Contract: L-3 Vertex, $55.4M

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded a $55,410,943 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-13-D-0007) to exercise an option for logistics services support of the TH-57 aircraft fleet. Services to be provided include all logistics services and materials for organizational and depot level services to support and maintain the aircraft. Work will be performed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed in May 2015. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated against individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/29/14)

AH deal for German EC135s

KASSEL, Germany -Airbus Helicopters has signed a long-term service and maintenance contract to service EC135 aircraft for the German Federal Police. The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) deal was signed at the ILA Berlin Air Show by Airbus Helicopters and the NATO support agency, which was acting on behalf of the German law enforcement agency. The value of the award was not disclosed, but Airbus said contract work would be performed over an initial 3-year period, with provision for an additional two years. A total of 41 EC135s are covered under the arrangement. The first is scheduled to arrive at the Airbus Helicopters’ maintenance facility here before the end of this month. (Source: UPI, 05/27/14) Central Mississippi note: AH, formerly Eurocopter, is a subsidiary wholly owned by the Airbus Group, a global aerospace and defense leader. AH is composed of three entities: Airbus Helicopters HQ; German subsidiary Airbus Helicopters Deutschland and Spanish subsidiary, Airbus Helicopters España. AH’s American manufacturing unit is at Columbus, Miss.

AH earns more Lakota work

EADS North America of Herndon, Va., was awarded a $33,797,867 modification to a previous contract to increase funds and exercise an option for contractor logistic support for the UH-72A Lakota helicopter. Work is to be performed at Airbus Helicopters in Columbus, Miss., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. FY 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) appropriations in the amount of $33,797,867 are being obligated at award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Aviation) in Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD contract, 05/27/14)

Coming to the Triangle

The Golden Triangle region of east-central Mississippi has brought around $6 billion in capital investments in the last decade and created some 6,000 jobs to a state that ranks 50th in average income. The region has a household median income of about $37,000 per year. The American average is just over $50,000. Those jobs - among which are large factories that make helicopters and drones - have made an enormous difference. Why do they come to the Golden Triangle? (Source: The Atlantic series, 05/23/14)

Contract: IMR, $8.5M

Information Management Resources Inc., Aliso Viejo, California, was awarded a $8,500,000 firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract to provide financial, administrative, logistical and technical services for operation and management integration of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center Environmental Laboratory in Vicksburg, Miss. The estimated date of completion is May 12, 2019. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, is the contracting activity (W912HZ-14-D-0004). (Source: DoD, 05/22/14)

Aurora, ESG teaming up

BERLIN – Aurora Flight Sciences Corp. and ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH of Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany, announced a teaming agreement May 21 at the ILA Berlin Air Show to pursue cooperative business opportunities in Germany. Aurora and ESG are expected to work on specific projects and services in systems integration, UAS products and the optionally-piloted Centaur OPA aircraft. (Source: Digital Journal, 05/21/14) Central Mississippi note: Aurora operates a fabrication and final assembly composite aerostructures facility for defense and commercial aerospace customers at Columbus’s Golden Triangle Regional Airport.

Japanese air boss visits CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – The commander of air training for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force was at Columbus Air Force Base to observe JASDF personnel in CAFB’s specialized undergraduate pilot training program. Lt. Gen. Masayuki Hironaka also met with the Air Force’s head of Air Education and Training Command, Gen. Robin Rand, to discuss the long-running program. Rand’s command is headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. JASDF has been sending student-aviators to train in the U.S. since 1991. (Source: Columbus AFB, 05/20/14)

MoH for Flowood native

President Obama will award Flowood, Miss., native and retired Marine Cpl. William “Kyle” Carpenter with the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry on June 19. Cpl. Carpenter will receive the MoH for actions while serving as an Automatic Rifleman in Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He will become the eighth living recipient to be awarded the MoH for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join the President at the White House. He was medically retired in July 2013 and is currently a full-time student at the University of South Carolina. (Source: White House, 05/19/14) Central Mississippi note: Flowood is located 5 miles east of Jackson.

