AIAA aviation conference in DC

AIAA AVIATION 2016 will combine the aspects of technical conferences with insight from aviation leaderships to provide a forum for navigating key challenges and opportunities affecting the future of global aviation policy, planning, Research & Development, security, environmental issues, and international markets. The technical program will contain more than 1,500 technical presentations regarding aviation and aerodynamic research, and offering opportunities for collaboration and discussion on high-impact topics. The conference is June 13-17 in Washington, DC. (Source: AAIA 12/15)

FAA changes for AMT schools

The Federal Aviation Administration has extended its comment period for a proposed change to Part 147 regulations governing the curriculum and operations of FAA-certified aviation maintenance technician (AMT) schools. The new comment period closes Feb. 1. According to the FAA, existing curriculum is “outdated, does not meet current industry needs and can be changed only through Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and comment rulemaking.” In addition, the proposed amendments would clarify existing requirements, remove gender-specific references and eliminate duplication found in some sections of the current rules. (Source: AIN Online 12/29/15)

Some 38M holiday air travelers

DALLAS - Airlines are shifting thousands of flight times, and adding dozens of red-eyes, as they try to avoid delays while hauling millions of passengers through the Christmas weekend. Success or failure could all depend on the weather. Airlines are expecting some 38 million passengers over a 17-day period spanning Christmas and New Year’s, an increase of about 3 percent, according to the trade group Airlines for America. (Source: The AP 12/23/15)

FAA drone registry online

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) drone registry began operation Dec. 21. By the end of this week, more than 45,000 people had used the online service to register their drones. If you own a drone, or any model aircraft, that weighs between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds - including payloads - you have to register with the FAA. Registration is free until Jan. 21. 2016. Afterwards, it’ll cost $5. Registration is valid for three years. If you don’t register, there is a risk for penalties up to $27,500 and/or jail time. (Source: Tech Crunch 12/24/15)

Miss. is ANG cyber protect team

The Mississippi National Guard will be part of a 39-member Cyber Protection Team that includes the states of Louisiana and Texas. Mississippi will be one of 10 Army National Guard cyber protection team sites expected to be activated by the end of FY 2019, according to Col. Lee Smithson, director of military support for the MNG. Cyber team goals are to protect military networks, and safeguard the public from potential criminal or terroristic cyber-attacks. Smithson believes Mississippi was chosen in part due to the strength of the Mississippi State University’s computer science department and its Distributed Analytics and Security Institute, which will help train guardsmen to protect critical infrastructure, and respond to potential incidents. (Source: Mississippi Public Broadcasting 12/21/15)

MDA has new marketing leader

Pamela Weaver has been named chief marketing officer of the state’s lead economic development agency, the Mississippi Development Authority. As CMO, Weaver will lead MDA’s Marketing and Communications team’s efforts to promote investment and job creation throughout the state. Weaver has served the past eight years as communications director for the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office. Weaver, an Ocean Springs native, is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with degrees in mass communication and political science. She is also a former news anchor and reporter at WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg. Weaver replaces Marlo Dorsey, who resigned in November. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal 12/21/15)

AHI delivers another H125 AStar

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Airbus Helicopters Inc. has delivered a new H125 AStar to the Lee County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office in Fort Myers. The H125 will be an addition to the county’s AStar fleet to three helicopters. The LCSO performs a wide variety of missions including law enforcement patrol and searches for missing persons. The agency will have a hoist installed to perform additional search and rescue missions along its coastal region. AHI’s H125 (formerly AS350 B3e) is the latest version of the company’s AStar series that are built in Columbus, Miss. (Airbus Helicopter Inc. 12/18/15)

ATK-Iuka to build rocket structures

DULLES, Va. - Orbital ATK Inc.  an aerospace and defense technologies company, announced Dec. 17 it had been awarded a contract from United Launch Alliance (ULA) for large-size composite structures to be used for the Atlas V and Delta IV vehicles in support of the current Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles programs. Orbital ATK will produce large composite structures for ULA with deliveries from 2016 to early 2019. Hardware from the order will support both Atlas V and Delta IV launches through 2021. (Source: WCBI 12/17/15) Central Mississippi Note: All of the structures will be fabricated at Orbital ATK’s Large Structures Center of Excellence in Iuka, Miss., employing advanced fiber placement and hand lay-up processes, automated machining and ultrasonic inspection techniques.

