MSU grad to lead Stennis Space Center

Dr. Richard J. Gilbrech, a Bachelor of Science graduate from Mississippi State University, is the new director of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss. Gilbrech comes to the top post after serving as deputy director. It's his second go-round as director at Stennis having begun the first in 2006. The MSU graduate began his NASA career in 1991 at Stennis in the area of propulsion test technology. Source: NASA, Sept. 25, 2012.

Vicksburg’s Mav 6 unloads airship biz

The Vicksburg, Miss., headquarters of Mav 6 – an aerospace and defense technology firm – announced Sept. 26 the divestiture of its Blue Devil Block 2 airship business and is turning over the airship technology focus, on the Air Force project, to the newly formed Stratus Aerospace LLC -- led by former Mav 6 COO Ken Wilson. Mav6 was recently ranked No. 230 on Inc. magazine’s 2012 list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies up from 373 in 2011. PRWEB, Sept. 26, 2012.

EADS to show off helos to U.S. Army

EADS North America will carry out voluntary “high altitude” flight demonstrations of its AAS-72X+ and EC145 helicopters within a couple of weeks in hopes of garnering a contract to replace the Bell OH-58 for the U.S. Army’s Aerial Scout program. EADS says it plans to “prove the superior capabilities” of its helicopters, an official said. If EADS wins the renewed contract completion, the helicopter would be built at American Eurocopter in Columbus, Miss., but the mission systems would be provided by Lockheed Martin. Source: Flight Global, Sept. 26, 2012.    

Golden Triangle biz consortium: A new trend?

The unveiling of a new economic development consortium, where multiple counties in the Golden Triangle region will pool funding under one umbrella, is the first of its kind in Mississippi, according to the state’s leading economic and community development agency, although not uncommon in metropolitan areas. But will it become the start of a trend? Source: Mississippi Business Journal, Sept. 23, 2012.

MSU proposals selected for Space Launch System

A pair of Mississippi State University proposals is among 26 selected Sept. 21 for the advanced development of NASA’s next heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS) which is tentatively scheduled for liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast in 2017. Source: PRNewswire, Sept. 21, 2012.

Columbus’ AE delivers 200th helo

American Eurocopter of Columbus, Miss., has now delivered its 200th AS350 helicopter since operations began in East Mississippi’s Golden Triangle in 2005. The helo was placed into service by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Sept. 20. The first U.S.-manufactured AS350 was delivered in 1978. There have been 237 built in America. AE is a business unit of EADS North America, the North American operations of the world’s second largest aerospace and defense firm, EADS. (Source: American Eurocopter via AviationPros, 09/20/12)

MSU to sign on for Army UAV research

Mississippi State and Middle Tennessee State universities are among four Southeast academic institutions that have or are signing up to assist the U.S. Army with advanced research related to unmanned aerial vehicle technology. The military uses UAVs in combat, but there are non-conflict applications for which it is being used such as regional disaster response and humanitarian relief efforts. Source: United Press International, Sept. 20, 2012.

Former Sikorsky VP to lead at Aurora HQ

Mark C. Cherry will become president and COO at the headquarters of Aurora Flight Sciences in Virginia on Oct. 1. Aurora operates a production facility at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Miss. Cherry arrives from service as VP at Sikorsy Aircraft overseeing that firm’s CH-53K program. The Mississippi facility performs final assembly of composite aerostructures for defense and commercial aerospace customers. Source: Defence Professionals, Sept. 20, 2012.

MSU discussing Building 5 for ‘Thad Park’

The fourth and newest building of Mississippi State University’s Research and Technology Corp. at ‘Thad Park’ - or more precisely, the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park - in Starkville is filled to the brim one day after it opened. Now, according to a school official discussion is underway for Building No. 5. Source: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Sept. 18, 2012.

Air ambulance adds two American Eurocopter helos to fleet

EagleMed, one of the more experienced critical care air medical service providers in America with operations in eight states from South Carolina to Nebraska, announced Sept. 13 it has purchased two AS350 helos from American Eurocopter (AE) as part of its all-Eurocopter AStar fleet. AE is the U.S. affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. It is a subsidiary of EADS North America headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, and with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Miss. Source: American Eurocopter, Sept. 13, 2012.  

Tax increase adds pressure on alliance to grow Clay business 

The pressure begins anew for the West Point/Clay County Growth Alliance and the Columbus/Lowndes Development LINK to bring new, steady jobs to those communities – which has done fairly well in attracting aviation-related firms in recent years -- especially following the passage of last weekend’s vote on a 1% tax increase on tourism-like establishments in the city of West Point, estimated at about $20,000. The monies, says West Point Mayor Scott Ross, is to be directed to the Growth Alliance for tourism, beautification and/or industry recruitment. Above that tax money, West Point and Clay County jointly pay the LINK $300,000 annually for economic development purposes. West Point resident Don Searcy says the “bottom line (is that) people want to see how the jobs are going to be created from this tax increase.” Source: West Point, Miss., Daily Times Leader, Sept. 11, 2012.

