Jackson, a Mississippi State University undergraduate in Industrial and Systems Engineering, was named the 2014 Society of Women Engineers (SWE) ‘Member at Large Outreach Award’ last month. Jackson pursued Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) to become an industrial and systems engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren (Va.). The former Navy electronics technician discovered a myriad of ways in her government civilian career to share her knowledge as a STEM mentor. The ward honors an SWE member at large (collegiate or professional) who has made outstanding contributions toward informing school-age girls, parents, educators, counselors and/or the public of opportunities available in engineering during the previous year. (Source: Navy News Service, 11/27/14)

CAFB pilot earns 2nd wings

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Flight surgeon Capt. William Smith, under training with the 14th Flying Training Wing’s Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training program, has taken another step to becoming the Air Force’s 14th ever pilot-physician. Capt. Smith became the first pilot to earn his “Silver Wings” in the new pilot-physician selection process at CAFB during graduation Nov. 21. The path to becoming a pilot-physician in the AF requires obtaining pilot wings, serving an operational tour as an aviator and be a licensed physician and serve at least one year as a flight surgeon. "I always wanted to be a flight surgeon,” said Smith, “but I had never thought of being a pilot-physician until I got to Tyndall Air Force Base.” It was only after hearing about one pilot-physician's story he decide to pursue the unique career path. (Source: Columbus AFB, 11/25/14) Gulf Coast Note: At Tyndall, former flight surgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jay Flottmann was a fully qualified F-22 pilot and the 325th Fighter Wing’s chief of flight safety. He encouraged Smith to apply for the dual-specialty program. Tyndall AFB, Fla., has the largest contingent of operational Raptors of any AFB in the country. Once Flottmann completed medical school, he was assigned to Keesler AFB for post-graduate training. While at Keesler, he decided to become a flight surgeon.

Stark CEO: Army testing ArrowLite

Stark Aerospace, one of Israel Aerospace Industries’ North American subsidiaries located in Starkville, Miss., made an October announcement that the U.S. Army was conducting evaluation trials of the firm’s new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – ArrowLite - developed by IAI for tactical applications. ArrowLite is a competitor to Skylark MUAV developed by Elbit Systems under the designation of Sky Rider. When evaluation trials are concluded, the Army will announce whether they intend to purchase the new Israeli-American UAV. "ArrowLite can take off and land automatically and perform any tactical mission beyond a hill or a building,” says new IAI North America CEO Robert “Doc” Foglesong. Source: Israel Defense, 11/26/14) Central Mississippi Note: Foglesong, a retired U.S. Air Force 4-star general, also serves as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Stark Aerospace in Mississippi.

GT employment improving

The Golden Triangle’s Clay and Noxubee counties have the highest unemployment in Mississippi – 15.1% and 14.1% respectively. While a far cry from the state’s average rate of 7.7 percent last month, Clay and Noxubee counties have shown a 3% improvement since October 2013. Percentage wise, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties are faring better. (Source: Columbus Dispatch, 11/26/14)

Delta-Memphis cuts flights

Delta Air Lines is planning to lay off 84 employees from its operation at the Memphis (Tenn.) International Airport; and is cutting four cities from its non-stop flight destinations list. Beginning Jan. 5, Delta will scrap MIA’s non-stops to New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Dallas/Fort Worth. In April, Delta will no longer fly non-stops between Memphis and Reagan-Washington National Airport. Delta has been cutting Memphis flights due to low traffic counts. The airline also confirmed plans for seasonal non-stops to Las Vegas starting March 4; Salt Lake City on June 5; and from Dec. 20-Jan. 10, weekly non-stops to Cancun, Mexico. (Memphis Business Journal, 11/21/14)

ATK-Iuka’s safety milestone

IUKA, Miss. – Alliant Techsystems’ (ATK) Iuka-based aerospace structures manufacturing composite structures facility for next-generation commercial aircraft and engine components has gone more than six years without a major work-related accident - about 2 million work work-hours. “We are proud of our Iuka employees and their continued focus on safe operations and diligence in safety practices and processes,” said Joy de Lisser, VP and GM of ATK’s Aerospace Structures division. “Safety affects every aspect of our business, including our bottom line.” The Virginia-based HQ manufactures large composite aerospace structures for the Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles used by NASA. (Source: Northeast Mississippi Journal, 11/21/14).

Making way for the Lakotas

FORT RUCKER, Ala. - On one of the coldest days of the year in southeast Alabama, three OH-58D Kiowa Warriors Army aviation training helicopters geared up for their final flights from Fort Rucker. But despite of their departure, “aviators will continue to be trained to top standards at the home of Army Aviation,” said Lt. Col. Mark Gillespie, 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment commander, an OH-58D pilot for 20 years. The Army is developing AH-64D/E helicopter models as well as continuing to develop pilots at nearby Hanchey Army Airfield using the UH-72A Lakota helicopter as the primary training aircraft. (Source: Fort Rucker, 11/21/14) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss., produces the U.S. Army's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter.