Contract: T.L. Wallace, $45M

T. L. Wallace Construction Inc., Columbia, Miss., was awarded a $45,000,000 firm-fixed- price contract for emergency temporary roof repairs (residential structures) in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster response. States affected are Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. The estimated completion date is May 31, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with 11 received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-14-D-0010). (Source: DoD, 05/19/14)

Airbus helos looking overseas

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Airbus Group CEO Allan McArtor, speaking prior to an event here last week at its Airbus Helicopters production plant marking the delivery of the 300th UH-72 Lakota helicopter to the U.S. Army, said the company is also looking for opportunities overseas. Among those opportunities is seeking to replace some foreign government’s UH-1 Huey helicopter fleets with the Lakota which could push 600 more helos through the Columbus plant. So far, AH has landed only a six-helicopter deal with the Royal Thai Army worth about $77 million. AG also could play a role in the emerging micro satellites and cyber-aviation markets. The U.S. Army recently decided to buy 100 more Lakotas, for pilot training at Fort Rucker, Ala., in support of its aviation restructuring plan. Part of this move will allow AG to divest its contractor-support logistics work on the helicopters. That contract at Fort Rucker expires at the close of 2015 and should save the Army 5-to-10 percent on costs. All 100 Lakotas are to be moved to Fort Rucker by 2019. (Source: Defense News, 05/18/14)

World Trade Week symposium

MOBILE, Ala. - Firms looking to expand businesses to overseas markets can get advice on how to diversify their client base through exporting here at the World Trade Week symposium May 22-23. World Trade Week symposium begins at the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel with a networking reception May 22, where attendees can interact with trade officials, state and federal resource providers. The symposium starts at 8 a.m. Friday, May 23. Tickets are $65. Reservations must be made by Monday, May 19. Presenters will discuss trade strategy, export opportunities, future markets and the national perspective on the U.S. trade agenda. Speakers include Leslie Schweitzer of Capitalize LLC, a Washington D.C.-firm that spearheads international trade with Central Asia; and Christopher Wenk, senior director for international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For more information or to register call (251) 431-8651. (Source: Alabama Department of Commerce, 05/15/14.)

Aurora CEO earns NAA trophy

Aurora Flight Sciences’ Chairman and CEO Dr. John Langford was selected by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) to receive the 2014 Cliff Henderson Trophy. The trophy, established in 1960, is presented to a person or group with the vision, leadership or skills that have made significant contributions to the advancement of aviation in the U.S. Henderson was the creator and managing director of the National Air Races from 1928-39 and whose work stimulated a generation’s interest in aviation development. Langford founded AFS in 1989. The firm is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Early in his career, Langford worked as an engineer in the development of the F-117 stealth fighter. Aurora has been a leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced UAS; and is a major aerospace original equipment manufacturer (OEM) with technologically advanced aerospace components. (Source: Aviation Pros, 05/16/14) Central Mississippi note: Aurora’s Columbus, Miss., aerostructures manufacturing plant specializes in the fabrication of composite aerostructures and major subassemblies such as the MH-60R Sonobuoy Launcher, S-92 Air Stair Doors, H-92 Weapons Pylons, and provides airframe design, assembly and integration of wings, empennage and fuselage components for our military and commercial customers.

300th Lakota delivered

Airbus Group on Wednesday delivered the 300th UH-72A Lakota helicopter to the Army. Every Lakota has been delivered on time and on budget by a workforce that's more than 50 percent U.S. military veterans. The Lakota is manufactured at the company's Airbus Helicopters facility in Columbus, Miss. Since the contract was awarded in 2006, the company has delivered the Lakota in seven different configurations for missions including training, border security, search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster response, VIP transport and range support. Five aircraft are also in service with the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, which trains Navy, Marine Corps and Army test pilots. Army officials have recently indicated plans to modernize the service's rotorcraft training fleet with the UH-72A. (Source: Airbus Group, 05/14/14)

Contract: *EADS NA, $55.4M

*EADS-NA, Herndon, Va., was awarded a $55,361,816 sole-source modification (P00780) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 to procure 10 UH-72A Lakota helicopters with ARC-231 radios. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds in the amount of $55,361,816 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2015. Work will be performed Columbia, Miss. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/15/14)*The name of the company is now Airbus Helicopters.

