Burns Dirt earns CAFB pact

Burns Dirt Construction of Columbus, Miss., was awarded a $35,000,000 contract for repair and construction of asphalt and concrete pavements base-wide, and the painting of runways, taxiways, and aprons at Columbus Air Force Base. Work will be performed at Columbus AFB and its Auxiliary Field at Shuqualak, Miss. It is expected to be complete by July 30, 2020. (Source: DOD 07/30/15)

MDOT grants to 17 airports

Grants from the Mississippi Department of Transportation have been awarded for more than $3 million to 17 statewide airports, including $31,300 to Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional and Starkville’s Bryan Field. The Columbus grant will help lay groundwork for expansion of Mississippi State University's SMART bus system to a waiting area at GTR; and $45,485 to George M. Bryan Field in Starkville for two pieces of ground support equipment. GTR Executive Director Mike Hainsey said the funding will pay for a bus shelter similar to the ones SMART uses in Starkville. The Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit is a public transit system operated by MSU. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 07/29/15) Central Mississippi Note: One recipient of a 2015 MDOT grant, Stennis International Airport in Bay St. Louis, received an additional grant matched by the FAA to acquire an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle.

L-3 wins aircraft mod pact

L-3 Communications Corp.’s Systems Field Support of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $274,596,000 Army modification to contract for continued logistic support for about 235 military aircraft (40 RC-12s, 167 C-12s, 28 UC-35s). Work will be performed in Madison with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2016. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting authority. (Source: DOD, 07/27/15)

Iuka enables satellite launches

DULLES, Va. - Orbital ATK supplied products from multiple company locations across the United States – including its Iuka, Miss., manufacturing plant - that helped enable the successful launch of both the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V vehicle and the GPS satellite that was deployed July 15 from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The 10th GPS IIF satellite will replace first-generation GPS satellites and provide improved accuracy, signal strength and quality to U.S. war-fighters, allies and civilian users worldwide. Boeing designed and built the GPS IIF satellite for the Air Force. The Orbital ATK components were used on both the Atlas V launch vehicle and GPS satellite. These include large composite structures, retro motors, and state-of-the art solar arrays and other critical components on the GPS IIF satellite. Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies. (Source: Business Wire 07/15/15) Central Mississippi Note: For the ULA Atlas V rocket, Orbital ATK produced the 10-foot diameter composite heat shield. Orbital ATK fabricated the assembly using advanced fiber placement manufacturing techniques at the company’s Iuka, Miss., facility. It was the 55th Atlas V launch using Orbital ATK-built composite structures.

Improving the AF’s RPA mission

WASHINGTON - In response to a critical shortage of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots, the Air Force has rolled out more information about plans to alleviate the problem in the short and long term. Recent initiatives include creating bonuses for RPA pilots ($15K/year) starting October 1; placing newly trained pilots in RPA squadrons in August; and investing $100 million-plus to buy more ground control stations, simulators and contract instructors. (Source: Air Force News Service 07/16/15) Central Mississippi Note: One of the solutions is for about 80 Undergraduate Pilot Training graduates to be added over the next 12 months, and who will be assigned to RPA positions for one assignment tour to help alleviate growing pressure on overtaxed RPA crews. AF pilot training bases are at Columbus AFB, Miss.; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; and Sheppard AFB, Texas.

OSHP orders AHI-Columbus helo

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) has ordered the first H125 AStar produced on the new final assembly line of Airbus Helicopters Inc.’ production facility in Columbus, Miss. The AStar is America's most popular single-engine turbine helicopter that is now built in the United States by American workers. AHI will recognize the OSHP an Airborne Law Enforcement Association ALEA Expo 2015 ceremony in Houston on July 17. OSHP operates two AS350B2 AStars to conduct a wide variety of law enforcement missions; and have been operating AStars for more than 20 years. The helicopter was the first H125 produced from the Columbus assembly line and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. (Source: Street Insider 07/14/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI installed the Columbus final assembly line to allow shorter delivery times, increased aircraft customization and the ability for customers to see their aircraft being manufactured, and to offer enhanced customer support. AHI-Columbus also produces UH-72A Lakota helicopters for the Army; and has delivered more than 340 to date.