GSE promotes MSU aerospace grad

Mississippi State University aerospace and mechanical engineering graduate Karen L. Brown has been promoted to one of the principals of Gulf States Engineering. Previously, she had served as director of operations. GSE, formed in Mobile, Ala., with only three employees in 1998, now boasts a staff of more than 50 professionals operating from offices in Mobile and Gulfport, Miss. The company offers civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and fire protection engineering to industrial, commercial and governmental clients in 22 states. (Source: AL.com, 04/30/14)

ATK, Orbital merging

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) of Arlington, Va., is merging its aerospace and defense segments with Orbital Sciences, the Dulles-Va.-based commercial space firm. The $5 billion transaction is expected to be completed later this year. The new company will be Orbital ATK, based in Dulles. ATK, which will spin off its hunting gear segment into a separate company, islooking to bolster its aerospace business, while Orbital Sciences hopes to boost the scale of its existing operations and gain a foothold in the defense sector. Last year Orbital's Cygnus spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station, the second commercial company to do so after SpaceX. ATK is also involved in space activities, building aerospace structures and rocket engines. This month it received a contract from United Launch Alliance (ULA) to deliver hardware for the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. (Sources: multiple, including Washington Post, Reuters, GovConWire, 04/29/14) Central Mississippi note: ATK has an aerospace structures operation in Iuka, Miss., and multiple operations in Huntsville, Ala.

MS air guard contractor promoted

Central Mississippi native Amanda Dillon Villeret was promoted recently to the rank of major in the Mississippi Air National Guard during a ceremony at the Mississippi National Guard’s Joint Forces Headquarters in Jackson. Villeret is director of MNG’s State Partnership Program where she plans and coordinates familiarization visits between Mississippi and the countries of Bolivia and Uzbekistan. The Ridgeland, Miss., native also serves as a contracting officer with MNG where she negotiates, awards and administers multi-million dollar government contacts. (Source: The Herald, 04/28/14.) Central Mississippi Note: From May-August 2002, Villeret served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at the Al Udeid (Qatar) Air Base. Ridgeland is located 10 miles north of Mississippi’s state capital.

NoMiss HS to offer aviation courses

TUPELO – Fourteen Lee, Pontotoc and Union county high schools in North Mississippi will be offering its students three new dual-enrollment online or in-person courses including the introductions to aviation and robotics in an effort to prepare Mississippi students for in-demand professions. The Toyota Wellspring Education Fund will begin offering courses to upcoming juniors and seniors for the 2014-15 academic year. Each course will have space for about 15 to 20 pupils; and will provide three college credit hours for those who complete courses. Aviation class will provide learning experiences flying and the operation of drones, a skill-set expected to be in high demand. (Source: Daily Journal-Tupelo, 04/20/14)

Navy helo savings may cost same

The Navy is considering an unprecedented contract cancellation for 29 sub-hunting helicopters. Citing budget cutbacks, Navy also wants to retire an aircraft carrier. Reasoning: One less carrier means less need for helicopters; although production has been underway since 2012. Sometimes “savings” cost as much as spending. The Defense Department signed the $1.05 billion deal with Sikorsky Aircraft and Lockheed Martin in 2012 with funding coming between FYs 2012-16. The agreement also included Army orders for Black Hawks. Contract termination fees would be at least $250 million; and the Navy would “get nothing in return,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), and result in higher costs to the Army. Altering this pact would be unprecedented in the history of DOD contracting, Sikorsky VP Scott Starrett claimed. Pentagon acquisitioners are looking into their options. The cost to finish the work, Lockheed CFO Bruce Tanner said given production is underway, would be about the same. Upon completion, and if the services didn’t want the helos, they could always be sold to American allies. (Source: The Fiscal Times, 04/25/14)
Central Mississippi Note: Airbus-Columbus builds UH-72A military helicopters for the U.S. Army.)

