History: Payne Field at nearly 100

Payne Field, four miles north of West Point, Miss., is a little-known, but historic air field. It has been called Mississippi's first airport. It was 100 years ago March 10, 1918, that the first squadron of JN-4 "Jennys" arrived at Payne to begin active training for U.S. Army Air Service (AAS) pilots to produce a portion of more than 10,000 overall Signal Officers Reserve Corps officers. Ten years after the Wright Brothers delivered their first aircraft to the newly formed AAS, WWI brought aviation to war-time, and with the need for the first group of military-trained pilots. In 1917, West Point was selected as one of the sites for pilot training. The field was constructed on 533 acres of open prairie. The first squadron arrived March 10, 1918. By May 1, the field was fully operational with 125 flying Jennys. Most townfolks had never seen an aircraft before, and called the planes "buzz wagons," and the aviators "birdmen." (Source: Columbus Dispatch opinion 02/17/18)

Mississippi’s safest cities

WEST POINT, Miss. – The National Council for Home Safety and Security’s Safest City in Mississippi list indicates that Petal is No. 1. Among some of the other Top 10 cities was Oxford, Olive Branch and the Golden Triangle’s West Point. The cities were listed based on recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics and other research. Cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes and property crimes per 1,000 people. (Source: WCBI 02/14/18)

T-1A avionics modification

ASES LLC, doing business as Field Aerospace, of Oklahoma City, Okla., has been awarded an $18,500,038 firm-fixed-price contract for the T-1A Avionics Modification program. The contract provides for the replacement of the avionics suite in the T-1A fleet of 178 aircraft, 16 operational flight trainers, and 14 part task trainers. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City; Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; Randolph AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; and Laughlin AFB, Texas. Work is expected to be complete by Aug. 14, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and eight offers were received. FY 2017-18 procurement funds in the amount of $18,500,038 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center of Tinker AFB, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8106-18-C-0002). (Source: DOD 02/14/18)

Leonardo won’t challenge Army plan

Leonardo Helicopters is backing down from its challenge to U.S. Army’s plans to purchase more Airbus Helicopter’s UH-72A Lakotas, ending a three-year legal battle that had become increasingly heated. The Army competitively selected the UH-72A as its Light Utility Helicopter in 2006. The aircraft became the Army’s primary training helicopter under the terms of the 2013 Aviation Restructure Initiative. AHI-Columbus, Miss., has built hundreds of UH-72s for Army Aviation training, primarily at Fort Rucker, Ala. In a statement to Vertical on Feb. 12, the company declared: “In light of the appellate court ruling, Leonardo Helicopters has decided to discontinue any further legal action regarding the sole-source award of trainer helicopters to the U.S. Army.” The ruling was a Jan. 23 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals, which overturned a lower court’s injunction against the Army’s purchase of 16 Lakotas from Airbus Helicopters Inc. (Source: Vertical 02/12/18)

NAMI lab researching hypoxia

A Pensacola, Fla.-based Navy student-pilot had reached an altitude of 20,000 feet in a flight simulator when she began to feel the symptoms of hypoxia due to oxygen deprivation. The student’s feet began to tingle and vision blurred. She started to struggle with a series of cognitive tests and responses to commands – like turning the aircraft - were slowed. Seconds count when flying. “Pilots need to be able to identify hypoxia before they become incapacitated," said Navy (Dr.) Capt. Merrill Rice, a physician heading a study of pilots' responses to oxygen deprivation, told the Pensacola News Journal. The Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) researchers chart student pilots' brain waves, oxygen levels, and performance on cognitive tests over 90 minutes of simulated flight. The students wear oxygen masks, which researchers use to induce hypoxic conditions. Rice’s work at the NAMI lab could be key to helping the military overcome numerous Unexplained Physiologic Events linked to hypoxia, which has caused the Air Force and Navy to ground various aircraft over the past year. Among the aircraft that have been grounded is the T-45C Goshawk trainer, also flown at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.; and the AF’s variant of the T-6 Texan II that is also flown at Columbus (Miss.) Air Force Base. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 02/10/18)

