Test begins on 3rd AEHF

The third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite – a hybrid spacecraft that uses chemical and Hall Current Thruster electric propulsion for getting to its geostationary position - has begun transmitting. It joins two other satellites undergoing system test in orbit with a suite of user terminals. AEHF satellites are produced by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force. Launched on Sept. 18, 2013, AEHF-3 arrived in its final orbit position and began transmissions in January. Source: SpaceWar.com, 03/31/14) Previous.
(Mississippi note: Core propulsion system work on the AEHF is conducted at Stennis Space Center, Miss.)

Solons act to protect research

The Mississippi Legislature has voted to extend the trade-secret protections of researchers by exempting pre-published commercial, scientific or technical research materials from the state's Open Records Act. The law becomes effective July 1. Rep. Nolan Mettetal (R-Sardis) authored the bill to close loopholes in the public records law to prevent firms from using records requests to poach details of that research. There is no shortage of research going in Mississippi – from MSU, University of Mississippi, Jackson State, University of Southern Mississippi and NASA in Hancock County. USM has been the country’s leader in polymer science programs working with plastics leading to numerous patents and applications used by industry. MSU and Hinds Community College are involved in programs related to unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Source: The Associated Press, 03/30/14.

Shelby wants to be equipment hub

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. – The Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, south of Hattiesburg, and the Port at Gulfport are being considered as a depot for the return, redeployment and disposal of military equipment from Afghanistan. The National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education at the University of Wisconsin signed an agreement with the Camp Shelby training center to help military planners understand the capabilities after researchers assessed the logistics potential and cost savings. The Defense Department will spend $7 billion to ship nearly 750,000 pieces of equipment worth $36 billion as combat operations come to an end in 2014. (Sources: Camp Shelby, 03/27/14, Hattiesburg American, 03/27/14, Sun Herald, 03/28/14).
[Central Mississippi Note: Camp Shelby is 135,000 acres and has been used as a staging area to mobilize and demobilize troops. Gulfport is home of the Naval Construction Battalion Center, and East Coast Seabees. NCBC is a “readiness center” that stores and ships equipment worldwide. Warehouses are spread over 500 acres. The base is near an international airport, seaport, two interstates and rail systems.]

Contract: EADS-NA, $34M

EADS-N.A., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $34,018,858 modification (P00772) to sole-source, foreign military sales contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 for six Lakota helicopters with the environmental control unit, mission equipment package and airborne radio communication (ARC-231) radios for the Royal Thai Army. Fiscal 2010 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $34,018,857 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is April 3, 2015. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 03/28/14)

Airbus helos awarded 6-pact

EADS-North America was awarded a $34,018,858 modification sole-source, foreign military sales contract for six UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopters for the Royal Thai Army. The UH-72s will be built at Airbus Helicopters in Columbus, Miss. The completion date is estimated to be April 3, 2015. The Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. Source: Defense Department, 03/28/14.

Golden Triangle jobless rate down

Mississippi's unemployment rate for February dropped to its lowest point since October 2008. Four Golden Triangle counties’ jobless rates were also down. Clay County showed the greatest increase in employment. In February 2013, Clay’s jobless rate was 19.3 percent. February’s rate was down 2.6 percent to 16.7. Lowndes County’s unemployment rate was down 1.6 percent to 7.8. Oktibbeha County was down 1.8 percent to 7.8. Noxubee County improved one-half percent to 15.7 percent, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. Source: Columbus Dispatch, 03/27/14.

Contract: Rolls-Royce, $107M

Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $106,999,970 undefinitized contract action to provide intermediate, depot level maintenance and related logistics support for approximately 223 in-service T-45 F405-RR-401 Adour engines. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Miss (47 percent); NAS Kingsville, Texas (46 percent); NAS Pensacola, Fla. (6 percent); and NAS Patuxent River, Md. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2015. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-14-D-0016). (Source: DoD, 03/27/14)

Contract: L-3 Vertex, $58.4M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $58,488,748 indefinite-delivery, requirements contract to provide logistics services and materials for organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance required to support T45TS aircraft based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Miss.; NAS Kingsville, Texas; and NAS 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, Texas (58 percent); Meridian, Miss. (36 percent); and Pensacola, Fla. (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2014. 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 not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-14-D-0019). (Source: DoD, 03/26/14)