CAFB tops aviation safety award

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Columbus Air Force Base’s 14th Flying Training Wing safety office was the top recipient of the 2014 Air Education and Training Command’s Lahm Trophy for the most effective Flight Safety program. It was the fourth time in CAFB’s history to win the award. The award was based on the 14th FTW's mishap prevention programs, initiatives, innovations and improvements in the area of flight safety. CAFB last won the Lahm Trophy in 2010. (Source: Columbus AFB, 11/21/14)

CAFB tops aviation safety award

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Columbus Air Force Base’s 14th Flying Training Wing safety office was the top recipient of the 2014 Air Education and Training Command’s Lahm Trophy for the most effective Flight Safety program. It was the fourth time in CAFB’s history to win the award. The award was based on the 14th FTW's mishap prevention programs, initiatives, innovations and improvements in the area of flight safety. CAFB last won the Lahm Trophy in 2010. (Source: Columbus AFB, 11/21/14)

AHI offering severance packages

COLUMBUS, Miss – Airbus Helicopters Inc., citing a downturn in sales, is offering voluntary severance packages to its Golden Triangle workers. Airbus employs about 250 people at its plant at the Golden Triangle Industrial Park in Lowndes County, where it assembles Army UH-71A Lakota and commercial AS350 AStar helicopters. There are no plans to implement layoffs. The last day for employees to volunteer to leave the company is Dec. 31. (Source: Clarion Ledger, Seattle Post-Intelligencer 11/20/14)

NASM earns ‘gold’

Sec­retary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Management Award winners. Several regional commands earned recognition. The awards program recognized commands with gold or blue levels of achievement. Gold indicates a very good to outstanding energy pro­gram; and Blue indicates a well-rounded energy program. Gulf Coast commands earning certificates were: Gulfport Naval Construction Battalion Center (Gold); Meridian Naval Air Station (Gold) and New Orleans Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base (Blue). (Source: Whiting Tower, 11/19/14)

ExpressJet numbers up at Key Field

There has been an increased in passenger service out of Key Field, at the end of Week 1 for ExpressJet flights out of Meridian - over 400 passengers. In comparison, there were only 550 passengers for the month of October alone. ExpressJet is an air carrier operating regional flights for American Airlines under the American Eagle brand. It has a two-year contract with the Meridian Airport Authority. The firm replaced the air service previously provided by Silver Airways, which had daily flights to Atlanta. ExpressJet flies daily to and from Dallas. (Source: Meridian Star, 11/16/14)

NASA ‘Challenge’ registration

NASA has opened team registration for its 2015 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge being organized by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The event is April 16-18 at the Alabama-based U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The ‘Challenge’ engages high school, college and university students in hands-on, experiential activities, and testing of potential technologies needed for future deep space exploration. Both U.S. and international teams may register. For U.S. teams, registration closes Feb. 6, 2015. (Source: NASA, 11/14/14)

Contract: Airbus D&S, $18.5M

Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded an $18,541,542 modification (P00858) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 for contractor logistic support to include flying hours, mission equipment packages and direct labor support. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $18,541,542 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2015 .Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/17/14)

Miss. biz team back from Israel

Gov. Phil Bryant declared a Mississippi business development mission to Israel this week as the state’s best trade trip since he’s been governor. Two state business leaders landed mega-orders; and the team met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a 45-minute sit-down discussion. That meeting produced interests from the PM about Ingalls shipbuilding - where HII had built three ships for Israel in the 1990s - and in an electromagnetic rail-gun missile defense system at General Atomics in Shannon, Miss., a suburb of Tupelo. Ten state firms and two research officials from Mississippi State and Southern Miss were on the trip. Those college reps explored research and development opportunities in aerospace and the unmanned systems arenas. (Source: Clarion Ledger, 11/14/14). Central Mississippi Note: Gov. Bryant is planning an “Israel/Mississippi Business Summit” in Jackson in April to bring Israeli companies to the state. USM and MSU reps explored research and development opportunities in aerospace, unmanned systems while in Israel. Stark Aerospace, located in Starkville, is a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, that manufactures and produces drones.

AE debuts at Hattiesburg airport

American Eagle airlines made its debut at the Hattiesburg-Laurel (Miss.) Regional Airport on Nov. 6. AE is an American Airlines connector to and from the Hattiesburg-Laurel and Meridian regional airports and its parent carrier’s Dallas-Fort Worth hub. AE replaces Silver Airways as the Pine Belt’s commercial carrier. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 11/06/14)

Vets Day: Time to listen

Not all of America’s veterans’ storylines are retold on the big screen, but it doesn’t make them any less heroic or significant. They all have a proud heritage to share. On Veterans Day (Nov. 11), let’s make a chance to listen. Recently aboard Columbus AFB, Miss., Bradford Freeman, one of the members of the renowned WWII unit known as the "Band of Brothers" paid a visit. He is one of 18 surviving members of the Army's 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment – “Easy Company” – of the 101st Airborne Division. The unit was made famous by the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers." Freeman, born in Artesia, Miss., in 1925, lived and fought through it all beginning on D-Day 1944. Easy Company pushed through France and into Germany fighting in every major conflict - including the Battle of Bastone - and playing a key role in the rescue of 125 British paratroopers and five American pilots in Holland. The 501st fought all the way to Hitler's mountain fortress (Eagle's Nest). Fifty years later he was in a preview of the movie sitting next to Tom Hanks. Freeman served as a narrator and advisor for the film. “They kept us busy over there" in WWII, he told members of the 14th Flying Training Wing at CAFB. (Source: Columbus AFB, 11/07/14)