AF grounds T-6s at NAS Pensacola

The Air Force has grounded training flights at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., due to unexplained physiological events (UPE) related to the lack of oxygen getting to pilots while flying the same T-6 Texan IIA as Columbus (Miss.) Air Force Base, Vance AFB in Oklahoma, and Sheppard AFB in Texas, according to Randy Martin, a spokesperson for the San Antonio-based 12th Flying Squadron. The AF uses the aircraft to train combat systems officers as part of the 479th Fighter Group located adjacent to Sherman Field on NAS Pensacola. The fighter group has 22 of the T-6 aircraft. In early February, the AF grounded its entire fleet of T-6 Texan IIA after reports of pilots experiencing hypoxia due to the lack of significant oxygen in flight. NAS Whiting Field, Fla., which provides primary flight training for 60 percent of all Coast Guard, Marine, and Navy pilots, flies a different version of the T-6. Whiting officials have said pilots flying its variant have not experienced UPEs. However, the Navy did temporarily grounded its fleet of T-45C Goshawk trainers in April when some instructor pilots, including those in Pensacola and Meridian, Miss., refused to fly after experiencing in-flight hypoxia. The Navy has developed a series of workarounds involving the planes' on-board oxygen generating system to allow pilots to continue flying. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 02/08/17)

OM grad earns philanthropy award

OXFORD, Miss. – Every morning Markeeva Morgan and his wife, Shaquinta, send their daughters off to school by emphasizing a message: Be learners, be leaders and be lights. “We feel these attributes form a foundation of humble greatness infused with a central compulsion to give forward,” said Morgan, the inaugural recipient of the Emerging Philanthropist Award from the University of Mississippi’s Women’s Council for Philanthropy. He is to be honored April 13 on campus. The 2001 UM electrical engineering graduate, from Madison, Ala., is leading a multidisciplinary engineering team to design and develop software for an aerospace vehicle. The 38-year-old avionics engineer works in guidance, navigation and control; and software management for The Boeing Co. Previously, he worked as NASA’s Space Launch System core stage avionics hardware subsystems manager. The Emerging Philanthropist Award recognizes Morgan’s service to students and organizations; coupled with his demanding, high-pressure career; and dedication to family, said Mary Haskell, OMWC chairperson. Besides working with UM students, Morgan, who earned a master’s degree in engineering management from Catholic University of America and who is pursuing a doctorate in systems engineering at George Washington University. He also teaches at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. (Source: Ole Miss 02/08/18)

Lott: Frivilious defense lawsuits

Opinion/blog by former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) The challenges facing our military forces are difficult enough with extended deployments, aging equipment, and competing funding among the services. When you add mission uncertainty, pilot shortages, and the shortsighted interests of some defense contractors, who are sacrificing military training for their own financial well-being, the challenges become nearly insurmountable. Recently, the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals took steps to reverse one … egregious example. Two years ago, Leonardo’s helicopter division, part of an Italian aerospace firm, filed suit against the U.S. Army in an attempt to bring to a halt the Army’s congressionally-approved acquisition of helicopters for training pilots at Fort Rucker, Ala. The Army made a smart decision to re-purpose the existing UH-72A Lakota fleet (built in Columbus, Miss., by Airbus Helicopters Inc.) from other utility missions to training … and were already performing. But just 16 more aircraft were required to round out its fleet of nearly 200. Leonardo, who lost the original competition in 2006, thought the Army should be forced to spend taxpayer dollars on a competition for those last Lakotas. … (T)he courts have freed the Army to proceed (but) it remains to be seen if Leonardo will go back to court to stop the Army yet again. Leonardo’s actions demonstrate … their company(‘s) interests take precedence over the training … of the Army’s pilots and military readiness. This is not the fault of the Congress. It is not the fault of the Army or the courts. Leonardo is holding Army readiness hostage with this lawsuit, and if successful will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and create an inefficient training fleet, resulting in decreased readiness for our forces. Ironically, as Leonardo exacerbates the Army’s pilot shortage, it is simultaneously bidding to replace the Air Force’s T-38 training aircraft with their Italian-made M346; a paradox for sure. … Hopefully, when the Air Force makes (its) award … in about five months, any potential protesting company will go through the traditional U.S. GAO process, which only takes 100 days to adjudicate … Leonardo, which holds no sizable U.S. defense contracts and therefore has nothing to lose by breaking the system, has instead used legal actions that have dragged out over two years in its efforts to thwart the Army. Our military services deserve better than this. What’s needed now is more funding to enhance the training of our pilots and maintainers and the elimination of frivolous lawsuits from companies … who have become skilled at holding the services hostage whenever they a lose government contract. (Former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) served as Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate. The Lakota helicopter is built in his home state of Mississippi by Airbus Helicopters Inc. in Columbus, Miss. In addition, Lott previously served on the EADS North America/Airbus Board of Directors and is currently a consultant to Airbus Group in the U.S.) (Source: The Hill opinion/blog 02/08/18)