DOD, biz hurt by sequester

Elana Broitman, deputy assistant Defense secretary for manufacturing and industrial base policy, decried the uncertainty of mandated sequestration budget cuts because they are causing the Pentagon to develop two competing budgets. Broitman claims short-term sequestration plans are going to damage the quality of American weapons systems, reduce competition in the marketplace and deter industry innovation. Retired BAE Systems CEO Linda Hudson, representing industry at the same panel discussion April 23 organized by Bloomberg Government, agreed that “sequestration was giving companies trouble dealing with … uncertainty, but the sky is not falling.” But Hudson claimed current federal draw-downs differ from the post-Cold War era. There is no shared “collaboration” for a peace dividend between industry and government, she claimed, and defense contractors aren’t going to invest business dollars in research and development over unseen visions. (Source: Government Executive, 04/24/14) Central Mississippi note: Broitman also expressed regret Congress rejected the administration’s request for a 2017 round of base closures. NAS Meridian, NAS Whiting Field, Fla., Army’s Fort Rucker, Ala., and primary naval aviation training at Corpus Christi, Texas, have been perpetual sources of conversation at BRAC commissions since 1991.

MGCCC offering aero training

GULFPORT - Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is getting creative with its curriculum to attract students. Jackson County’s campus will begin offering packages in aerospace and aircraft training this summer aimed at preparing students for jobs with such employers as Airbus in Mobile, Ala., and the Golden Triangle Region. But those won’t be the only job options for students. MGCCC’s coastal campuses are taking curriculum and putting in basic structural, sheet metal activities applicable to a wide array of industries along the Coast such as shipbuilding. (Source: Sun Herald, 04/24/14)

DeLaughter into restoration

Former Hinds County (Miss.) Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter manages a firm that locates and restores forgotten buildings into apartments in New Orleans – where people have gone for nearly 300 years to start anew. He is best known for successfully prosecuting civil rights activist Medgar Evers' murderer in 1963; and penning a memoir that was turned into the motion picture “Ghosts of Mississippi" in 1996. He got out of prison in 2010 after serving a year for lying to FBI agents former boss, Ed Peters, regarding a legal fees dispute that could have cost trial lawyer Dickie Scruggs $15 million. Prosecutors accused DeLaughter of ruling in Scruggs' favor in exchange for Scruggs asking brother-in-law, then-U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, to nominate DeLaughter for a federal judgeship. Lott recommended someone else. (Source: Clarion Ledger, 04/21/14)
Central Mississippi Note: Last year, DeLaughter and Peters also drew some scrutiny when the Mississippi Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a $1 billion trade secret lawsuit filed by Eaton Corp. of Jackson against a rival as punishment for Eaton turning Peters loose to influence DeLaughter. At sentencing, DeLaughter went to prison. He never considered a memoir on the latest experience.

Thumbs up for NASM airfields

The Operations Program Inspection team from Commander Navy Installations Command gave Naval Air Station Meridian two thumbs up for its air operations division and the overall quality of its airfields. The team spent three days inspecting NASM’s McCain and Joe Williams fields. “You have a beautiful base; and the airfields are in excellent shape,” said Cmdr. Joel Doane, CNIC air operations team leader. The airfields support Training Air Wing One in the training of naval aviators. (Source: NAS Meridian Skyline, 04/17/14)

Teen: NASM aviator for day

Vicksburg teenager Hannah Dunaway – all 5-foot-3 of her - could have been mistaken for a young female naval aviator April 11 walking across the tarmac at Naval Air Station Meridian. She was Training Air Wing One’s first ever selected “Aviator for a Day.” TAW-1 has partnered with Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson to make dreams of deserving children, who have life-threatening illnesses, come true. Hannah has been diagnosed with Cystic Hygroma – reoccurring, non-malignant tumors for which there are no cure, but 39 surgeries so far. Seeing the jets close up and what it takes to be a naval aviation was an “encouragement for her to set goals and dream big,” her mother, Nicki Dunaway, said. “This has been the best experience (and) it’s been so much fun,” Hannah chimed in. “Everything has been about her today,” Nicki continued. “She’s been ‘Queen for a Day’ and just loved it.” (Source: NAS Meridian Skyline, 04/17/14)
Central Mississippi Note: NAS Meridian trains naval aviators to fly jets before joining the fleet.