MSET client CEO honored by WH

California-based IMRI President and CEO Martha Daniel, a former Navy cryptologist who trained at Pensacola’s Corry Station Center for Information Dominance, was among nine female veterans honored by the White House on March 25 as "champions of change." The event, which honored women veteran industry leaders, highlighted their contributions to the nation's business, public and community service sectors. Daniel started her career four decades ago as a Navy cryptologist and founded Information Management Resources Inc. in 1992. She oversees more than 70 employees at four offices including the Stennis Space Center, Miss. IMRI is a Mississippi Enterprise for Technology client company. (Source: KCBS-News, 03/23/14)

Aurora GM to head EA plant

Former Columbus-based Aurora Flight Sciences general manager Reed Morren has been named plant manager of Eaton Aerospace Group’s Fuel and Motion Control Systems Division manufacturing facility in Jackson. The Eaton plant is one of the world’s largest aerospace hydraulic pump manufacturing centers - supplying an array of components for commercial/military aircraft - employing about 550. The Jackson team also is the hydraulic system designer for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Morren holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 03/24/14.

Cochran’s daughter christens Jackson

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus was in Mobile, Ala., last weekend to deliver the keynote speech for christening of the future Littoral Combat Ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) – named for the capital city of Mississippi - at the Austal USA shipyard. Jackson is the third Independence-class LCS variant by Austal. The daughter of U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Dr. Katherine Holmes Cochran, is the ship’s sponsor and becomes an honorary member of the ship’s first crew. Mabus, a former Mississippi governor, called the LCS a “modern marvel” but did not address the ship’s long-term future. The original plan was to build 52 LCS – between Austal and a separate variant in Wisconsin – but recent budget submissions from the Defense Department reduced those numbers to 32; and a review has been implemented to either re-design the overall program or change it to more closely resemble frigates. Source: U.S. Navy, 03/22/14.

Eaton earns DLA contract

Eaton Aerospace of Jackson and Bridge Group LLC of Columbus were awarded federal contracts March 20. Eaton received a $493,598 Defense Logistics Agency contract from the Defense Supply Center in Richmond, Va., for ball annular bearings. Bridge Group was awarded an $86,932 contract from the U.S. Office of Acquisitions for art insurance coverage. Source: Targeted News Service, 03/20/14.

US Air, IAM nearing impasse

The International Association of Machinists’ labor union representing mechanics and ground workers, US Airways (which merged with American Airlines in December) officials and mediators are nearing an impasse on contract discussions this week in Washington, D.C. After the meetings, IAM repeated its request to be released from talks and have mediators declare an impasse. A union can only consider a strike, if it first asks for “release” from negotiations. A 30-day cooling-off period begins before a union can take any stop-work action. The two sides have been in contract talks since 2011. Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 03/20/14.
(Central Mississippi note: Two Mississippi airports have American Airlines or US Airways operations and flights: Jackson and Gulfport-Biloxi.)

CAFB hosting Boy Scouts

Some 200 Boy Scouts from 10 counties in north Mississippi will be onboard Columbus Air Force Base this weekend. The Pushmataha Council scouts will tour CAFB and camp alongside the base’s SAC Lake through Sunday. The scouts, comprising of 10 dens and boys between the ages of six and 21, are holding their Spring Camporee. Source: Columbus Dispatch, 03/20/14.

Court rejects 2nd Eaton appeal

Mississippi’s highest court declined a request from Eaton Corp. on Friday to re-look at its trade secrets lawsuit appeal against North Carolina-based rival Frisby Aerospace. Source: The Associated Press, 03/21/14.
(Central Mississippi note: Eaton’s aerospace facility in Jackson is home to one of the most advanced aircraft hydraulic test labs in the world.)

GT econ development research

Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties’ leaders, alongside the Golden Triangle Development LINK, have contracted with a private economic researcher to study and a 5-year plan of local economies designed to develop “products in all three counties to sell to all three counties' strengths,” LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said at the group’s quarterly luncheon March 19. The study also includes East Mississippi Community College, Mississippi University for Women and Mississippi State University. The research group ranks the economic strength of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas across the country. There are four potential projects considering Lowndes County property west of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. Oktibbeha is working on a land purchase that may lead to setting up the area to compete for industry "on a world-class level." The Golden Triangle has the potential to be "the most dynamic region of micropolitans in the country." Source: Columbus Dispatch, 03/20/14.
(Central Mississippi note: A micropolitan is an urban area based around a geographic cluster of populations between 10,000 to 49,999 as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget.)