AF’s first robotic surgery training

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Air Force is increasingly using the latest technology in surgical robotics to train medical service personnel to provide access to the most advanced surgical procedures for patients. Major Joshua Tyler, director of surgical robotics at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., helped establish the Institute for Defense Robotic Surgical Education (InDoRSE). It is the first of its kind in the Air Force. The facility trains Air Force, Army, Navy and VA surgical teams (surgeons, nurses and techs) to use state-of-the-art medical robotics. Access to this type of training was previously only available through private industry. “Robotic surgery is becoming the standard of care for many specialties and procedures,” said Tyler. Robotic surgeries have been shown to deliver better outcomes for patients. It offers increased mobility, smaller incisions, and gives surgeons better visualization. Keelser’s InDoRSE was established in March 2017, but plans to double training capacity. (Source: Air Force Surgeon General 02/06/18)

Irritation over PE probe; T-45 fixes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Navy isn’t moving fast enough to fix the ongoing systemic Physiological Episode (PE) issues that have plagued fighter and trainer-pilots and flight students, according to some members on the House Armed Services Committee. The number of PEs has been on the rise over the last 10 years. The Navy was forced to deal with the issue in April 2017, when a group of more than 100 pilot-instructors – from Naval Air Stations Meridian, Miss.; Pensacola, Fla.; and Corpus Christi, Texas - refused to fly the T-45C Goshawk trainers due to safety concerns. Since then, the HASC’s tactical air and land forces subcommittee has held hearings but remains dissatisfied with the progress on solving the problem, Chairman Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) said Feb. 6. “This should not be a research project. This should be a fix-it project,” he said. In response, the head of the Navy Physiological Episode Action Team (PEAT), Rear Adm. Sara Joyner, told the subcommittee that Navy has brought its T-45 trainer fleet back to full pilot production levels with the installation of CRU-123 solid-state oxygen monitoring units. The units alert the aircrew if oxygen pressure falls and allows them more time to take corrective action to prevent a PE. Yet, the Navy is still wrestling with PE issues with F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet jets, and the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. (Source: USNI News 02/06/18)

 

Bipartisan Senate deal on budget

WASHINGTON – Senate leadership has reached an agreement Feb. 7 on a two-year budget deal, adding some $200B in federal spending. The bipartisan accord would lift statutory budget limits and provide tens of billions of dollars in disaster relief funding. Earlier in negotiations, despite hopes of a deal to keep the federal government operational – rather than having a second shutdown this year - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced early on Feb. 7 that “a large number” of fellow Democrats will oppose a spending deal unless guaranteed a vote on immigration legislation. The later-in-the-day agreement removed the immigration issue from the budget deal. Senate Democrats have no appetite for another shutdown, and had begun to de-link “Dreamers” from a budget deal to touting domestic federal spending; and kicking the immigration issue down the road. Without congressional action, the government will begin to shutdown at midnight Feb 8. (Source: Washington Post 02/027/18)

