Airbus bids on Polish helos

Poland has received three bids in a $3 billion military helicopter tender and expects to sign a deal in the second half of 2015, according to the defence ministry. Airbus Group, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, a unit of U.S. contractor United Technologies Corp., and AgustaWestland, a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica, offered bids, the ministry said. Poland has embarked on a $41 billion program to modernise its armed forces by 2022. (Source: Reuters, 12/30/14) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Airbus Group, is located in Columbus, Miss.

Miss. to build on economic strengths

Brent Christensen, Mississippi Development Authority’s executive director, foresees the state in 2015 to continue to build on its economic strengths. MDA expects the state to reap the rewards of several large projects that begin production in the coming year. MDA is targeting seven industries in the state for growth: aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, automotive, energy, healthcare and shipbuilding sectors. McDermott International plans to locate a pipeline operation at the Port of Gulfport expected to create 100 jobs, in addition to longshoremen who will be employed while vessels are at port. McDermott represents the first major jobs announcement of the Port of Gulfport Restoration Project. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 12/30/14) Central Mississippi Note: Mississippi is also home to aerospace companies Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, SpaceX, GE Aviation (Batesville), Airbus Helicopters (Columbus), Northrop Grumman, Aurora Flight Sciences (Columbus), ATK’s Aerospace Structures (Iuka), Stark Aerospace (Columbus). Another major asset is the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.

Rea to lead EMBD chamber

Meredith Rea has been named manager of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp. (EMBD) Chamber of Commerce. She joined EMBDC as public relations coordinator in 2010. As manager, Rea will manage Leadership Lauderdale, ambassadors, member services, Business Before and After Hours, and various other programs of the EMBDC Chamber. The Meridian native is in the process of completing her Institute for Organization Management certification. EMBD is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving economic vitality and quality of life for area citizens; and serves as the COC and economic development organization for the community. (Source: Meridian Star, 12/28/14) Central Mississippi Note: Among some of Meridian’s aviation-community partners are Lockheed Martin’s aircraft parts and sub-assembly (with about 300 employees) facility for the C-130J Super Hercules; and Meridian Naval Air Station (3,000 personnel), home to Navy jet training.

Hub City applies for runway grant

Hattiesburg’s Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport may be getting a facelift. The city has put in an application to the U.S. Department of Transformation for a $2.6 million grant to repave the airport's 6,100-foot runway. The grant would be a 90/10 percent match; but the city would split the latter cost with the state DOT. Hattiesburg would have to contribute $130,000. The city hopes to hear from the FAA on the application in the first quarter of 2015. The "Application for Federal Assistance" indicates a 5-month project that could start by May. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 12/26/14)

New Way to Reach Mars Cheaply

Getting spacecraft to Mars can be a hassle – and very costly - not to mention actions the spacecraft would have to perform to swing into orbit that requires hundreds of extra pounds of fuel; and could find up as a potential failure. The Hohmnn transfer brute force approach of attaining orbit has worked well historically. But in times of shrinking science funding, there is new research that lays out a smoother, safer way to achieve Martian orbit. It’s called ballistic capture - also called a low-energy transfer. "It's an eye-opener," says James Green, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division. While at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory 25 years ago, Edward Belbruno, now a visiting associated researcher at Princeton University, laid out the Hohmann fuel-and-cost-shaving orbital insertion method for probes to the Moon. But pulling off a similar maneuver for Mars seemed impossible because of the planet’s velocity. "I gave up on it," Belbruno says. However, while recently consulting for Boeing, one of four major contractors for NASA's Space Launch System, Belbruno and colleagues stumbled on an idea that would let the spacecraft be ballistically captured. Boeing, intrigued by the approach funded the study in which the authors crunched numbers and developed models for the capture. ATK Space Systems is among the four partners with NASA. (Source: Scientific American, 12/22/14) Central Mississippi Note: ATK’s aerospace and defense businesses operate in 21 states, including a machining and testing equipment site at ATK’s Aerospace Structures division in Iuka, Miss.