GTRA exec: Step up Columbus

Golden Triangle Regional Airport Executive Director Mike Hainsey told Columbus, Miss., Rotarians on Tuesday that the community needs to “step up” its partnership efforts with Columbus Air Force Base in preparation for a new potential round of base closures in 2017. Community partnerships with CAFB would show the base’s vitality to the area and prevent the base from being placed on a list of proposed closures. As an example, he said that Air Force training pilots used GTRA runways during repairs to its major runway. Part of it is financial, Hainsey said, but also extends to national security and patriotism. Source: Columbus Dispatch, 03/19/14. (Central Mississippi note: NAS Meridian has been a frequent member on several Base Realignment and Closure Commissions’ lists.)

Patents for aero/mil Ethernet

ZNYX Networks, a global provider of high availability embedded Ethernet solutions for carrier-grade and mission critical environments for military and aviation, announced March 18 it had been awarded patents for its integrated chassis switch and management module design in the Ultra5 ZX2000 blade server platform. ZNYX provides aerospace AdvancedTCA and CompactPCI deployment products from ethernet switch platform integration into compact, light weight solutions to power in-flight internet, entertainment and network connectivity for non-flight critical data. The firms AdvancedTCA provides military integrators with a scalable, mission critical platform based on open-standards and value-added services such as conformal coating and RTV applications. Source: ZNYX, 03/18/14.
(Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle note: ZNYX operates a sales and technology center in Ridgeland, Miss.)

Stennis contractor earns NASA kudos

Healtheon Inc. of New Orleans was selected by NASA on Tuesday as its Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year. The announcement was part of NASA’s FY-2013 Small Business Industry Awards (SBIA) program. More than 30 nominations were received from all 10 NASA centers. The SBIA program recognizes the outstanding efforts of companies that support NASA in achieving its mission. Source: NASA, 03/18/14.
(Gulf Coast note: Healtheon had been awarded a $29.8 million contract by NASA in 2013 to provide a high pressure industrial water line at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss.)

Miss. eligible for NASA research

National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Office of Education and 10 centers solicits proposals for its Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research programs. The goal of EPSCoR is to provide seed funding that will enable jurisdictions to develop an academic research enterprise directed toward long-term, self-sustaining, nationally-competitive capabilities in aerospace and aerospace-related research. Each funded proposal is expected to establish research activities that will make significant contributions to NASA's strategic research and technology development priorities and contribute to the overall research infrastructure, higher education and economic development. Twenty-eight states, including Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana are eligible to compete in various EPSCoR program opportunities. Source: Space Ref, 03/18/14.

Sen. Cochran visits Ingalls

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi visited Pascagoula’s Ingalls Shipbuilding facility on Monday and toured the National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753). Ingalls employs thousands of Mississippi workers that build Coast Guard and Navy ships “essential to our national defense," Cochran said. Ingalls VP for programs management, Brian Cuccias, who takes over as president of Ingalls Shipbuilding on April 1, hosted the senator’s visit that included tours of four different classes of ships under construction. Source: HII, 03/18/14.

MSU No. 3 in cybersecurity studies

Mississippi State University was the No. 3 ranked school among the 2014 Best Schools for Cybersecurity study by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by HP Enterprise Security. Source: Ponemon Institute, 03/17/14.

Triangle pilots talk missing flight

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar screens March 8 and has been the focus of searches for the Boeing 777 by multiple nations over a 6,000 mile area from the Indian Ocean and Australia to Kazakhstan. A trio of experienced Golden Triangle aviators – including a former Boeing pilot – speculates on theories of what happened. Former Boeing pilot and Columbus native Dudley Bearden suggests the most likely scenario – mechanical failure and poor radar capability - is simpler than most of the speculation. Former Navy and Delta pilot Lynn Spruill suggests without a visible debris pattern, terrorism can't be assumed. Local Navy civilian T-6 simulator and ground training instructor Les Pogue – a former F-16 pilot – says protocol in this type situation, when a pilot loses contact with radar, is to fly to compulsory sequence reporting or geographical points with pre-determined maneuvers. But he also points out that losing radar contact can happen based on terrain. He gives the example that the Birmingham (Ala.) Approach Control radar “can't see anyone below 3,000-4,000 feet” when approaching the Tuscaloosa area. If a pilot loses radar contact, they have to report at an intersection along the route all the way the plane’s destination. . “It truly is a huge mystery,” said Spruill. “You can play all kinds of scenarios out, but all of them have some flaws to them.” Source: Columbus Dispatch, 03/15/14.