Airline customer loyalty

What airlines drive consumer loyalty best? For airlines, some of the factors are beyond their control (i.e. pre-flight security), but other service-oriented measures – bag-checking, on-time arrivals and pricing – often drive customer loyalty to one airline above others. There’s one NY research firm - Brand Keys Inc. – that specializes in the field; and has released its 2014 airline customer loyalty index with winners – JetBlue and Southwest - and losers, United Airlines. (Source: The Motley Fool, 04/20/14) ... Central Mississippi Note: JetBlue serves New Orleans. Southwest serves Jackson, Miss.; Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile, Ala.; Florida’s Pensacola and Panama City; Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans. UA serves Jackson and Gulfport/Biloxi; Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile, Ala.; Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Jacksonville, Fla.; Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lake Charles, La.; and Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.

ATK-Iuka earns ‘fab’ AF pact

ATK has reached agreement on a $178 million contract award as part of the Air Force's Phase 1 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) buy from United Launch Alliance. The order value includes hardware for both current Air Force EELV launch vehicles: Atlas V and Delta IV; and consists of a variety of composite structures that are to be fabricated at ATK's Large Structures Center of Excellence (COE) facility at Iuka, Miss. (Source: ATK, 04/16/14)
Central Mississippi Note: ATK-Iuka’s COE boasts of more than 320K sf of manufacturing space and an 86K sf facility which houses some of the largest specialized processing equipment of its kind in the US.

Key Field lands 1st BOSS

MERIDIAN - The 186th Air Refueling Wing and state National Guard Bureau officials officially ribbon-cut and opened an air-refueling simulation system April 17 here at the Air National Guard’s Key Field. The Boom Operator Simulation System (BOSS) is a training tool for the ANG that replicates the Block 40 boom pod of a KC-135R Stratotanker used to provide the core air refueling capability for the Air Force, the 186th is in conversion back to the KC-135R Stratotanker. The tanker provides core aerial refueling capability for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. "Having the BOSS (on Key Field) will have a lot to do with the 186th ARW becoming the best refueling wing in the National Guard … again," said Maj. Gen. William Crisler, chief of staff for the joint headquarters of the Mississippi Air National Guard in Jackson. (Source: Meridian Star, 04/17/14)

Tupelo lawyer nom for airport board

Tupelo lawyer-pilot Lawrence Deas has been nominated by Mayor Jason Shelton to fill a vacancy on the Tupelo Airport Authority board. Deas holds an undergraduate degree from Yale University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the Deas & Deas LLC of Tupelo; and a licensed pilot. (Source: Daily Journal, 04/15/14)

Exec: New airline soon for Tupelo

A new commercial air carrier – to replace Silver Airways - may be available as soon as August for the Tupelo Regional Airport, its executive director speculated in a report April 15. Silver Airways previously announced it was ending air service at TRA; but by regulation, the airline must continue operations until a replacement is found. The U.S. Transportation Department is to issue a request for proposal within the next couple of weeks for interested airlines. The selected carrier gets an Essential Air Service program federal subsidy to provide service. According to TRA Executive Director Josh Abramson: If everything falls into place, the winning carrier could be selected as early as June, and operational by August. But, it depends on the selected airline, number of planes and pilots. (Source: Daily Journal, 04/15/14)

Stark biz development job

Stark Aerospace of Columbus, Miss., has a job opening for an equal opportunity Business Development Director to be responsible for Elector-Optical Divisional marketing and related services to include business pursuit and capture, direct marketing proposals, marketing contracts, and ongoing customer relations. Source: Stark Aerospace, 04/18/14)

Miss. aviator honors father

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – Navy Cmdr. Joe V. Overstreet, a Hattiesburg native, attended a two-bell ceremony here April 15 in remembrance of the downing of an American EC-121 early warning radar surveillance aircraft by Russian MIGs – in international waters - 45 years ago. The Mississippian’s father, Lt. Cmdr. James Overstreet, was the plane commander. The younger Overstreet, with wife, Julie, and daughter, Sydney, attended the ceremony in the base chapel where the 31 service members aboard the “Deep Sea 129” call sign of the EC-121. Each crewman received two strikes from the bell when their name was read aloud. (Source: Navy News Service, 04/18/14)

Spy planes over America?