No raining on MSU business-research parade

There was no raining on Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum’s parade Monday -- despite the weater -- at the grand continually-spreading Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park in Starkville of which MSU’s Research and Technology Corp. oversees. “We have a great need for new incubator space to accommodate the outgrowth of our research enterprises," he said. MSU's strategic plan over five years calls for a 25% increase in the rate of university start-ups. There have been four new faculty lead firms and eight student start-ups in the past few years at ‘Thad Park’. Source: Columbus (Miss.) Dispatch, Sept. 18, 2012.

Newest Starkville biz expects to grow its footprint

With the start-up Monday of a ninth “business incubator” footprint at the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park in Starkville, the president of the newest entry, II-IV – an international manufacturer of high-tech products with application to aerospace, military and thermoelectronics applications – indicates the Pennsylvania-based firm plans to locate more than $4 million in capital equipment and expects to grow the facility to 100 employees. Source: Starkville Daily News, Sept. 18, 2012.

New aerospace manufacturer locates at Starkville research park

The Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park in Starkville, Miss., was to celebrate Sept. 17 an addition to its “business incubator” footprint with the opening of a ninth building in the 272 acre park that represents some $100 million-plus in investments. Pennsylvania-based II-VI Inc., an international manufacturer of high-tech products with application to aerospace, military and thermoelectronics applications, is the newest business to locate there, says David Shaw, Mississippi State University’s vice president for research and economic development. MSU’s Research and Technology Corp. will oversee the research park. Starkville Daily News, Sept. 16, 2012.

Proposed Golden Triangle business cooperative

A newly proposed Mississippi Golden Triangle regional group is examining joining with the highly-successful Golden Triangle Development LINK to form an East Mississippi public/private mega-business organization to bring uniformity to business development in the region by including cooperative ventures between Clay, Lowndes, and Oktibbeha counties; Starkville, Oktibbeha County, and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership; and West Point, Clay County and the WP Growth Alliance. Golden Triangle Development LINK, Sept. 14, 2012.

Contract: Eaton Aerospace, $6.8M

Eaton Aerospace LLC, Jackson, Miss., was awarded a firm fixed price, sole source contract with a maximum $6,755,776 for reservoir assemblies. There are no other locations of performance. Using military service is Army. There was one solicitation with one response. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2012 Army Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is March 15, 2017. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. (Source: DoD, 09/13/12)

East Miss. counties to announce economic consortium

MAYHEW, Miss. — The July-formed steering committee for Oktibbeha, Lowndes and Clay counties plan to unveil a new regional development consortium initiative here Sept. 14 on the campus of East Mississippi Community College. Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors President Marvell Howard tells the Starkville Daily News the meeting will be designed to “layout plans for the vision and intention” of establishing a consortium. The mayor of Starkville, Parker Wiseman, said the endeavor could establish a level of regional cooperation the Golden Triangle has never experienced. He called the combining of total Golden Triangle assets to include Columbus, Starkville and West Point a benefit to the entire region. The proposed tri-county authority comes four months after the West Point-Clay County Community Growth Alliance and the Columbus-Lowndes LINK signed a 3-year agreement. The Associated Press, Sept. 10, 2012.

MSU research grows its international reputation

East-Central Mississippi’s Golden Triangle is an economic and research mecca no longer waiting to happen. Among its international strengths is Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and regionally through a growing alliance of communities within the highly-successful Columbus-Lowndes Economic Development ‘Link’. MSU’s international research footprint has developed through cooperative ventures between regionally-based aerospace firms including Lockheed Martin, GE Aviation, American Eurocopter and Stark Aerospace, who have all solicited MSU's assistance on various levels. Source: Columbus (Miss.) Dispatch, Sept. 7, 2012.

Eaton shareholders eyes Cooper buy

Eaton and Cooper Industries have scheduled shareholder meetings for Oct. 26 in connection with the proposed acquisition of Cooper by Eaton, which operates an Aerospace Group Power and Motion Control Division in Jackson, Miss.. The plan is to form a new holding company, Turlock Corp. Eaton is a leader in electrical and hydraulic components, aerospace fuel, and hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military aviation. Cooper provides electrical and electronic fuses, electrical equipment, lighting fixtures and power systems products. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. (Source: Business Wire, 09/12/12)