Ingalls awarded DDG mod pact

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, was awarded a $602 million Navy contract modification to fund construction of the as-yet-to-be-named Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer (DDG 119). The ship is the second of five DDG 51s that Ingalls was awarded in June 2013. The modification also includes an additional $79.4 million in advance procurement for future destroyers. Source: HII, 03/17/14.

Stark posts 2 new openings

Stark Aerospace has posted jobs for a Chief Engineer and Director of Supply Chain for its operations in Columbus, Miss. The Chief Engineer should have an advanced aerospace degree and 20+ years of professional experience in commercial and/or military aircraft. The supply chain director should have a 4-year degree with minimum of seven years of supply chain management experience. Source: Stark Aerospace, 2014.

MSU-led institute partners with researchers

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- A research consortium led by Mississippi State University has partnered with a group of institutions in Mexico to advance the study of the Gulf of Mexico's ecosystem. The Northern Gulf Institute and the Consorcio de Instituciones de Investigación Marina del Golfo de México signed a memorandum of agreement to support joint research activities of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations and governmental agencies with an interest in research and educational programs for the Gulf of Mexico region. Headquartered at the MSU Science and Technology Center at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, NGI is a NOAA cooperative institute whose members include the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, Dauphin Island (Ala.) Sea Laboratory and MSU. In addition, NGI has an agreement with the Harte Research Institute of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to support joint research activities. (Source: NGI, 03/14/14).

Cochran wants NCCIPS assurances

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), during a hearing sought confirmation that the Department of Homeland Security is committed to programs that promote cost savings. Cochran specifically pointed to the data center consolidation project at Stennis Space Center (SSC), Miss. The Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee was holding a hearing on the president's FY-15 budget request from the Homeland Security Department when the issue arose. Cochran said DHS has led the government in finding cost savings through the consolidation of data centers, notably the National Center for Critical Information Processing and Storage (NCCIPS) at Stennis. He sought assurances DHS is committed to moving forward. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he believes Congress has provided sufficient funding to complete the consolidation project at Stennis. Developed over the past decade, the NCCIPS is the primary DHS data center for the initial consolidation of federal data assets. The project is already resulting in annual savings of $17.0 million and could save an estimated $3.0 billion by 2030, according to Cochran. The U.S. Navy, the departments of Transportation and Veterans Affairs and other agencies have chosen to locate critical assets at NCCIPPS. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 03/14/14).

NROTC cadets tour CAFB

Forty Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets of the University of Memphis unit got an up-close and personal view of military service March 11-12 with a tour of Columbus Air Force Base. The cadets got first-hand experience in aircraft simulators, watching military working dogs perform and discussing life in the Air Force with active duty service members. The UM unit also includes students from Rhodes College, Christian Brothers University, Southwest Tennessee Community College and LeMoyne-Owen College. Source: Columbus AFB, 03/12/14.

CAFB hosts training seminar

Columbus Air Force Base Security Forces hosted a first-ever, multiple-scenario training seminar with local law enforcement agencies Feb. 22 to share tactics and learning experiences. The scenarios included weapons, communication and tactics and provided a unique opportunity to stay updated on tactics. “If you're not training, you're not trying," said Starkville Police Department participant Andy Round. Columbus AFB hopes to coordinate additional vital training in the future for local agencies, according to Tech. Sgt. Stephen Strouse of the 14th Security Forces Squadron. Source: Columbus AFB, 03/05/14.

SUAS rep post at Stark

Stark Aerospace has announced a position for a Small Unmanned Aircraft System Field Service Representative at its facility in Columbus, Miss. Responsible for providing comprehensive and personalized training and regulatory requirements. Source: Stark Aerospace, 2014.