ATK partners with NASA

ATK Space Systems and NASA have announced an unfunded partnership agreement to support core technologies for space logistics, payloads and space transportation. ATK will also be joined by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Final Frontier Design as part of a ‘Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities’ (CCSC) initiative to bring new space technologies to market in five years. The Space Act Agreement (SAA) allows ATK’s Space Systems division and NASA to collaborate on technologies and new product development. SAA allows ATK and NASA to develop solutions that support NASA’s 2014 Strategic Plan to advance commercial space efforts, said Tom Wilson, VP/GM of ATK’s Space Systems division. (Source: ATK, 12/23/14) Central Mississippi Note: ATK is an aerospace and defense firm operating in 21 states including a machining and testing equipment site for ATK’s Aerospace Structures division at Iuka, Miss. ATK’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., supports NASA’s new Space Launch Program.

GA earns logistics work for AF

The Air Force awarded General Atomics’ Aeronautical Systems Inc. a $375.2 million contract for logistical support for its unmanned Predator and Reaper aircraft. Work will be performed in Poway, Calif., and extend through the end of 2015. (Source: San Diego Business Journal, 12/23/14) Central Mississippi Note: GA Electromagnetic Systems Group has a manufacturing and testing facility outside of Tupelo, Miss., that provides advanced launch and recovery systems for aircraft carriers; manufactures large robotics, electrical motor winding equipment and a full range of computer numerical controlled machining and milling equipment - primarily for the U.S. Navy.

Forest to add AESA to SK order

WASHINGTON - Raytheon Co. was awarded a contract valued at $491 million to continue production of its Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles (AMRAAM) for the U.S. Air Force. The contract includes missiles, radars and other related equipment, and runs through Feb. 28, 2017. The latest AMRAAM contract includes missiles to be sold to South Korea, Oman, Singapore, and Thailand under government-to-government foreign military sales. (Source: Reuters, 12/22/14) Central Mississippi Note: Raytheon’s Space and Airborne System’s Forest, Miss., assembly plant produces hundreds of tactical Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for F/A-18s, F-15 and F-16s jets. It recently produced its 500th AESA drop-in radar design that can track both air and surface targets at the same time. South Korea had chosen the F-16 AESA model, known as the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), to upgrade its fleet.

USM studies Gulf’s ‘blue tech’ biz

JACKSON, Miss. - USM looks at Gulf’s ‘Blue tech’ biz A new Mississippi maritime industries study spotlights the importance of shipbuilding, fishing, oceanography and marine technology as a dominant force in the state’s economy. Data from the Mississippi’s Blue Economy: An Analysis of Mississippi’s Maritime Industry study shows that 35 percent of the workforces in the three coastal state counties are in “blue industries.” And it’s not just the Mississippi Gulf Coast that has a stake in the blue economy. The study looked at employment and other data on shipbuilding and fishing as well as industries such as construction that have maritime and non-maritime activities. It also included maritime technology or “blue tech” companies. The study was compiled by three members of the Masters of Economic Development Program at the University of Southern Mississippi. Laurie Jugan, project coordinator for the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology at Stennis Space Center, said the study confirms an expansive amount of marine science and technology work being done: along the Mississippi Coast. “Until now, there was no way to quantify the importance of this industry sector in our area,” she said. “With the USM study, we now have a place to start.” The Small Business Administration awarded MSET a competitive $523,742 grant based on the study’s findings. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 12/18/14)

DAs want airport study records

The district attorney offices of both Madison and Rankin (Miss.) counties have requested, and want to review, records regarding a $1.2 million study to determine the feasibility of another airport in Madison County. (Source: Clarion-Ledger 12/19/14

GTRA: Critical west-bound proposal

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Golden Triangle Regional Airport Director Mike Hainsey has a plan to help achieve westbound air-carrier service from the Columbus airport. He believes the plan is critical to the airport's long-term viability. In January, he will ask for $100,000 each from Columbus, Lowndes County, Starkville and Oktibbeha County; and $50,000 each from West Point and Clay County to help fund an incentive package essential to attracting an air carrier with a potential Dallas connection. (Routes to Houston or Denver are also possibilities.) The $500,000 is part of a $1.5-million package that includes a USDOT $750,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant. The remainder of the package includes $200,000 in gate fee waivers and $50,000 in marketing expenses that the airport will provide the carrier. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 12/20/14) Central Mississippi Note: The only airline serving GTRA currently is Delta, which operates three daily flights to and from Atlanta.

