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.

Student-team rocketry contest

Registration is now open for the world's largest annual student rocketry contest. Registration for the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is open to teams of 7-to-12th graders through December 4. (Source: AIA 09/01/15)

MDA temp replacements

In the wake of two departures this week, Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough Jr., has named two members of the agency as temporary replacements. Daron Wilson is the interim director of Visit Mississippi, and Jeff Rent has taken the role of interim chief marketing officer. Both will assume their duties on Nov. 23. (Mississippi Business Journal 11/20/15)

L-3: New MS division HQ

MADISON, Miss. - L-3 Communications is re-establishing a division headquarters here and naming long-time Mississippian John “Ed” Boyington Jr. to lead it. Boyington will become president of L-3 Logistics Solutions, which should dispel rumors that the NY-based L-3 would be closing the Mississippi office that overhauls and distributes parts for military aircraft. Boyington worked for L-3 from 2003-09 including serving as president of L-3 Vertex Aerospace in Madison. Boyington is a retired Navy rear admiral. (Washington Times 11/20/15)

Aircraft laser pointing indictment

Landon Albritton, a 20-year-old Terry, Miss., man was charged in a federal indictment Nov. 18, and could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, for pointing a laser at an aircraft. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate will hear the trial on Jan. 4. (Source: Clarion-Ledger 11/18/15) Central Mississippi Note: Thomas Hannigan, information systems manager at the Mississippi State University’s aerospace engineering department, and a flight instructor, said pointing a laser at an aircraft could instantly render a pilot’s night vision completely ineffective.

‘Lux’ named ASSURE associate

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Stephen “Lux” Luxion has been named associate director of the Mississippi State University-led Alliance for System Safety of Research Excellence (ASSURE) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In May, the Federal Aviation Administration designated ASSURE as the national Center of Excellence for UAS. He is a graduate of the Air Force Academy, and retired from service as a colonel in 2014. Luxion has experience in UAS research, development, testing, operations and integration. He also established the AF’s first armed UAS squadron in the wake of 9/11, and assisted NATO with its first aerospace center of excellence. At his final duty station, he was professor of aerospace studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an ASSURE partner institution. He helped test unmanned vehicles off the coast of Florida at Embry-Riddle. (Source: Mississippi State University 11/19/15)

Key Field energy competition

Meridian’s Key Field Air National Guard Base began an energy conservation competition this summer that runs through Dec. 31. The goal is to create energy conservation awareness and reduce usage by 7 percent. To date, there has been a 4.3 percent base-wide energy reduction resulting in about $7,500 in savings for the Air Force and base. Winners are announced monthly. The overall winner will be announced in January. This quarter’s winner was the Aerospace Ground Equipment shop. (Source: Meridian Star 11/15/15)

MSU among top schools for vets

STARKVILLE, Miss - Mississippi State University was named No. 44 among the 2016 ‘Military Times Best for Vets’ college rankings. The project evaluates many factors that help make colleges a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. More than 600 colleges took part in a detailed survey and assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement. (Source: Mississippi State University 11/13/15) Central Mississippi Note: There are about 450 students who are veterans and service members at MSU; and another 2,100 students are dependents. A new facility at the G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans currently is under construction. It is to open in 2016. The building features a computer lab, study rooms and a day room.

Army opts for 12 Columbus-Lakotas

The Army has exercised $65.8 million in contract options for 12 UH-72A Lakota helicopters and mission equipment packages from Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss. Since 2006, AHI has delivered nearly 350 Lakotas to the Army, Navy and Royal Thai Army. The dozen UH-72As for this contract option will be delivered in August 2017, and as the Army’s initial entry rotary-wing trainer. The Army has fielded more than 50 Lakotas to Fort Rucker, Ala., in preparation for its FY-2016 formal introduction into its training curriculum. The Army plans for 187 Lakotas to be delivered for initial-entry rotary wing training. The Navy operates UH-72As in training at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. (Clarion-Ledger 11/13/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI’s Columbus plant opened in 2004. It also produces the AS350 B2/B3 AStar commercial helicopter.

3D Aurora Flight Services’ UAV

Stratasys Ltd., a 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, has announced it is teaming with Aurora Flight Sciences to deliver what is believed to be the largest, fastest, and most complex 3D printed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ever produced. Unveiled for the first time at the Dubai Airshow, the high-speed aircraft is built using lightweight materials to achieve speeds in excess of 150 mph. The final 3D printed UAV design has a 9-foot wingspan and weighs 33 lbs. and built on the expertise of AFS’ aerospace and Stratasys’ additive manufacturing. “A primary goal for us was to show the aerospace industry just how quickly you can go from designing to building to flying a 3D printed jet-powered aircraft,” said Dan Campbell, aerospace research engineer at AFS. (Source: MFRTECH 11/10/15) Central Mississippi Note: Aurora Flight Sciences is a leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced aerospace vehicles. It operates a production plant in Columbus, Miss. Stratasys Ltd. has offices in Minneapolis, Minn., and Rehovot, Israel.

Silicon facility opens in North Miss.

The first silicon metal manufacturing facility built in the U.S. in more than 40 years is up and running in the North Mississippi town of Burnsville, about 100 miles from Memphis. The $200 million Mississippi Silicon plant began startup operations in late September on a 94-acre site in Tishomingo County. The plant is a joint venture between the Vicitin family of Brazil and CleanTech LLC. The largest single use of Silicon is as an alloy material in various grades of aluminum, mostly aluminum used for things like automotive components and aerospace products. (Source: Memphis Daily News 11/01/15)

Mid school forms Robotics Club

Northwest Middle School students in Meridian, Miss., have formed a Robotics Club as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focus within the Meridian Public School District. The club is comprised of approximately 20 students who meet once a week; and recently participated in the Mississippi Best Robotics Competition at Mississippi State University. “As technology becomes more and more a part of our daily lives,” said Daniel Roberts, Robotics Club sponsor. “It is this forward thinking that will broaden the horizons for all current and future Northwest students.” (Meridian Star 10/28/15) Central Mississippi Note: The Golden Triangle region is a hot bed of STEM activity and aerospace businesses.

GEA to build twin facilities in Ala.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - GE Aviation is building twin silicon carbide production factories in Huntsville, Ala., that are expected to employ up to 300 workers. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley made the announcement Oct. 27. Silicon carbide materials are used in jet engines. Construction begins in 2016; and expected to begin production in 2018. GE Aviation also has a plant in Auburn, Ala. (Source: The Associated Press 10/27/15) Central Mississippi Note: GE Aviation also has two aviation composites’ factories at Ellisville and Batesville, Miss.

AHI exhibits police helo in Chicago

Airbus Helicopters Inc., the U.S. sales leader in law enforcement helicopters, is exhibiting the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s H125 AStar at the 2015 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in Chicago through Oct. 27. The H125 AStar is built and certified at AHI’s assembly plant in Columbus, Miss. (Vertical Magazine 10/22/15)