Contract: L-3 Vertex, $29.8M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $29,803,395 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-14-D-0019) to provide organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance and logistics support for T45TS aircraft based at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. This requirement also includes the support and maintenance of the T-45 aircraft at all operational sites, numerous outlying fields, and various detachment sites. Work will be performed in Kingsville (58 percent), Meridian (36 percent), and Pensacola (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/31/14)

Governor touts Golden Triangle

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant was touting the economic development of the Golden Triangle region while presenting Starkville’s Southwire company with the 2014 Industry of the Year award. Mississippi is becoming a "state to watch" in terms of potential economic development, Bryant said. The state is rated one of the top for potential economic development, and Bryant hinted there was more to come. Golden Triangle aerospace manufacturers like Stark Aerospace and Airbus, the automobile industry and Pascagoula's shipbuilders are evidence the state is a key player in the national and global economies. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 07/30/14)

Vicksburg site of Army work

SAIC of McLean, Va., was awarded an $89,526,485 cost-plus-incentive fee, incrementally-funded Army contract for management and technical support for high performance computing services, capabilities, infrastructure, and technologies. Work will be performed at Vicksburg and Stennis (Miss.); Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; Kihei, Hawaii; and Lorton and McLean, Va., with an estimated completion date of July 28, 2019. Research, development, testing and evaluation FY 2013 ($18,230,430) and FY 2014 ($5,770,000) funds are being obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: Defense Department 07/28/14)

McCarthy returning to MDA

Jay McCarthy is returning to the Mississippi Development Authority on Aug. 1 as its new Chief Financial Officer. McCarthy, who has nearly 30 years of experience in finance, banking and economic development, had previously served as director of the financial resources for MDA for 23 years before serving as VP of public finance for Stephens Inc., a financial services firm. The Jackson-based MDA is the state’s official economic and community development agency that focuses on business recruitment, community and tourism development. (Source: Memphis Business Journal 07/25/14)

CAFB to evaluate bad rap

Columbus Air Force Base’s 14th Flying Training Wing commander, Col. John Nichols, will be evaluating the services provided personnel at CAFB after an Air Force Times survey listed the Mississippi air station among the least-popular for duty. The article, entitled "Bringing up the rear: The 5 worst bases in the Air Force," ranked CAFB as tied for third worst for assignment. The study used 12 criteria to compile the ranking of 68 AFBs - including school quality, commissary, on-base health care, climate and crime rates among others. The article describes CAFB's amenities as "disappointing" and referencing high sales tax and unemployment rates. Englar noted that CAFB has a tight-knit relationship with the community which it partners with to enhance quality of life for airmen. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 07/24/14)

Boster new 14th FTW boss

Colonel James Boster became the new commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base on July 18. Col. Boster comes to CAFB from duty as Chief of Staff of U.S. Air Forces Central Command at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. (Source: Columbus AFB 07/22/14)

New boss at NAS Meridian

Navy Capt. Scott Bunnay became the 24th commanding officer of Naval Air Station Meridian on July 18. "This assignment brings me happily back to Mississippi to command NAS Meridian," said Bunnay who completed flight training and received his Wings of Gold and designation as a naval aviator in July 1994 from Commander Training Air Wing One. Bunnay reports to NASM from duty with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy. He relieved Capt. Charles C. Moore II who had served as NASM's commander since July 2011. Capt. Moore's next assignment will be as commanding officer of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Illinois. (Source: NAS Meridian 07/18/14)

T-45s reach milestone at NASM

T-45 Goshawks, used for Navy and Marine Corps advanced jet training at Naval Air Station Meridian, reached the 500,000 flight-hour milestone in mid-June. Boeing, which created the trainer for use by Navy and Marine Corps student-aviators, recognized the achievement during a June 27 winging ceremony. Boeing’s director of Harrier and T-45 programs Jim Young presented a plaque to Commander Training Air Wing One’s Capt. Brian Goszkowicz. The Navy plans to use the Goshawks through 2035. T-45C’s began arriving at NASM in 1997. There are 86 of the aircraft used for training. (Skyline 07/10/14)

Tupelo selects SeaPort airlines

In a 5-0 unanimous vote, the Tupelo (Miss.) Airport Authority recommended SeaPort Airlines to become the region's commercial air carrier. The board weighed proposals from both SeaPort and Air Choice One. Air Choice’s bid was more than $1 million more. SeaPort was offering 12 weekly round-trips to Memphis and 18 round-trips to Nashville for $2.5 million. Air Choice One’s proposal was 18 flights each to Memphis and Nashville for $3.5 million. But the board was swayed SeaPort’s service to 23 cities across nine states; and 21 aircraft. (Source Northeast Daily Journal 07/09/14) SeaPort’s goal is to be ready by October, subject to the Department of Transportation making an award announcement for subsidized service to Tupelo. A letter recommending SeaPort was sent to the DOT on Wednesday, the deadline for submitting comments.