AETC team impressed by CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Senior leadership of the Air Education and Training Command’s headquarters were onboard Nov. 3-4 for an overview of the base’s mission and to determine aspects of its overall future. Among discussions was the 49th Fighter Training Squadron, with its over-grown student training Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals mission requirements, and the 14th Mission Support Group - and its new Logistics Readiness Squadron. AETC team leader Gilbert Montoya was making his first visit to CAFB. On Day 2, Montoya spent it with the L3 Communications Systems field support program manager regarding the base's aircraft maintenance contract. Afterwards, Montoya told leadership that CAFB “did very well competing for end of fiscal year 2014 funds, because you were ready." The AETC team leader was impressed with the amount of CAFB’s operations tempo of about 270 daily sorties. “I am reassured the future of the Air Force is strong (and) Columbus should be very proud of the good work they're doing every day." (Source: Columbus AFB, 11/07/14)

IAI starts F-35 wing production

TEL AVIV, Israel - Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) officially inaugurated its production line of wings for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The production line began manufacturing its first pair of F-35 wings in September; and scheduled to produce four wings per month, according to a Nov. 6 Israeli Air Force announcement. IAI is under contract with LM to manufacture 20 pairs of F-35 wings. Under a memorandum of understanding, production will increase to a total of 811 wings. LM's F-35 is slated to enter service with the Israeli Air Force in 2017. (Source: UPI, 11/06/14) Central Mississippi Note: Stark Aerospace in Starkville, Miss., a subsidiary of IAI International, manufactures and assembles Hunter unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) it sells through Northrop Grumman.

Contract: Airbus D&S, $71.4M

Airbus Defense and Space, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $71,358,549 modification (P00857) to firm-fixed-price contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 to acquire UH72A Lakota helicopters with ARC 231 radios. Fiscal 2015 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $71,713,665 were obligated at the time of the award. The cumulative total for the contract, with this modification, is $2,734,932,786. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2016. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Aviation), Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 11/06/14)

186th part of Southern Strike 15

GULFPORT, Miss. - Military aircraft and vessels from across the country are participating in a two-week training exercise at the National Guard's Trent Lott Combat Readiness Training Center at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. More than 52 units are reportedly involved in the war games. Called Southern Strike 15, the exercise involves no large land force, but does involve special operations units calling in mock air strikes. The exercise has grown each of its first three years, first involving just the Air National Guard and then expanding across the U.S. military branches over the following two years to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, FBI and Special Operations Forces. (Source: Meridian Star, 11/04/14). Central Mississippi Note: The 186th Refueling Wing at Key Field in Meridian was among the SS15 participants; as well as AF and Army personnel from Eglin and Hurlburt Field, Fla., and NG units as far away as New York and Pennsylvania.

L3 garners $22M C-12 pact

L3 Communications Corp., Systems Field Support, Madison, Miss., has been awarded an estimated $22,354,202 firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement modification (P00028) to previously awarded contract (FA8106-11-D-0002) to exercise the option for C-12 contractor logistics support. Work will be performed at Accra, Ghana; Andrews AFB, Md.; Ankara, Turkey; Bangkok, Thailand; Bogota, Columbia; Brasilia, Brazil; Budapest, Hungary; Buenos Aires; Cairo; Edwards AFB, Calif.; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Gaborone, Botswana; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Islamabad, Pakistan; Manila, Philippines; Nairobi, Kenya; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; San Angelo, Texas; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Yokota Air Base, Japan, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2015. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 aircraft procurement; fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance; and fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $187,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD, 11/03/14)

First, cowbells; now, drones

STARKVILLE, Miss. - A camera hovers hundreds of feet above Davis-Wade Stadium on the Mississippi State University campus on a sunny football Saturday. The high-tech tool captures stunning game-day video of the No.1 ranked Bulldogs and game-day festivities below for uploading online for viewers around the world. But, it’s prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration. With the proliferation of low-cost drones, sporting events around the U.S. are seeing an increase in their numbers hovering over stadiums. Mississippi State University’s chief research officer, Davd Shaw, says these operators are flying in restricted airspace and is a risk to people on the ground. The FAA has specific rules about where drones can fly. According to the FAA, the airspace above the stadium - and other such venues - are “national defense airspace” on game days; and restrictions extend three miles in diameter and 3,000 feet overhead. Anyone knowingly or willfully violating the rules pertaining to operations in this airspace may be subject to certain criminal penalties; and all of these type commercial activities must have an approved certificate of operation. As a result, MSU has developed a university policy prohibiting any outdoor operation of drones - except when specifically authorized. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 10/30/14)

Ebola protocols not same

The Defense Department has placed stringent quarantine restrictions on military personnel returning from deployment to Ebola-affected areas of West Africa - far surpassing federal government standards. Military personnel diagnosed with Ebola would be transferred to the U.S. for treatment. But currently, there is only one type of aircraft designated to transport a sick individual from West Africa to the states. The aircraft can only transport one at a time; and make four trips a week, according to Maj. Gen. Lariviere, who testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. DOD has plans to buy isolation pods that could carry 15 people inside the C-17 military transport, but that purchase won’t begin until January, the general testified. The C-17 Globemaster serves as the Air Force’s primary strategic lift aircraft for global transport of troops and equipment; and is operated by the Air Mobility Command at five AFBs across the country – including Dover, Del.; Lakehurt, N.J. and Charleston, S.C. (Source: The AP, 10/31/14) Central Mississippi Note: The Air National Guard also flies C-17s from the 172nd Airlift Wing based in Jackson, Miss.