The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and intelligence agencies have been pushing the White House to deny a new Russian spy plane the right to fly over American territory. The White House began considering a decision whether to certify the new Russian aircraft under the so-called “Open Skies Treaty.” At issue is the current face off between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine. Obama’s cabinet is feuding over the 2002 ratified agreement to allow Russian surveillance flights in American skies. John Kerry and the State Department, which will make the decision, favor the certification. Source: Daily Beast, 04/18/14.

Orion powers through test

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- NASA's Orion spacecraft passed a test designed to determine readiness for its first flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1. EFT-1 later this year will send the spacecraft more than 3,600 miles from Earth then back. The spacecraft ran for 26 uninterrupted hours during the final phase of a major test series completed April 8 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The test verified the crew module can route power and send commands that enable the spacecraft to manage its computer system, software and data loads, propulsion valves, temperature sensors and other instrumentation. Sources: Space Travel, 04/16/14, NASA, 04/11/14
(Gulf Coast notes: Orion is built in part at Michoud Assembly Facility in East New Orleans; and engines that will power the Space Launch System are tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss.)

O2 space recycle proposals

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is taking proposals to develop systems to safely and efficiently regenerate oxygen for future space voyages. Through the Game Changing Development Program, NASA is taking proposals from NASA centers, government agencies, federally-funded research groups, academic institutions, commercial companies and nonprofits. NASA already has a 40 percent oxygen recycle system onboard the International Space Station. The new technology being solicited needs to increase the oxygen recovery rate to at least 75 percent. NASA plans to dole out about six Phase I awards [up to $750K each] for teams who submit winning proposals for the design, development and testing. Under a Phase II, selected teams will build a prototype. Source: Space.com, 04/16/14.

2nd star for NMOC at Stennis

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced April 15 that President Obama has nominated Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Brian B. Brown for appointment to the rank of 2-star rear admiral. Brown is currently serving as commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command at Stennis Space Center, Miss. Source: DOD, 04/15/14.

MSU earns record high R&D

The National Science Foundation’s annual higher education research and development survey places Mississippi State University 92nd overall among institutions – based on $233.2 million spent – in total research and development expenditures. State’s R&D research – a record high for the university - also accounts for 48.9 percent of expenditures reported by all of Mississippi’s colleges. Nationally, MSU is ranks 54th in non-medical school R&D expenditures; and 62nd among all public colleges. MSU ranks No. 6 in agricultural science R&D expenditures – a Top 10 for the 12th straight year; No. 51 in engineering; and 43rd in computer science. Source: National Science Foundation, 04/15/1
(Gulf Coast note: MSU is among the nation’s leading-edge R&D and testing of manned and unmanned aerospace vehicles and composite materials. MSU ranked just ahead of Florida State University among all institutions in R&D expenditures. Vanderbilt University in Tennessee ranked No. 34 and the University of Alabama at Birmingham was 41st.)

MSU offers ‘Heartbleed’ assist

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University technology professionals are offering patches and advice about the worldwide “Heartbleed” computer security threat to Internet users on campus which may be good information for all web users. MSU security and compliance officer Tom Ritter said “Heartbleed” is being used against at least two-thirds of websites across the world; and allows hackers to connect to servers and draw encrypted read-only information. MSU’s technical services advises users to change Internet passwords to all online banking, social media and websites on which purchases and transactions have been made. He also cautions that many websites using Open SSL (and an open-source encryption technology) have not implemented patches since Heartbleed; and that one-time password changes may not be initially sufficient. Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Amazon have made patches. Web users should not rely on online notifications to change passwords, but rather go to the original sites to made password changes. Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 04/14/14.

MSGC bemoans few job-generators

The Mississippi Gulf Coast’s (MSGC) six southern counties are still waiting for major new job generators to materialize; although the Mississippi Development Authority has worked to bring mega-projects to other parts of the state. Economic indicators show South Mississippi’s economy to be stagnant even while the national average is on the rise. Non-farm employment has fallen 4.7 percent. Statewide decreases from 2004-13 were 0.4 percent. A Mississippi Economic Council-funded study may help target businesses for the coast. MDA has assisted new industries to the state with $716 million in grants and loans since 2008; less than 1 percent for coastal Mississippi. Hattiesburg state Sen. John Polk questions why mega-projects such as Nissan seem to land north of Interstate 20, which runs through the state capitol. "Something's not right ...” MSGC business/political leaders must set goals and unite, said Brooks Holstein, founder of Biloxi-based COMVEST Properties, like the “mind-boggling” job Tupelo has done through one of the nation's oldest economic-development foundations. Source: Sun Herald, 04/12/14.