Service stations for aircraft

Aviation enthusiasts and business people living in East Central Mississippi don’t buy gas in Lauderdale County. They fly to Quitman, about 25 miles south; and where a growing number are taking advantage of 45 cents/gallon cheaper fuel at the Clarke County Airport. That adds up, when private pilots fill up their 200 gallon tanks. CCA doesn’t cater to commercial aircraft, but it is one of the nation’s more than 3,100 fixed based operator (FBO) facilities. FBOs provide aviation services to private aircraft used by businesses and corporations. Most airports that handle commercial flights also provide space for separate FBO providers. Meridian Aviation handles FBO services at Meridian Regional Airport. There are two FBOs in Jackson - Atlantic Aviation and Aero Jackson. FBOs are basically service stations for aircraft owners; and many have hangar spaces. Meridian Aviation has 23 open-air hangars and aircraft maintenance. (Source: Meridian Star 07/13/14)

New finance plan for AHI helos

Airbus Helicopters Inc. announced that Government Capital Corp. will provide tax-exempt financing for mission equipment technology upgrades and major maintenance for law enforcement and government-owned Columbus, Miss.-built AS350 helicopters. Additionally, Precision Aviation Services of Peachtree City, Ga., AHI's newest service center, will work with public agencies to provide aircraft systems and avionics upgrades, conduct AS350 12-year airframe inspections and install new mission equipment to enhance performances of older helicopters in use. The new financing program allows a law enforcement agency the simplicity of bundling their needs into one tax-exempt financing agreement … to spread payments over a period of time, creating affordability and maintaining the critical services performed by the agency," said DC Greer, VP of Government Capital. Built and certified at AHI-Columbus, this cost-effective helicopter offers modern safety features, high cruise speed and range, and the ability to conduct a wide range of missions. AHI is the market leader in sales of new helicopters to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies over the last decade. AHI will display an Oklahoma Department of Public Safety AS350B3e at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., from July 16-19. (Source: PR News Wire, 07/11/14)

GE Venture

A General Electric joint venture is nearing an order from U.K. discount airline EasyJet for 200 jet engines valued at $2.6 billion. The Leap-1A engines from CFM International would power 100 Airbus Group A320neos that EasyJet agreed to buy in 2013. The deal may be announced at the Farnborough International Airshow in England. It would mark a setback for Pratt and Whitney, which vies with CFM to supply engines for the latest model in the top-selling A320 jet family. Safran, of France, is the other partner of CFM International. (Source: Bloomberg, 07/10/14) Central Mississippi note: Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala. GE Aviation also has a jetliner engine parts plant near Hattiesburg, Miss.; and economic development teams from the I-10 Gulf region will attend the Farnborough air show.

Meridian refuel unit training

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the 81st Medical Group took part in Operation Magnolia Medical En route Care, a joint medical training exercise July 9 at Keesler AFB, Miss., and the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center. Keesler's reserve weather reconnaissance unit and the active-duty medical group partnered with the Mississippi Air National Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing and its 183rd Air Evacuation Squadron, based in Jackson, and the 186th Air Refueling Wing, based in Meridian. The exercise was considered cost-effective because the Hurricane Hunters were able to combine its weather and aeromedical training missions. The objective was to complete four separate training missions. The event simulated a combat medical extraction and aeromedical evacuation from a combat scenario to a military medical facility all while the 53rd conducted a simulated storm data gathering mission for the National Hurricane Center. (Source: 403rd Wing Air Reserve unit 07/11/2014)

Contract: Carothers, $13.5M

Carothers Construction Inc., Oxford, Miss., was awarded a $13,543,293 firm-fixed-price contract with options for construction of the Bridgeport Army Reserve Center. Work will be performed in Branford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 13, 2015. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-14-C-0024). (Source: DoD, 07/10/14)