Jackson part of Army launcher pact

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control of Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $32,416,755 modification (PZ0011) to cost-plus-fixed-fee contract W31P4Q-14-C-0124 for life cycle launcher support III which provides technical and maintenance support services for all U.S. Army high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) fire control systems and launcher modules and M270A1 fire control systems. Support is also provided to the Marine Corps' HIMARS program. FY14 and FY15 operations and maintenance (Army) and FY14 and FY15 military construction funds in the amount of $28,692,202 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Dec. 31, 2018. Work will be performed in Gulf Coast states at Jackson, Miss.; Huntsville and Brownsboro, Ala.; and Avon Park, Malabar and Boca Raton, Fla. Other sites include: Aberdeen, SD; Budd Lake, NJ; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Chambersburg, Pa.; Concord, NH; Dallas, Fort Worth, Fort Hood and El Paso, Texas; Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Chaffe, Ark.; Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Lee, Va.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Riley, Kan.; Oklahoma City and Fort Sill, Okla.; Grayling, Mich.; Hauppauge, NY; Jackson, Miss.; Lovell, Wyo.; Pulaski, Tenn.; Sumter, SC; Sussex, Wis.; Whippany, NJ; York, Pa.; Afghanistan; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Seoul, South Korea. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Missile), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD, 12/19/14)

6 of 8 universities to raise tuition

JACKSON - Mississippi’s College Board gave final approval to plans Dec. 18 for the state’s eight public universities to raise tuition by an average of 3.2 percent beginning in the 2015 fall semester. Under the plan, Delta State and Mississippi Valley State’s tuitions will remain flat for the third consecutive year. The other six universities would increase charges from 2.5 percent to 5 percent. The largest increases would come at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, both raising tuition by 5 percent to about $7,500 per year. (The AP, 12/18/14) Central Mississippi Note: MSU offers a bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering focused on design, fabrication, testing, and analysis of aircraft and spacecraft. Its Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is one of only a handful of university-based flight labs in the nation. Delta State offers a Commercial Aviation Program that provides courses in general aviation, aviation management, and airway science.

AF Secretary Lee at CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James was onboard Columbus, Miss., AFB for a two day visit which began Dec. 17. She will tour squadrons and meet with airmen to learn about key initiatives and base-wide missions. The 14th Flying Training Wing is “honored to have Secretary James visiting Columbus AFB,” said Col. John Nichols, 14th FTW commander, and are “excited about showing off our mission and our world-class airmen." Secretary James will get a first-hand view of Team BLAZE, and how it works to execute its mission of “producing pilots, advancing airmen, and feeding the fight." (Source: Columbus AFB, 12/17/14)

Tale of 2 helo markets

The rotorcraft industry is engulfed in “A Tale of Two Markets,” according to Raymond Jaworowski, senior aerospace analyst for Forecast International. The civil sector is growing; while the military market is likely to shrink. Light military helicopters’ production likely will be cut by about 50 percent through 2023. It will peak in 2016 with 208 buys; fall to 55 around 2028. In 2014, the two biggest potential competitions – Army’s Kiowa Warrior replacement, and India’s light utility helos – were cancelled. Manufacturers are going to have to “rethink their business strategy,” he said. They’re going to have to look hard to the civilian market to compensate for lost military sales and focus on customer support and sustainment. (Source: National Defense, 01/15) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss., is expected to manufacture 431 helicopters from 2014-28. Most are near-term sales of the Tiger attack helicopter - used by France, Germany, Australia and Spain - and the UH-72A Lakota, which the Army plans to buy to replace TH-67 training helicopters primarily used at Fort Rucker, Ala.