IAI-Stark to adapt to new US regs

Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) President/CEO Joseph Weiss announced plans to retire at a time when the company has achieved a record high backlog exceeding $11B, and deals securing years of operations for the international company. The success has cleared the way for already-underway changes, which are being driven by outside trends that include U.S. military assistance to Israel. A new 10-year MoU allocates $38B in U.S. funded military aid to Israel, but eliminates a half-billion previously directed at domestic military procurement in Israel. Starting in 2020, U.S-funded spending will be directed toward American companies. For IAI, it could mean a potential loss unless it sets its U.S.-based operations to conform with the new regulations. “We will make sure our U.S. based operation will become a fully qualified U.S. based supplier,” Weiss said. As part of some changes to its U.S. strategy, IAI is adapting its product range manufactured and marketed by its Columbus, Miss.-based Stark Aerospace and Maryland-based Elta North America. The updated “product mix” better addresses the asymmetric and hybrid type of warfare, and offering rapid delivery of technologically advanced, and operationally-proven solutions to meet emerging U.S. requirements, according to Weiss. IAI also plans to acquire an existing American company with an ongoing customer base that will provide stable business flow for its military and commercial aviation sectors. (Source: Aviation Week News 02/05/18) Stark Aerospace is a global aerospace defense contractor with its main facility located at Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional Global Industrial Aerospace Park. Stark operates the following divisions: Unmanned Aerial Systems, sensors, production services and engineering.

Tupelo native promoted by MANG

JACKSON, Miss. – Tupelo native and Mississippi Air National Guard’s (MANG) Billy F. Murphy Jr. was promoted to the rank of colonel here Feb. 2 at the Mississippi National Guard Joint Force Headquarters. Murphy will begin serving as director of staff of the Mississippi Air National Guard. In that position, he will coordinate personnel, logistics, and operation matters with ANG Wings, HQ staff, and the assistant MANG adjutant general. Murphy is a graduate of Tupelo High School. He was commissioned as a naval officer through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at the University of Mississippi in 1991. On active duty, Murphy took part in 49 combat flight missions in support of operations Southern Watch, Deny Flight, and Desert Strike in Southwest Asia. (Source: Daily Journal 02/02/18)

Hulon to become prez of CLCC

WESSON, Miss. – Copiah-Lincoln Community College, here in southwest Mississippi, has chosen an insider to become its new president beginning July 1. Trustees voted unanimously Feb. 1 to name Jane Hulon as its eighth president. She will become the first woman to lead the college. Hulon has worked at CLCC for 16 years, including 10 years as VP. She currently oversees the Wesson campus. The college also has campuses in Natchez and Mendenhall. Hulon holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi; and a doctorate from Mississippi State University. (Source: The Associated Press 02/01/18)

Aerospace project head scratcher

Mississippi state Rep. Jeff Smith (R-Columbus) told listeners of a radio show Jan. 25 about a major aerospace project, which could create 4,000 jobs, that was expected to come to Mississippi. State-wide economic development officials were left not only flat-footed, but scratching their collective heads. Golden Triangle Development LINK’s CEO, Joe Max Higgins, said: "We didn't know anything about it” and called the Mississippi Development Authority about the possible project. “Nobody knew anything about it." On the radio show, Rep. Smith said: "We have a rather large project looking at Mississippi and we're hoping they say 'yes’," he told radio host Paul Gallo. "It's aerospace, so that would eliminate 80 of the 82 counties" (Meaning: On either one on the Gulf Coast or Lowndes County). After the show, Smith was surprised when an MDA official called wanting to know the source of his information. Reached Feb. 1, Smith said the information came from Gov. Phil Bryant on Jan. 23 at a Republican caucus meeting. Higgins remains skeptical of the potential project. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 02/02/18)

Fort Polk commander moves

The chief of staff of the Army announced Feb. 2 that Maj. Gen. Gary M. Brito, commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La., was being assigned as commanding general of the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Ga. In the same announcement, Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Ky., was being reassigned as base and readiness training center commander at Fort Polk. (Source: DOD 02/02/18)