Miss. native earns undersea bronze

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Clarksdale, Miss., native Dr. Kerry Commander was awarded the 2013 Undersea Warfare Bronze Medal Award for Technical Merit by the National Defense Industrial Association. Commander was chosen for the distinction based on numerous technical fleet program achievements he helped lay the foundation. His recognition marks the 10th Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., worker to earn the NDIA Bronze Award distinction for technical merit since 1998. Commander is NSWCPC’s senior leader of technical research and development initiatives within the S&T division working in support of mine/undersea warfare and expeditionary warfare. (Naval Coastal Systems Center 10/28/14)

Columbus ANG supports CONR

TYNDALL AFB, Fla. - Forty four Mississippi Air National Guardsmen from Meridian played key roles last week in support of Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR)-1st Air Force's (Air Forces Northern) role in the annual Vigilant Shield training exercise in Northwest Florida. The 286th Air Component Operation Squadron, a tenant of the 186th Air Refueling Wing at Key Field, augmented personnel in logistics, intelligence, communications and operations during the 10-day exercise simulating a threat against North America. The 286th ACOS’ mission is to augment CONR in its homeland defense mission. The 286th had a variety of personal staff represented," said its commander, Col. Larry Griffin. "We contribute continuity to the staff that is already in place at AFNORTH," he continued. It was the Columbus squadron’s fifth year supporting Vigilant Shield. (Source: 286th ACOS, 10/26/14).

B-29s headed to NOLA expo

BATON ROUGE, La. - The B-29 Superfortress is best known for dropping atomic bombs on Japan during WWII, but flew countless other raids. Karnig Thomasian's final mission on a B-29 ended in flames over Burma in 1945 when bombs collided in a mid-air explosion that forced him to bail out; and spend six months as a Japanese prisoner of war. On Oct. 23, he was again in a B-29 flying from Baton Rouge to this weekend’s WWII AirPower Expo in New Orleans. (Source: The Associated Press 10/24/14)

AHI to feature Astar

Airbus Helicopters Inc. will feature the Seminole County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office new AS350B3e AStar helicopter at the 2014 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Orlando from Oct 25-28. The Seminole AStar is equipped with an advanced avionics and mission equipment suite that enhances crew safety and law enforcement operational capabilities. AHI’s AS350 series helicopters are the most widely purchased (220) by U.S. law enforcement agencies. AHI leads the U.S. market in sales of new helicopters to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies over the last decade. AHI is the U.S. affiliate of Airbus Helicopters, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of the Airbus Group, and with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Miss. (Source: PR Web 19/12/14)

GTRA simulates tragedy

The Golden Triangle Regional Airport drew first responders from across the region Oct. 21 in a training exercise in case of a worst-case scenario. The Columbus, Miss., airport conducts required FAA training exercises every three years to ensure local responders are prepared, said GTR Executive Director Mike Hainsey. (Source: Starkville Daily News 10/22/14)

Airbus D&S contract: $82.9M

Airbus Defense and Space Inc. of Herndon, Va., was awarded an $82,917,199 modification contract to acquire 17 Lakota UH-72A helicopters with 231 airborne radios. Fiscal 2014 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $82,917,199 were obligated at the time of the award. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $2,660,632,872. Estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2016. Work will be performed at Columbus, Miss. (Source: DoD, 10/22/14)

Northrop to supply Airbus helos

ORLANDO, Fla. - Northrop Grumman has been selected by Airbus Helicopters to certify and deliver its new LCR-350 Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) for several helicopter platforms. Developed by Northrop's subsidiary in Germany, LCR-350 AHRS can be used in civil and military applications on rotary- and fixed-wing platforms, providing flight control data regarding an aircraft's heading and attitude. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 10/21/14) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters builds Lakota helicopters in Columbus, Miss.

Ex-MSU prez markets Stark

Israel Aerospace Industries is offering a lightweight UAV, a countermine package for ground vehicles, and other gear at the AUSA expo in DC this week. Subsidiary Stark Aerospace of Columbus, Miss., is offering its ArrowLite, a 5-pound, hand-launched UAV that carries day and night sensors and is designed to give ground troops better intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Marketing IAI’s products to US clients is the job of IAI North America’s new CEO, Robert “Doc” Foglesong. A retired vice chief of staff of the Air Force and former president of Mississippi State University, he took over the post in August while serving as CEO of IAI subsidiary Stark Aerospace. (Source: C4ISR & Networks 10/17/14)

Stark TacSA system drone

The Association of the United States Army convention in DC was an obstacle course of contractors and robot-makers this week. Despite the drawdown in Afghanistan, the military wants robotic systems to detect IEDs, tactical intelligence and to peak around corners. A young Israeli firm (Roboteam) is marketing a variety of robotics including a Tactical Situational Awareness (TacSA) system, a piece of battlefield intelligence software that manages camera and other data feeds on its Micro Tactical Ground Robot (MTGR) and other bots. The software is undergoing beta-testing and the firm plans to officially unveil it in January. The firm wants to integrate multi-robot control into an interface so users can pilot two at the same time – like an MGTR, bot and drone from Stark Aerospace. The drone would hover in "loiter mode" collecting video and other data while an operator controls the MTGR and can switch back forth. (National Journal 10/16/14) Central Mississippi Note: Stark Aerospace is a global defense contractor with main facilities located at the GTR Global Industrial Aerospace Park in Columbus, Miss. Stark operates Unmanned Aerial Systems, Sensors, Production Services and Engineering divisions.