IAI-Boeing missile fails

JERUSALEM – The test-exercise of an advance missile defense system, a development between Israel Aerospace Industries and the U.S. aviation firm Boeing, failed Dec. 16 following a launch from the Mediterranean Sea. A senior Israeli Defense Ministry official said the exercise was to test the first live interception by the Arrow 3. The system locked and did not deploy. Arrow 3 is part of the multi-layered system Israel is developing to protect itself against both long- and short-range missile threats. (Source: The Associated Press, 12/16/14) Central Mississippi Note: Stark Aerospace of Columbus, Miss., is an American subsidiary of IAI and located at the GTR Global Industrial Aerospace Park. Stark operates Unmanned Aerial Systems, Sensors, Production Services and Engineering divisions. Stark’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Division produces the ArrowLite – a small UAS system - and supports the Army’s Hunter MQ-5B UAS. Stark’s Sensors Division assembles and repairs payloads and variants used on the Army RQ-7 Shadow UAS.

Wicker retains Senate seniority

JACKSON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has retained his seniority positions on the Senate Armed Service and Commerce committees. The senator will also serve on the Budget, Environment, Public Works and Rules committees. Wicker is the second ranking Republican on the Commerce Committee, which works on issues related to ports, aviation, NASA, and the Coast Guard. (Source: The Associated Press, 12/16/14)

Miss. STEP gets SBA boost

The U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded the Mississippi Development Authority funding for the Mississippi State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program that allows MDA to provide financial/technical assistance to Mississippi companies interested in growing through trade. STEP helps reduce some of the financial obstacles qualifying businesses face when identifying export opportunities. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 12/16/14) Central Mississippi Note: Among companies that have participated in STEP are aviation and aerospace firms such as Hyperion Technology Group of Tupelo and Mississippi Aerospace Corporation of Picayune.

AeroDef conference in April

DEARBORN, Mich. - Aerospace manufacturers have an established – and growing - presence across the South; and some notable ones (Northrop, Be.., GE Aviation) will be partnering with SME to produce an AeroDef Manufacturing Conference from April 20-23 in Dallas. SME’s AeroDef will feature keynote speakers and panel discussions on the most promising technologies, including flexible manufacturing and the digital tapestry; additive manufacturing/advanced materials resource center; and a comprehensive technical conference. Registration is free. Visit aerodefevent.com/papers to download complimentary SME technical papers on aerospace manufacturing, including the drilling and machining of composites and advanced materials. For more information visit aerodefevent.com. (Source: PR Wire, 12/11/14)

Lakotas in spending bill

The Senate voted Saturday night to approve a $1.1 trillion deal sending the legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature after an unusual weekend session and days of drama in the House. In the end, the Senate passed the $1.1 trillion spending bill, 56-40. Mississippi’s Ingalls Shipyard secured a 12th LPD 17 San Antonio-class amphibious warship - saving about 3,000 jobs. Also, some other key Gulf Coast provisions are: 55 Lakota Light Utility Helicopters, which are made by Airbus Helicopters in Columbus, Miss.; three Littoral Combat Ships - plus advanced funding for a fourth - and an 11th Joint High Speed Vessel for the Mobile, Ala.-based Austal USA shipyard; nearly $1 billion for partial funding of a new amphibious ship, LPD 28 expected to be built at Ingalls in Pascagoula. (Source: Defense News, 12/12/14) Gulf Coast Note: The 56-40 Senate roll call vote Saturday. Gulf Coast states' senators voting for and against the measure: "Yes" is for passage: Landrieu, D-La.; Nelson, D-Fla.; Cochran, R-Miss.; Wicker, R-Miss. “No” votes: Sessions, R-Ala.; Shelby, R-Ala.; Vitter, R-La. Not voting: Feinstein, D-Calif.