Miss. benes from omnibus bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) highlighted provisions in a FY 2016 omnibus appropriations bill signed by President Obama that will benefit Mississippi and its role in supporting national security. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 combines the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund government programs through September 2016. Aviation items of interest ensures the Air Force does not retire or divest its C-130 Hurricane Hunter fleet at Keesler AFB; funding for the LPD 28 amphibious transport dock ship to be built at HII Pascagoula; advanced procurement for construction of the LHA-8 amphibious assault ship at Ingalls; 28 UH-72A ‘Lakota’ helicopters to be built at Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional Airport; upgrade of the National Guard's Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group facility in Gulfport; and full funding for all existing contract towers at Golden Triangle Regional, Greenville Municipal, Hawkins Field in Jackson, Meridian/Key Field, Olive Branch, Stennis International, and Tupelo Regional airports. (Source: Yall Politics 12/17/15)

New MSU Raspet flight lab director

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Dallas Brooks, a nationally-recognized leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research, development, testing, operations and integration has been named director of the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University. Previously, Brooks was the director of UAS research and development at New Mexico State University. In his leadership role at Raspet, Brooks, a 26-year Air Force veteran, also will be the associate director of research for the MSU-led Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence. (Source: Mississippi State University 12/16/15)

Catastrophic Miss. helo crash suit

NEW ORLEANS – An Oklahoma woman is claiming in U.S. district court in Louisiana that faulty maintenance caused catastrophic engine failure leading to the deadly crash of a helicopter that her husband, Brandon Ricks, was piloting. Colleen Ricks filed a lawsuit Dec. 10 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Cadorath Aerospace LaFayette LLC, H&H Turbine Services LLC and Rotorcraft Leasing Co. LLC citing negligence. Ricks, 40, was pilot of the Model 206 L-1 helicopter from Griffin Memorial Airport in Wiggins, Miss., to assist in a controlled burn by the U.S. Forest Service on March 30. The craft’s Rolls Royce engine failed, resulting in a fatal crash for Ricks and another passenger. The lawsuit states the defendants negligently performed maintenance on the helicopter from 2009-14, which led to engine failure. Colleen Ricks seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages. (Source: Louisiana Record 12/15/15)

Afghan duo missing from Ga. base

ATLANTA - Two Afghanistan Air Force maintenance personnel in training at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., have been missing from the base since Dec. 7, when they did not report back to duty after a weekend break from training. The duo had been screened before entering the country and there is no indication they pose a threat, base officials said. The men did not report Dec. 7 for continued training with the 81st Fighter Squadron, base officials said. Federal, local and state agencies are working with the military to locate them. The names of the two men, who were scheduled to graduate at the end of December, have not been released. The duo had been at Moody under training order since February. (Source: The AP 12/09/15) Central Mississippi Note: The 81st Fighter Squadron is a tenant command at Moody AFB, but falls under the command of the 14th Operations Group and 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB, Miss.

Lakota may be ’17 budget target

The Defense Department is putting the final touches to its FY 2017 budget requests, which will call for slowing down program production and limiting R&D funds to protect personnel and readiness. DOD’s top money-handlers claim in order to make up a $15 billion between mandated congressional goals and Pentagon necessities will require targeting the equipment side of the budget. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production will likely be slowed. CH-47F and UH-60M Army helicopters - with multi-year procurement deals - are unlikely to see large-scale reductions. However, the AH-64E and UH-72A “Lakota” are not currently multi-year buys and could be targets. However, the Lakota is a priority for Army helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Ala. (Source: Defense News 12/06/15) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc. builds UH-72s at its Columbus plant.

Space Cowboys rocket to ‘Star’

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State’s Space Cowboys rocket team recently earned the Shining Star Award for Technical Excellence for student organizations. Members accepted the award at the National Space Club’s 27th annual Von Braun Memorial Celebration in Huntsville, Ala. NASA hosted the event that also recognized aerospace professionals and policymakers. (Source: MSU 12/02/15)

AHI delivers first US-produced H125

Airbus Helicopters Inc. delivered its first H125 AStar helicopter produced on its new American assembly line for the Ohio State Highway Patrol. It is the first fully assembled aircraft on the company’s new helicopter production plant in Columbus, Miss. The H125 (formerly AS350 B3e) is the latest version of AHI’s long-running AStar series. It is also the first AHI civilian model fully assembled in the U.S. from parts sourced globally. (Source: AHI 12/03/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI’s Columbus plant has also produced Army UH-72A Lakota helicopters since 2006. More than 350 aircraft have been delivered. The UH-72A will be the Army Aviation’s newest helicopter used for pilot training at Fort Rucker, Ala.