AW contests Army’s Lakota plan

The Army’s tentative plan to acquire up to 110 Airbus UH-72A Lakota primary helicopter trainers, a military variant of Airbus Helicopter Inc.’s EC145 built at Columbus, Miss., has been met with a legal challenge from AgustaWestland alleging that the service “acted unlawfully and unreasonably” by restricting requirements and competition to AHI’s EC145. AW filed a complaint contesting the Army’s sole-source contract plans to replace its fleet of TH-67s. AW is seeking a federal temporary restraining order to block the acquisition. AW’s move is seen as primarily political. The Army has not determined how it will go about contracting for the new trainers. The decision is expected in January. (Source: AIN Online 10/16/14)

NASM celebrates Navy b-day

Naval Air Station Meridian celebrated the Navy’s 239th birthday Oct. 4. Capt. Scott A. Bunnay, base commander, was guest speaker. The traditional cake cutting was done by the most senior and junior sailors present: Command Master Chief Hayden Jones and Aviation Maintenance Administration Airman Recruit Rebecca Dobbert. In 1972, CNO Adm. Elmo Zumwalt authorized recognition of October 13 as the Navy's birthday. (NAS Meridian 10/08/14)

Stark intros ‘ProtectLite’

Stark Aerospace of Columbus, Miss., will introduce a new, lightweight armor called ‘ProtectLite’ at the 2014 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition Oct. 13-15 in DC. Comprising a matrix of ceramic cylinders, ProtectLite armor offers a cost effective lightweight, highly resilient, survivability solution for vehicle armor. Stark-Columbus’ Aerospace’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team also produces ArrowLite, Hunter MQ-5B and Heron UAS and at its technologically advanced Columbus production center. (Source: Defense Update 10/13/14)

DOT rejects Jackson airport

Direct flights to Florida from Jackson-Municipal Airport took a nose dive Sept. 30. The U.S. Department of Transportation rejected its application for a Small Community Air Service Grant. The application was to be used to restore a “fare-reasonable” airline to replace the departed Southwest Airlines’ Orlando direct-to-Orlando flights. Other airport carriers have added flights to connecting flights via Atlanta and Houston. Allegiant Airlines flies to Sanford, Fla., in the Orlando area. (Source: Clarion-Ledger 10/09/14) Central Mississippi Note: Columbus received a grant this year for $750,000 to develop direct service to Houston, Dallas or Denver.

Aurora awarded SideArm pact

MANASSAS, Va. - Aurora Flight Sciences announced Oct. 7 it has been awarded a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for accelerated development of its SideArm launch technology and recovery system. Demonstration of SideArm technology was a key to Aurora's work on the Tactically Enhanced Reconnaissance Node (Tern) program. Phase 1 results indicated SideArm could fulfill the needs for aircraft launch and recovery technology goals enabling small ships to serve as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems (UAS). AFS is a leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced aerospace vehicles with headquarters in Manassas and production plants in Columbus, Miss., and Bridgeport, W.Va. (Source: Aurora Flight Sciences 10/07/14)

Stark exec joins tourism board

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Stark Aerospace vice president of marketing Thomas “Tango” Moore has been appointed the newest member of the Columbus Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Trustees. Moore is a retired Marine and Stark executive. The appointment is the first time in 16 months the board has had a full complement of members. Moore's tenure begins this month. He is the third newcomer this year. Stark Aerospace, located in GTR Global Industrial Aerospace Park, operates Unmanned Aerial, Sensors, Production Services and Engineering divisions. The UAS Division produces the ArrowLite, and supports the Army’s Hunter MQ-5B. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 10/06/14)

WWI symposium, AF musicians

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Mississippi University for Women presents a WWI symposium entitled "Technology and the Trenches: Solving the Riddle of Attack on the Western Front" by Dr. Andrew Wiest of the University of Southern Mississippi on Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in MUW's Parkinson Hall. Free to the public. On Oct. 14, the U.S. Air Force's "Tops in Blue" musical entertainment showcase event begins at 6:30 p.m. at MUW's Rent Auditorium. Doors open at 5:50 p.m. Admission is free. (Columbus Dispatch 10/05/14)

AF blasts IG's Reaper drone report

In a rare move, the Air Force blasted a Defense Department Inspector General report on the service’s acquisition program for the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system (UAS) and accused the IG of using outdated information. The IG report claimed the Air Combat Command failed to justify the need to buy 401 Reapers (for $76.8 billion) before submitting the plan to DOD’s Joint Requirements Oversight Council. AF Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Lt. Gen. Robert Otto said the IG based its evaluation on year-old data plans that were no longer accurate. The AF is only buying 346 aircraft (55 fewer than the IG report indicated), Otto said, and “we’ve only received about half that number” which was what the AF “originally estimated prior to sequestration.” The MQ-9 Reaper is the AF’s name for General Atomics’ Predator B UAS. (Source: Military Times 10/02/14) Central Mississippi: General Atomics’ Tupelo, Miss., facility does most of its work for the Navy including advanced launch and recovery systems for aircraft carriers.