Stark unveils ArrowLite UAV

Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled its new ArrowLite micro-unmanned aerial vehicle - designed, developed and manufactured by its U.S. subsidiary, Stark Aerospace in Columbus, Miss. - at the 2014 Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (AUVSI) conference in Orlando, Fla. Stark was under contract with the Defense Department to develop the systems for use by Special Operations and small counter-terrorism tactical units. (Source: Defense Update, 05/14/14)

GTRA lands $1M FAA grant

JACKSON, Miss. – Fourteen Mississippi airports will receive more than $4.8 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants to improve safety and operations. Airports in Central Mississippi include Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional and Starkville. The largest of the FAA Airport Improvement Program grants is $1 million for the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, which serves Columbus, West Point, Starkville and Lowndes County. The grant money will be used to improve the terminal building and repair the runway and taxiway. The George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville will get $540,000 for runway safety area improvements. The grants are to be used to support infrastructure development projects that improve operational safety and efficiency at airport facilities. (Source: The AP, 05/12/14)

Camp Shelby, USM sign accord

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center signed an agreement with the University of Southern Mississippi formalizing an agreement that will bring them together to address military transportation, logistics, and freight-based economic development innovations across the region. Camp Shelby officials signed the agreement with USM's Center for Logistics, Trade, and Transportation, a move intended to strengthen the strategic intermodal logistics hub opportunities and incorporate the capabilities and collaborative efforts between the center and the military. (Source: Camp Shelby Public Affairs, 05/09/14) Previous

MS guard may lose Apaches

The Army National Guard is taking steps to give up its entire fleet of AH-64 Apache helicopters to the active duty side of the house. The Army wants to save some $12 billion over several years by retiring OH-58 Kiowas and using the Apaches for its armed scout and reconnaissance missions. The Army can't afford to buy more attack “helos” to do both; and plans to transfer the ANG's entire fleet of 192 Apaches to the Army. In return, the ANG gets 111 UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters. The proposal is part of the fiscal 2015 budget request. Mississippi, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Utah Army National Guard will lose Apache units, according to Inside the Army. The shift will create "turbulence" for the Guard, as officials seek to soften the impact to those states by transferring helicopters and personnel from other states with more aviation assets, according to Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck, special assistant to the director of the Army National Guard. In all, the Guard will lose 222 aircraft across the board and get back half that amount. (Source: Military.com 05/06/14) Central Mississippi note: Mississippi Army National Guard’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 151st Attack Aviation unit in Tupelo flies AH-64 Apaches.

Contract: *EADS NA, $25.5M

*EADS North America, Herndon, Va., was awarded a $25,474,389 modification (P00787) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 to increase funds and exercise an option for contractor logistics support on the Lakota Utility Helicopter (UH-72A). Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $25,472,339 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/06/14) *This is how the information appears in the DoD listing. The name of the company is now Airbus Helicopters.

CAFB med clinic renovation

Columbus Air Force Base's medical clinic will under-go modernization of its 65,500 square feet of space to increase energy efficiency and improve the reliability of the building’s systems. Through a national medical Multiple Award Task Order Contract, JE Dunn Construction and the architectural firm of Hoefer Wysocki Architects, both of Kansas City, were awarded the renovation project for the 14th Medical Group. The project also includes relocating dental into the main medical clinic building and reducing misused square footage and increasing operational efficiency. (Source: JE Dunn, 05/14) Gulf Coast note: JE Dunn and HWA were contractors for the 144,966 square-foot medical realignment project of Eglin Air Force Base’s hospital, in Northwest Florida, and the entire 96th Medical Group campus that was completed in December 2014.

Army decision may pay big for AH

The US Army’s off-and-on again decision to purchase more UH-72 Lakota helicopters for pilot training from Airbus Helicopters (AH), built at its Columbus, Miss., plant may be a plus for the company on the both the American and world markets. The Army had planned to conclude its purchase of 340 Lakota UH-72s in 2015, but added back 100 of the rotary-wing aircraft to its FY-15 plans. Using the aircraft for pilot training may increases the possibility of additional sales in both the US and internationally, a company official said. The Lakota, a military version of Airbus’ commercial EC145, used for US Army pilot training; homeland security, drug interdiction, general support, logistics and medical evacuations. (Source: Defense News, 05/01/14)

CAFB airman earns CCC honor

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - Columbus, Miss., Air Force Base Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Randolph was awarded the Air Education and Training Command’s ‘Cost Conscious Culture’ award for Individual of the Year. Randolph, an Aircrew Flight Equipment specialist, found ways to save money by assessing and changing office processes. He eliminated all paper-based technical orders by consolidating documents into a digital library and identified duplicate inspection tracking practices. Tech. Sgt. Randolph also used his AF skill-sets to refurbish an electric powered cart that saved squadron $7,000 for a replacement. (Source: AETC, 04/30/14) Central Mississippi note: Tech. Sgt. Randolph is a member of CAFB's 14th Operations Support Squadron.