LM-Meridian supervisor job

Lockheed Martin has posted a Multifunctional Manufacturing Supervisor position for its Meridian, Miss., operations. The position will supervise a diverse crew of aircraft mechanics responsible for C-130J major sub-assembly operations. Source: Lockheed Martin, 04/11/14.

MS firms earn ESGR semis

The Defense Department’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) has selected 162 employers as semi-finalists for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award - DOD’s highest honor for employers - that provide support to their Guard and Reserve workers. Mississippi’s Nissan North America of Canton and the City of Brandon Fire Department were among the semi-finalists. ESGR will announce the 2014 Freedom Award finalists later in April. Afterward, up to 15 recipients will be announced in the summer and honored in September in Washington, D.C., at the 19th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony. Source: DOD, 04/11/14.

Hattiesburg losing Silver Airways

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Silver Airways served notice that it intends to pull service from the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport and other airports. Hattiesburg-Laurel Executive Director Tom Heanue said he received notice from airline officials Wednesday letting him know Silver intended to file 90-day Notice of Termination papers. Silver is shutting down most its Atlanta operations. Silver began providing connections from Hattiesburg to Atlanta in 2012 after Delta Air Lines dropped 24 routes in smaller markets across the nation in 2011, including Hattiesburg. Silver Airways, a regional carrier based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was awarded the routes as the Essential Air Service subsidy jumped from about $1.4 million annually to about $2.9 million. Source: Hattiesburg American, 04/09/14.

Shelby pact adds security training

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. -- A Maryland counter-terrorism security training firm has signed an agreement to conduct specialized training at Camp Shelby’s Joint Forces Training Center, officials said Wednesday. ViaGlobal Group made the decision after several visits to the base. Camp Shelby's facilities include a state-of-the-art urban terrain site and live fire shoot house. VGG's executive board includes former commanders in Marine, Navy and Army Special Operations organizations. Source: Camp Shelby Public Affairs, 04/10/14. (Central Mississippi Note: Camp Shelby is a 135,000 acre Mississippi National Guard based located south of Hattiesburg.)

MS rocket teams to nat’l ‘Challenge’

A group of physics students from Columbus and Corinth, Miss., are preparing to lift-off at the Team America Rocketry Challenge in northern Virginia on May 10. The students, from Amory High School in Corinth and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus will be taking their rocketing-ideas that they built to the rocket challenge national finals. Up to 5,000 participants compete in challenge but only about 100 teams are chosen for the finals. Winners will travel in July to the Farnborough International Air Show in the UK for an international competition. Source: WVTA-Tupelo, 04/10/14.

Biz’ MS move get tax credits

JACKSON Miss. – Businesses wanting to transfer or relocate national or regional headquarters in Mississippi can now get a $1 million tax credit from the state thanks to a new law signed Thursday by Gov. Phil Bryant - as long as they create at least 20 jobs. Source: News MS, 04/10/14.

BAE-Hattiesburg downsizes

Global aerospace and defense contract giant BAE Systems is down-sizing its workforce in Hattiesburg, Miss. Company officials announced the Rawls Springs Loop Road facility will cut back 18 positions – reducing the south-central Mississippi facility’s workforce to 48. Cutbacks are the result of delays in the U.S. government’s sale of 145 M777 howitzers to India, as well as the completion of full-rate M777 production at the Hattiesburg plant. Affected workers are eligible for severance packages; and may apply for open positions within BAE Systems. The firm has been in Hattiesburg for more than a decade. Source: Hattiesburg American, 04/09/14.