L-3 earns Army contracts

L-3 Communications Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded an $8,627,576 labor-hours contract for a sole-source, 3-month bridge contract for aircraft production services - to include aircraft sheet metal mechanics, electrical mechanics, aircraft mechanic general mechanics, aircraft trade helpers, aircraft workers, aircraft painters, and maintenance trade helpers to support aircraft repair/overhaul. Work will be performed at Corpus Christi (Texas) Army Depot. Estimated completion date is of Jan. 28, 2015.
* L-3 was also awarded an $8,212,216 labor-hours similar contract to provide logistical, analytical, engineering, finance and budget, quality audit, computer operations, data entry, administrative support and facilities maintenance to support aircraft repairs/overhauls. Work will be performed at Corpus Christi Army Depot. Estimated completion date is Jan. 28, 2015. (DOD 10/03/14)

AFS, Eaton part of S-97 team

Sikorsky Aircraft has put its superfast X2 experimental-technology helicopter into a more mature package, called the S-97 Raider. It was unveiled Oct. 2. The firm hopes to find favor with the Army, seeking to replace its OH-58D Kiowa Warrior airframe. The S-97 is faster than conventional helos with a cruising speed of up to 253 mph. Kiowas had a cruising speed of 120 mph. S-97 also has a streamlined fuselage and striking reconfiguration with two stacked main rotors and a pusher propeller at the tail. The main rotors are coaxial and rotate in opposite directions driving both lift and forward flight. (Source: CNET website 10/03/14) Central Mississippi Note: Aurora Flight Sciences will design, manufacture and assemble the S-97 airframe at its Columbus, Miss., facility. Sikorsky also selected the Eaton Corporation to provide fuel lines, pumps and hydraulic system components; hardware and associated engineering support. Eaton also manufactures a broad range of components for Sikorsky helicopters. Eaton’s aerospace facility in Jackson, Miss., is home to one of the most advanced aircraft hydraulic test labs in the world.

AFS funded for VTOL X-Plane

MANASSAS, Va. - Aurora Flight Sciences announced Sept. 30 the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded the firm Phase 1B funding to continue participation in the DARPA Vertical Take Off and Landing Experiment Plane (VTOL X-Plane) program. The project will be located at AFS' Columbus, Miss., production facility, according to a release from U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. The award is intended to carry Aurora’s participation in the project through a Preliminary Design Review milestone in October 2015. Aurora's VTOL X-plane design seeks to use innovative distributed electric propulsion technology to achieve significant performance advances in both aerodynamics and propulsion. Aurora's team includes Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks, Honeywell, and ThinGap. (Source: Aurora Flight Sciences 09/30/14)

Thailand requests 9 more Lakotas

Thailand has requested to buy nine more UH-72A Lakota helicopters in a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal worth an estimated $89 million. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Sept. 26 of the potential follow-on FMS deal. The Royal Thai Army was already approved to receive six Lakotas. (Source: Flight Global 10/02/14) Central Mississippi Note: The twin-engine EC145s are produced at Airbus Helicopters Inc.’s facility in Columbus, Miss.

CAFB med clinic upgrades

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Columbus Air Force Base held a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 2 to mark the Phase I completion of a two-phase renovation to the 14th Medical Group's Koritz Clinic. Among the areas renovated were the Family Medicine and Flight Medicine clinics, Pharmacy, Immunizations and Laboratory. The renovation project began in August 2013. Phase II is scheduled to be completed in July 2015. (Source: Columbus AFB 10/02/14)

AF didn’t justify GA Reaper fleet

The Air Force didn’t justify its plans to buy a total of 401 MQ-9 Reaper drones worth about $77 billion, according a Defense Department audit. The Air Combat Command, headed by Gen. Gilmary Hostage and based out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., failed to get the OK from the Joint Requirements Oversight Council for an increase in procurement of the Reaper unmanned aircraft, according to a summary of the document released Oct. 1. They also didn’t maintain “consistent … verifiable” records for determining the proper number of the General Atomics-made drone. “As a result, the AF risks spending approximately $8.8 billion to purchase, operate, and maintain 46 MQ-9 aircraft it may not need,” the report states. Lt. Col. Chris Karns, a spokesman for the AF, said the audit provides an incomplete picture of the acquisition program. (Source: DOD Buzz 10/01/14) Central Mississippi Note: The MQ-9 Reaper is the AF’s name for General Atomics’ Predator B UAS. GA’s Tupelo, Miss., facility does most of its work for the U.S. Navy, including advanced launch and recovery systems for aircraft carriers, including the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

GTRA garners $750K grant

COLUMBUS, Miss. - The U.S. Department of Transportation has given a $750,000 grant to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport to help recruit new westbound air service from the Eastern Mississippi region that includes Columbus, Starkville and West Point. The grant was awarded under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. GTRA Executive Director Mike Hainsey says the industrial growth in the area has prompted the airport to seek additional flights to meet the demand, especially westbound. Delta currently has three roundtrip flights to Atlanta from the GTRA. (Source: The Associated Press 10/01/14)

Contract: L3 Vertex, $12.3M

L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $12,336,919 modification to exercise option A00053 to previously awarded contract FA3002-11-C-0001 for trainer maintenance services. Work will be performed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2015. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,028,076 are being obligated at the time of award. The 82nd Contracting Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/01/14)

Miss. parachute firm expanding

COLUMBIA, Miss. – Officials from Columbia Parachute Co., a manufacturer of government parachutes, announced Sept. 30 it is expanding operations and relocating within Columbia. The firm, located in the Pioneer Aerospace facility, will relocate to an 11,000-square-foot space in the Marion County BusinessPlex, the former Columbia Training School campus. (Source: Hattiesburg American 09/30/14)