Audit reviews for MDA bonds

JACKSON- The Mississippi Legislature passed unanimously a bill allowing the Auditor’s Office to conduct audits on state-funded economic development bond programs administered by the Mississippi Development Authority. HB 1318 allows audits of the programs that have had little or no oversight. Since 2009, hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives have been awarded by MDA. The legislation was headed for Gov. Phil Bryant’s signature. Source: Y’all Politics, 03/12/14.
(Central Mississippi note: Golden Triangle Development LINK is a tri-county economic development agency for East-Central Mississippi which began in Columbus and Lowndes County.)

Airbus to focus on DoD helos

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders and American enterprise head Allan McArtor want to see the company’s share of the U.S. defense market expand. But the CEO doesn’t expect any short-term large acquisition targets to that end any time soon. McArtor wants to expand the market in such areas as helicopters, where it already builds UH-72A Lakotas for the Army and other helos for the Coast Guard at its Columbus, Miss., plant. Airbus is also building a final assembly facility in Mobile, Ala., for single-aisle aircraft. Airbus is the largest customer within the American aerospace industry with its commercial wing accounting for more than $14 billion in purchases from U.S. suppliers in 2013. Reuters, 03/07/14.
(Central Mississippi note: Airbus Helicopters Inc. operates from the Golden Triangle airport in Columbus.)

Central American biz mission

The Mississippi Development Authority, the state’s economic and community development agency, is planning to lead a cost-effective business delegation mission to three Central American countries June 9-13. The U.S. Small Business Administration-funded Mississippi State Trade Export Promotion program reimburses eligible businesses up to 50 percent of travel costs to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Space is limited and the deadline to register is April 4. For more information or to get registration forms, contact MDA at (601) 359-9406, e-mail to gprado@mississippi.org, or visit mississippi.org. Mississippi Development Agency, 03/06/14.

Meridian-trained CMC to Black Sea

The USS Truxtun, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, built at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., is bound for the Black Sea; but the sea-service calls it a routine visit and not related to events in the Ukraine. DDG 103 left from a port in Greece on Thursday and was scheduled to train and conduct maneuvers with both Romania and Bulgaria’s navies. Truxton is to join with USS Taylor, currently moored in Turkey after running aground, as the only American ships in the Black Sea. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is at the center of the country’s operations in Ukraine, where Russian soldiers continue to surround Ukrainian military bases. Source: Stars and Stripes, 03/06/14.


(Gulf Coast Shipbuilding/Central Mississippi note: Truxton was built at Northrop’s Ingalls Shipyard. Truxton Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Albert A. McCurdy is a native of Montgomery, Ala., and has also served with Commander Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region 10 in New Orleans and in USS Antrim (FFG 20), the first ship assigned to the now-closed Naval Station Mobile, Ala. He trained as a yeoman in A-school at NAS Meridian, Miss. McCurdy has been CMC of Truxton since September 2013.)

New helo line for AHI

Airbus Helicopter Inc. officials gathered at its Columbus, Miss., plant Tuesday to announce the news of a new production line of helicopters for the Golden Triangle region. The plant, which has produced UH-72As since 2005, will begin production in September of its AStar line of commercial helicopters in East-Central Mississippi. AHI will produce up to 60 helicopters annually at the Columbus plant. AStar is the best selling civil and commercial helicopter in America. Source: WCBI, 03/04/14.
[Central Mississippi note: AHI operates a 350K square foot helicopter production plant in the Columbus, Miss., Golden Triangle Industrial Park; and has produced nearly 300 UH-72A Lakota helicopters for the U.S. Army.]

Army may seek more Lakotas

The Army, as part of its aviation restructuring and FY-2015 budget proposals, is preparing to cut three of the active service’s 13 combat aviation brigades (CABs) by 2019. Under the plan, the Army Reserve will have its 12 helicopter brigades restructured for medevac missions. The FY-15 funding request will increase the Army’s fleet of aircraft by $500 million to $5.1 billion. The proposal also includes $416 million for 55 new Lakota helicopters, but according to sources, the Army will request funds to buy 45 more UH-72A Lakota helicopters in 2016. Source: Defense News, 02/04/14.


[Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle note: Airbus Helicopters operates a 350K square foot helicopter production plant at the Columbus, Miss., Golden Triangle Industrial Park. The firm began making Lakota helicopters for the Army in 2005; and nearly 300 have been produced in Columbus.]

New USM polymers director

Associate Professor Jeffrey Wiggins has been named the new director of the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymers and High Performance Materials. Wiggins had been serving as interim director for a year. Wiggins’ research efforts have produced impressive results such as creating a partnership with GE Aviation, which opened a new production plant in Ellisville in 2013, and establishing next generation aerospace materials development infrastructures at USM. Wiggins is leading teams of researchers currently working in polymer science labs to create durable and light-weight composite materials that translates to fuel savings, lower energy costs and reduced maintenance for sophisticated jet engines. Source: Hattiesburg American, 03/04/14.

GA moving to Shannon

General Atomics is relocating its Electromagnetic Systems Group’s product lines – that include advanced electromagnetic systems including design and fabrication of linear and conventional rotating motors for defense and energy applications - to its new $11 million manufacturing facility in Shannon, Miss. The plant is located within Tupelo/Lee Industrial Park South. ESG merged with GA in October. The project will create 80 jobs and will add up to 150 being employed in Lee County. GA has been open in the county since 2005. GA is an advanced technology firm with more than 50 years of experience developing real-world systems for defense and energy companies. Source: PR News Wire, 03/03/14.

NYC charter buys 2 AHI helos

Liberty Helicopters, the premiere tour and charter company of NYC, recently took delivery of two AS350B2 AStars helicopters from Airbus Helicopters Inc. The first went into service in December. The second is about to enter service this month. The AStar purchase brought Liberty’s fleet to 15 AHI aircraft and includes three AS355 Twin Stars, an AS365 Dauphin and an EC135. AHI is also in the midst of installing a full assembly line at its Columbus, Miss., production facility for the AS350 series. The first aircraft is scheduled to roll off the line in the final quarter of 2014. Source: Vertical Magazine, 03/01/14.

DPS buys AHI-Columbus helo

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety sold its fleet of helicopters, after operating with three different versions for more than a decade, and bought an AS350B3e AStar from Airbus Helicopters Inc. The helicopter was built at AHI’s Columbus, Miss., plant in January. DPS chose the AS350B3e as the best-suited multi-mission helicopter for patrol, drug eradication and hurricane support. AHI leads in sales of new helicopters to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and maintains a 56 percent share of the American market over the last10 years. The helicopter is being completed at AHI’s headquarters in Texas. It is scheduled for delivery in late springs. Source: Vertical Magazine, 03/01/14.

JSU to offer 4 new degrees

Jackson State University has been approved to offer four new degrees -- beginning in the fall – including doctoral programs in engineering and computational and data-enabled science. JSU was also approved to provide Bachelor of Science programs in biomedical engineering and statistics. The bio-med undergraduate program will be the only one in Mississippi. The engineering doctoral program will emphasize computer, industrial, electrical, computational, civil, environmental and geological engineering. The computational and engineering program will include disciplines in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, technology, public health, economics and finance; and civil, environmental, industrial and manufacturing engineering. Source: The AP, 02/27/14.

Re-brand of econ recruiting

Mississippi Development Authority has renamed its exclusive Team Mississippi large-business-only recruiting efforts and opened invitations to the state’s smaller economic development entities to join. The newly-named ‘team’ will now be called One Mississippi. The new-name entity also invited 700 prospective entities to join the Mississippi Economic Development on a 4-city recruiting trip to Dallas, April 4-6; NYC, June 12-14; Chicago, May 1-3; and Atlanta, Sept. 11-14. The re-branding efforts more suitably fit MDA’s goal of achieving a more cohesive and inclusive statewide marketing effort, said Marlo Dorsey, MDA’s chief marketing officer. The OM offer has three pricing options from $5,000 to $45,000. However, economic development entities unable to make the trips will still be represented by MDA. Tupelo and Lee County’s Community Development Foundation will take part; North Mississippi Industrial Development Association in West Point is undecided; Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Board will go on at least one of trips. But budget restraints will keep Tishomingo County - a small county located on the Tenn-Tom waterway near along the state’s border with Tennessee and Alabama - at home. Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 02/28/14.