NASM pilots glimpse future

Naval Air Station Meridian student-pilots got a glimpse into the future of Naval aviation last month when they were allowed to step into the cockpit of the Navy’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter simulator. Many of today’s NASM student-aviators, along with several dozen Navy and Marine Corps pilots now in training at Eglin AFB, Fla., will be flying the fifth generation aircraft. Both instructor Rick Royer and the Lockheed Martin F-35 flight simulator are on a tour of military installations and science and trade shows across America. The LM similar was at NASM “to show these young pilots the future of aviation,” said the 22-year veteran. It was a chance to give the NASM pilots-in-training “a little time in the simulator so they can see the ‘wow factor’ this aircraft has.” Source: NAS Meridian Skyline, 04/03/14.

NAS Meridian earns award

Naval Air Station Meridian has been designated as the winner of the FY-2013 Chief of Naval Operations’ Environmental Restoration Award in the installation category. The environmental installation award recognizes NASM for outstanding performance in promoting environmental stewardship. Source: NAS Meridian Skyline, 04/03/14.

L-3 Madison contract: $24.7M

L-3 Communications Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $24,728,566 modification to a contract from the U.S. Army for labor skills in the inspection, maintenance, and repair of the CH-47, UH-60, UH-1, AH-1, AH-64 and OH-58 aircraft and aircraft components. Performance on other aircraft types will be mainly limited to crash damaged repair and some modernization. Estimated completion date is Oct. 28, 2014. Work is to be performed at the Corpus Christi Army Depot and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. (Source: Defense Department, 04/04/14).

CAFB open house with T-Birds

Columbus (Miss.) Air Force Base will host an open house Saturday and Sunday that will feature an air show by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. CAFB was one of only 14 active duty bases selected to host the Thunderbirds this season. The open house will be free and open to the public. “This is a great opportunity for Columbus Air Force Base to showcase our proud heritage but also inform our communities about some of the great capabilities of their Air Force,” said Col. Jim Sears, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander. Source: Columbus AFB, 04/03/14.

L-3 Madison lands $18M pact

L-3 Communications Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded an $18,086,317 modification contract to provide logistical, administrative, and base operations support for the Corpus Christi (Texas) Army Depot to overhaul, repair, modify, retrofit, test and modernize helicopters, engines and components for all services and foreign military customers. Estimated completion date is Oct. 28, 2014. (Source: DoD, 04/03/14)

Harrell to lead GC med disasters

Keesler Air Force Base’s 81st Medical Group has a new commander. Colonel (Dr.) Thomas Harrell assumed command of the base hospital following a change of command March 31. Harrell comes to KAFB from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, where he commanded the Defense Department/Veterans Affairs Joint Venture Hospital. He also served as the Alaskan Command command surgeon. Outgoing commander Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Kory Cornum has been reassigned to Scott AFB, Ill., as Air Mobility Command command surgeon. Source: 81st Medical Group, 03/31/14.
(Gulf Coast Note: Harrell becomes the federal coordinator for the Gulf Coast National Disaster Medical System. He earned a master’s degree in strategic study and served as class president of the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Ala., before going to Alaska.)

Aero manufacturing takes off

The South is already home to auto giants, and now it's increasingly attracting some of the biggest names in aviation, including Boeing in South Carolina, Airbus in Alabama, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. in Georgia and GE Aviation in North Carolina. Aerospace companies are moving manufacturing operations to Southern states, in part due to lower costs, generous state incentive packages and right-to-work laws that make it hard for unions to organize. The aerospace sector is growing. Sales grew 41 percent from 2002 to 2012, driven largely by military and international sales. And that growth won't ebb anytime soon. (Source: Stateline, 04/02/14)
[Central Mississippi note: GE Aviation has two plants in Mississippi – at Ellisville and Batesville. GEA’s Batesville advanced composites plant makes blades and fan cases for the GEnx jet engines for Boeing’s Dreamliner and new 747-8 passenger jet.]

CODE drone tech for biz

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking for commercial businesses to assist in the development of drone systems to work in more intelligent ways. DARPA will host an event in Arlington, Va., on April 11 to solicit technology proposals for its “Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment” (CODE) initiative. DARPA hopes these technologies could be integrated into existing groups of drones systems to allow it to operate collectively. Deadline for the CORE event is April 4. Source: Federal Business Opportunities, 03/20/14.