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $51.8M

L-3 Communications Systems Field Support, Vertex Aerospace, LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $51,763,774 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity requirements contract (N00019-11-D-0010) to exercise an option for aircraft maintenance and logistical life cycle support for 53 C-12 aircraft. Work will be performed in Winnepeg, Canada (34 percent); San Angelo, Texas (34 percent); Corpus Christi, Texas (12 percent); and various locations within and outside of the continental United States (20 percent) work is expected to be completed in September 2015. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activities. (Source: DoD, 09/26/14)

CMSAF visits Columbus base

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody met with airmen and families of Columbus Air Force Base on Sept. 24-25 to discuss key AF and Team BLAZE issues, and local success stories. CMSAF Cody spoke with a Team BLAZE Focus Group, recently assembled to discuss improving quality of life issues CAFB families and civilian employees. (Source: 14th Flying Training Wing 09/25/14)

GT employment improving

The Golden Triangle region and Mississippi’s unemployment rates remain well above the national average (6.3%). New figures show signs that people living in the Golden Triangle area are finding jobs. Over the past eight months, Lowndes County's unemployment rate has been lower compared to 2013. In August, it was down 1% from 2013 to 8.7%. Clay County still remains the highest in the state but the August rate was down 3% to 15.7%. Oktibbeha County improved 1.1% to a rate of 7.7%. Noxubee County improved seven-tenths of a percent to 14.5 percent last month. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 09/25/14) Golden Triangle Note: Lowndes County has borrowed $14 million this year to purchase 2,500 acres of land for future development at the new Golden Triangle Regional Global Industrial Aerospace Park. "I think you're going to see some advanced automotive and aerospace component manufacturers" locate in the park, LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said, "and a large number of jobs” in the aerospace, helicopter and steel industries “for a long time.” (Source: Columbus Dispatch 06/28/14)

AHI awards air med industry

NASHVILLE - Airbus Helicopters Inc. (AHI) honored air medical transport industry leaders here Sept. 23 at the Air Medical Transport Conference for efforts in improving safety and quality of service. The Jim Charlson Aviation Safety Award was given to PHI Air Medical President David Motzkin. Tom Allenstein, CEO of MedFlight of Ohio, was presented with the prestigious Program of the Year award. That award is given annually to an EMS program that has demonstrated superior levels of safety consciousness, patient care, quality leadership and community and industry service. (Source: Airbus Helicopters Inc. 09/23/14) Central Mississippi Note: AHI is the U.S. affiliate of Airbus Helicopters, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of the Airbus Group. AHI has a large production facility located in Columbus, Miss.

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $14M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $13,967,277 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for organizational, selected intermediate, and limited depot level maintenance and logistics support services for the F/A-18A/B/C/D/E/F, EA-18G, MH-60S, F-16A/B, and E-2C aircraft, in support of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. Work will be performed in Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,967,277 will be obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-14-D-0037). (Source: DoD, 09/24/14)

AHI presents Vision award

NASHVILLE - Airbus Helicopters Inc. presented its 2014 Vision Zero Award for safety in the air medical industry to Protean LLC for development of the LZControl.com data base , a free flight safety service for the air medical industry. AHI’s Air Medical division sales manager Jennifer Hardcastle presented the award to Protean CEO John Cornett during the Air Medical Transport Conference annual community awards banquet here Sept. 22. Protean’s LXControl offers web-based software to fire and police departments, emergency medical service providers and hospitals. (Source: Airbus Helicopters Inc. 09/23/14) Central Mississippi Note: AHI has a large manufacturing unit in Columbus, Miss.

Forest part of launcher pact

Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems of Goleta, Calif. is being awarded a $9,414,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-10-G-0006) for the procurement of 226 ALE-50 Bravo T3F launchers for U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (70 percent), and Goleta (30). Work is expected to be completed in October 2017. FY 2013 Navy aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $9,414,000 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 09/23/14)

Forest earns partial radar pact

Raytheon of El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a $40,950,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-10-G-0006) for the procurement of 15 AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar Systems in support of the F/A-18 E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (50 percent); Andover, Mass. (30); and El Segundo (20). It is expected to be completed in November 2016. FY 2012 and 2014 Navy aircraft procurement funds of $40,950,000 are being obligated on this award - $10,920,000 of which will expire Sept. 30, 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 09/23/14)

AHI delivers new helo

NASHVILLE – Airbus Helicopters Inc. delivered a new AS365 twin-engine helicopter to CareFlight Air & Mobile Services of Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, Sept. 22. The AS365 N3+ was built at AHI’s manufacturing plant in Columbus, Miss. The helicopter was completed with an air medical transport equipment package by Metro Aviation of Shreveport, La. (Source: Airbus Helicopters Inc. 09/22/14)

AHI to feature med helos in TN

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Airbus Helicopters Inc. will feature a pair of its medical transport helicopters at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) on Sept. 22-24 in Nashville, Tenn. It’s newly in-service ShandsCair Flight Program’s EC155 B1 and Vanderbilt University’s LifeFlight EC130 B4 will be on display. Airbus Helicopters is “honored that so many outstanding hospitals and other air medical transport service and emergency medical services providers continue to select (AH) aircraft for their vital, life-saving missions,” said CEO Marc Paganini. AHI is the U.S. affiliate of Airbus Helicopters, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of the Airbus Group. (Source: AHI 09/19/14) Central Mississippi Note: AHI’s has a manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Miss.