South’s wetland forests worth billions

The economic benefits of Louisiana’s wetland forests add up to $74.9B, according to an analysis reported by the Dogwood Alliance, a North Carolina-based environmental non-profit; but are disappearing. Estimates suggest that as much as 80 percent of habitat across the South has been lost. What remains is threatened by logging, agriculture, and urban development. Louisiana has 5.2M acres of wetland forests, including 260,000 acres in the Atchafalaya Swamp alone, said Sam Davis, research director and author of the report. "We shouldn't have to put a price tag on forests," he said. "But when we do, it shows just how valuable they are when we invest in their protection." Louisiana's wetland forests provide protection from extreme weather by absorbing water and slowing storm surge. That kind of protection is estimated to be worth $23.8B. Wetland forests also attract tourists, hunters, filter water, provide habitat for pollinators, and absorb carbon dioxide to aid with slowing climate change, he said. The combined value of these services is worth 15 times more than what wetland forest wood is valued for timber. (Source: NOLA.com 02/03/18) Mississippi’s wetland forests are worth $51B; Alabama’s $34.4B; and $80.8B in Florida.

Pilot recovering from brain surgery

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Walking into his backyard after an Easter egg hunt Capt. Hunter Barnhill’s hand formed a fist, holding itself with incredible and uncontrollable strength, he attempted to spread his fingers but instead fell to the ground in front of friends, and 2-year-old son Nolan. Friends came to his aid; and as quickly as the seizure occurred, it was over. “It was more frustrating than painful,” said Hunter, a 37th Flying Training Squadron instructor at CAFB. After Easter 2017, the Barnhill’s lives would change forever. Capt. Hunter went to the flight doctor, who sent him to a hospital for an MRI. Doctors found a brain tumor. He was to have surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital. Because of his young age and good health, the doctors were able to be aggressive throughout Hunter’s surgery and follow-on appointments. The surgery caused him to suffer from Supplementary Motor Area Syndrome; and left him unable to speak, and paralyzed on the right side. He was in physical and speech therapy for three months. During the healing process he read and tried memorizing scripture to help his mind physically and mentally recover. His wife, Crystal, agreed that scripture and faith played a large part in keeping positive, staying calm, and optimistic. Hunter is hopeful to make a full recovery and continue to serve as a pilot in the AF. During recovery, fellow airmen from his squadron and CAFB have helped the family tremendously, according to Crystal. He is currently preparing to attend the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program trials at Nellis AFB, Nev., where he will compete in events to earn a spot in the Defense Department’s Warrior Games and possibly the Invictus Games. (Source: Columbus AFB 02/02/18)

Gov’t shutdown #2 looming

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Another government shutdown deadline is looming Feb. 8. Republican leadership said Feb. 1 they will attempt to pass yet another short-term spending bill – continuing resolution (CR) - next week to keep the government operational. GOP leaders are eyeing a CR through March 22, although that date may change. The CR would have to pass early next week, ahead of Feb. 8’s midnight shutdown, when government funding run outs - if Congress doesn't act. The government shutdown three days in January that was precipitated by Senate Democrats' demands for protection for undocumented immigrants. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) insisted the government would stay open. (Source: Washington Post 02/01/18)

CAFB T-6 operations paused

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – Major General Patrick Doherty, the 19th Air Force commander, has issued an operational pause for all T-6 Texan II operations to ensure aircrew safety after a number of pilot physiological events (PE) at Columbus AFB, Miss., Vance AFB, Okla., and Sheppard AFB, Texas, within the past week. Doherty directed the operational pause to begin Feb. 1 to enable the AF to examine the root causes of these PE incidents, educate and listen to aircrew, and develop and deliver mitigation solutions. The AF established a general officer-led team to integrate and coordinate efforts across the service to address aircrew unexplained PEs earlier this year. (Source: Air Education and Training Command 02/01/18)