L-3 spinoff lands LCAC recompete

Engility Holdings of Virginia was awarded an $11 million Navy recompete order to provide technical support for Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City’s landing craft air cushion (LCAC) program. The contract covers logistics assistance work for the LCAC fleet modernization management, introduction of new tools and maintenance of products, says Engility CEO Tony Smeraglinolo. Other support areas under the 3-year, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract include training, data collection, monitoring, feedback resolution and product development related to logistics. Engility was launched in 2012 as a spin-off of L-3 Communications, which has offices in Crestview, Fla.; Fort Rucker and Huntsville, Ala.; and a field system support office in Madison, Miss. (Executive Business 07/08/14)

NAS Meridian JLUS public meeting

Lauderdale and Meridian officials will meet July 11 to discuss regional options related to a potential Joint Land Use Study related to Naval Air Station Meridian. The open public meeting will be held Friday at 8:30 a.m. in the Raymond P. Davis County Annex Building. The informational setting is designed to provide technical and financial assistance to governments in advance of a JLUS review and of county zoning ordinances and commercial growth just beyond NASM’s fence line that could impact the base’s overall mission. The objective is to "identify measures needed to ensure that future public and private civilian development adjacent to (NASM) is compatible” with (its) mission, according to a letter from the director of the DOD's Office of Economic Adjustment. NASM Community Plans and Liaisons Officer Jim Copeland told county supervisors Thursday that the meeting is about “things counties and cities do” to protect a military base. Lauderdale County has recently formed a zoning ordinance review committee. JLUS spells out DOD concerns about zoning, and civilian and commercial growth that push into the base’s “crash zone” areas beyond the fence line that could affect the military’s mission; and mission constraints could lead to base closures. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 07/05/14)

Reconcile 11 in Meridian

The upcoming week will mark the 11th anniversary of the July 2003 workplace shooting at the Lockheed Martin plant in Meridian in which 14 personnel were injured and six killed by a co-worker. The shooting is considered among one the deadliest workplace violence events in the U.S. Conciliation week runs from Sunday through July 12. This year’s theme: “Following Paths to Reconciliation." In remembrance, among those killed included the Rev. Charlie J. Williams, DeLois Bailey and Sam Cockrell of Meridian; Micky Fitzgerald of Little Rock; Lynette McCall of Cuba, Ala.; and Thomas Willis of Lisman, Ala. (Source: Meridian Star 06/08/14)

Contract: Carothers, $15.6M

Carothers Construction Inc., Oxford, Miss., was awarded a $15,630,000 firm-fixed-price contract with options to construct a 36,000 square foot regional simulation center to include a controlled area, simulation communication rooms, simulation suites, secure communication infrastructure, network distribution nodes, operation centers, work cells, classrooms and administrative offices. Work will be performed at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., with an estimated completion date of April 22, 2016. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912DQ-14-C-4008). (Source: DoD, 07/02/14)

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $151.4M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $151,365,660 indefinite-delivery requirements contract to provide organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance and logistics services in support of about 200 T-45 aircraft based at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.; NAS Kingsville, Texas; NAS Pensacola, Fla; and NAS Patuxent River, Md. Logistics services to be provided include sustaining engineering, supply and government property management, and procurement of associated parts and materials. Work will be performed in Kingsville (48 percent); Meridian (44 percent); Pensacola (7 percent); and Patuxent River (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Contract funds will not be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; four offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity (N00019-14-D-0011). (Source: DoD, 07/01/14)

LM to freeze retirement benes

The Defense Department’s largest contractor, Lockheed Martin, is planning a freeze to employees’ defined-benefits retirement plan and moving it to a defined-contribution plan starting in 2020. Lockheed is following Boeing’s lead in May to freeze its expensive retirement benefits in order to cut costs in order to compete in the world of federal sequestration. Also, current U.S regulations require a company to freeze its current plan by 2020 or face a significant tax penalty. The new pension plan will come into effect beginning on Jan. 1, 2016. Lockheed owns the Pentagon’s largest-ever contract to develop and build the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; and Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship. "This action also allows us to better manage the rising costs of our retirement programs at a more predictable rate and to limit our long-term liabilities," a Lockheed spokesperson said. LM has 113,000 employees with about 48,000 participating in the current defined-benefit plan. Lockheed employees belonging to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) went on strike at Stennis Space Center in May over pension changes. (Source: Reuters News Service 07/01/14) Central Mississippi Note: LM’s Mississippi locations include Meridian’s production and assembly facility for half of the C-130J “Super Hercules” transport aircraft’s fuselage; a Mission Support Center in Clinton; and an Information Systems and Global Solutions facility at Stennis Space Center. Elsewhere across Gulf Coast states, Lockheed operates a Space Systems facility at Michoud’s New Orleans NASA facility; and in Huntsville, Ala.