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $12M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded an $11,961,245 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-12-D-0016) to exercise an option for maintenance, repair, and logistics support for the chief of Naval Air Training Aircraft's intermediate maintenance departments located at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Support to be provided includes labor, equipment, tools, services, and direct and indirect material. Work will be performed at Naval Air Station Pensacola (60 percent), and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2015. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated against individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/18/14)

L-3 averts Nevada strike

A Fallon, Nevada, aircraft support services union ratified a new 5-year contract proposal Sept. 12 with L-3 Vertex Aerospace management, a government contractor that provides maintenance work for Navy squadrons at Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Fallon. IUE/CWA Local 89119’s membership averted a potential strike that could have affected Navy aviation maintenance operations across the entire Navy, according to local union President James Martens. Negotiations had been going on since Aug. 11. (Source: Nevada Appeal 09/16/14) Central Mississippi Note: L-3 Vertex maintains corporate offices in Madison, Miss., and provides aviation and aerospace technical services, primarily for government customers.

Ex-commanders return to CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Seven former wing commanders of the 14th Flying Training Wing and two former vice commanders reunited at Columbus Air Force Base on Sept. 4-6 to help celebrate the historic once-in-a-century graduation of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) Class 14-14. (Source: Columbus AFB 09/12/14)

SE trade delegation heads to Japan

JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant will join a southeastern-states trade team to the 37th annual meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan and the Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations (SEUS-Japan) in Tokyo. The team departs Sept. 14. William Yates III, CEO of Mississippi-headquartered Yates Construction, is co-chairman of the meeting and will lead the 27-member state delegation which will include representatives of three state universities and the Port of Gulfport. State figures show Japan is the biggest foreign investor in Mississippi. (Source: The Associated Press 09/11/14)
Central Mississippi/Gulf Coast Notes: Pensacola, Fla.-based Whitesell-Green and Yates Construction worked on an $8 million engine maintenance and storage facility used to inspect, repair, maintain and store aircraft engines, propellers and related materials to support the Air Force Special Operations Forces' aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Next year's SEUS-Japan conference of the 7-state group will be in Alabama.

GC states in Biz Top 10

Three Gulf Coast states were among the ‘Top 10 For Doing Business’ with in 2014. Alabama ranked No. 4 and was followed by Louisiana (6) and Mississippi (10), according to Area Development Online’s fifth annual survey of consultants in three overall categories and 18 subcategories. In the big picture, Georgia unseated Texas for the top spot. The State of Alabama was given kudos for its long-term economic development plan known as Accelerate Alabama; United Launch Alliance’s factory in Decatur that turns out up to $1 billion in rockets to carry an array of satellites into space; and Airbus’ A320 passenger jet production facility at Mobile. Louisiana’s reputation is growing as one of the most accommodating state governments under Gov. Bobby Jindal. Mississippi’s rising status has been reflected in the areas of automotive and aerospace with Eurocopter expanding its helicopter assembly and test-site operations in Columbus, Miss. (Source: Area Development Online 09/14)

Airbus pushing new A400M

WASHINGTON - The president of Airbus Americas Inc. says the company is focusing on securing additional short-term orders for its Mississippi-built UH-72 helicopters to the U.S. Army. But the “next big project” will be focused on marketing its A400M military transport plane to the U.S. Air Force, Barry Eccleston told participants at the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit. Airbus plans a major marketing drive for the A400M in the United States after it was introduced in France, Britain, Turkey and Germany. (Source: Reuters 09/11/14) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters of Columbus, Miss., builds UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopters for the Army.

L-3 earns flight ops contract

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., has been awarded a $35,215,409 firm-fixed-price contract for acquisition of flight operations support services. Work will be performed at Vance AFB, Okla., with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2015. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $35,215,409 will be obligated when funds become available. This contract was a competitive source acquisition, and four offers were received. The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, 338th Specialized Contracting Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA3002-14-C-0013). (Source: DOD 09/11/14)

Top AF officer visits CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – The Air Force’s highest ranking uniformed officer was onboard Columbus AFB to at the base’s Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 14-14's graduation Sept. 5 - one event of CAFB's ‘Heritage to Horizons’ week celebrating the base's history. Gen. Mark A. Welsh also took part in a base-sponsored community reception; and emphasized to airmen the importance of community outreach and involvement. "You won't find many people who have been stationed at Columbus AFB who don't rave about it," the Chief of Staff of the Air Force said. Welsh's son earned his silver wings at CAFB – the last time he visited the base. (Source: Columbus AFB, 09/06/14)

SAE offers flights to Jackson

DESTIN, Fla. - Southern Airways Express plans to shift its service at Destin Airport from seasonal to year-round. This fall, Southern Airways Express will provide daily service from Destin to Memphis, Tenn., Atlanta and Jackson, Miss., and weekend service to Oxford, Miss. The Memphis, Tenn.-based airline launched its first flight in June 2013 and has been growing, recently adding the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta to its list of destinations. The company operates a fleet of three, 10-seat Cessna Caravans. (Source: News Herald, 09/04/14) Central Mississippi Note: In the Memphis area, the airline will use the Olive Branch (Miss.) Airport rather than Memphis International Airport.