IP, student-aviator ID'd in Ala. crash

A Navy T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft crashed around 5 p.m. on Oct. 23 in Baldwin County, Ala., near the Magnolia Springs Elementary School, west of Foley, killing all occupants on board, authorities said.  The Navy did not say how many people were aboard the plane. Generally speaking, the T-6 is a two-person trainer that flies out of NAS Whiting Field, Fla. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and multiple fire departments responded to the scene of the crash on County Road 55 near Foley, the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency said. (Source: AL.com 1023/20) Vance AFB in Oklahoma completed transitioning from the T-37 to the T-6 in 2006. That year, Columbus AFB, Miss., began its transition, and retired its last T-37 in April 2008. (Source: AL.com 10/23/20) UPDATE: The T-6B is often used to train Navy, Marine and Coast Guard aviators, according to the Navy. The two crew members were an instructor and student, said Cmdr. Zach Harrell, a Naval Air Forces spokesman. The Navy said it won’t release their names, or the NASWF unit to which they were attached, for 24 hours after next of kin had been notified. The crash sent debris and a firestorm toward a house, catching it on fire, said Joseph Darby, chief of the Foley Fire Department. Two occupants (a father and daughter) escaped, he said. Two vehicles and the “remainders of the plane” were destroyed in the fire, he said. Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze quickly. A neighbor heard the low-flying aircraft and saw it nose-dive into the ground. The Defense Department is investigating. (Source: NY Times 10/24/20) UPDATE2: Ensign Morgan Garrett, of Waxhaw, .C., was identified by Rear Adm. William Kelly, superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, in an email to the academy community. In a news release early Sunday afternoon, the Navy identified the other crew member as Lt. Rhiannon Ross, 30, of Wixom, Mich., an instructor-pilot (IP) at VT-2. A spokesman for Commander, Naval Air Forces said the Navy is not releasing any other information at this time. In a post Sunday on the Facebook page of Chief of Naval Air Training, the commander of Training Squadron 2, part of Training Wing 5 at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Florida, expressed his sorrow. (Source: Navy Times 10/25/20) https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/10/25/coast-guard-member-among-crew-killed-in-navy-plane-crash-in-residential-neighborhood/

MSU Army mod contract: $11M

Mississippi State University was awarded an $11,131,723 modification (P00030) to contract W56HZV-17-C-0095 for simulation-based reliability and safety virtual prototyping of autonomy-enabled ground systems. Work will be performed in Starkville, Miss., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 22, 2022.  FY 2020 Army research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $11,131,723 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit, Michigan, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/23/20)

Airbus delivers first A220-300

MOBILE, Ala. - The Airbus manufacturing here delivered the first U.S.-made A220 passenger jet on Oct. 22 to Delta Air Lines. It is the first A220-300 type aircraft. Delta has 31 A220-100 aircraft. Airbus builds both in Mobile. The delivery is a “historic moment” for Airbus in North America,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, Chairman/CEO of Airbus Americas. Ground was broken for the A220 assembly line in Mobile in January 2019. Production of the A220 started in August 2019. (Source: Airbus 10/22/20) https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/10/airbus-delivers-its-first-usassembled-a220-from-mobile-alabama.html

TS Zeta sets fastest record

Gulf Coast forecasters and the National Hurricane Center have been tracking a tropical wave in the western Caribbean for days, but its initial direction has shifted away from the Bahamas to show a potential NW track and into the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters updated it to a 60 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next five days - up from 30 percent on Oct. 22. It’s too soon to say what could happen, but if it becomes a tropical storm it would be named Zeta. As of early Oct. 23, it was a tropical wave entered near Grand Cayman Island. It is expected to be near western Cuba this weekend and make it into the SE GoM early next week. (Source: AL.com 10/23/20) UPDATE : Newly formed Tropical Storm Zeta set one official record Sunday, making the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season the fastest to get to 27 named storms. “Zeta could be at or just below hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday, and could bring storm surge, rainfall, and wind impacts to areas from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle,” the National Hurricane Center said Sunday. The good news is increasing wind shear and cooler water temperatures are expected to prevent strengthening. (Source: Sun Herald 10/25/20)

 

VA to outsource all C&P exams

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs is going to eliminate its in-house compensation and pension exam program and outsource all of the exams that determine whether veterans are eligible for VA benefits. In a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) and who leads the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, part of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs., said the plan was developed without congressional notice. She's concerned plan may slow down work to reduce a backlog of compensation and pension (C&P) exams. She's also worried about the VA's ability to oversee contractors. In Luria’s subcommittee last year, the VA said it would contract with more outside medical providers to perform C&P exams. Lawmakers were led to believe the contracted examiners merely supplemented the existing program, primarily to help rural veterans and those veterans facing long wait times, Luria said. But more recently, the VA staff told Luria's office about the department's plan to shutter C&P at the VA and contract with the private sector for 100 percent of the exams. (Source: Military.com 10/21/20) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/10/21/va-plans-outsource-all-compensation-and-pension-exams.html 

Rep.: 500 ships ‘nonsensical’

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday it is “utterly nonsensical” to predicate the Navy’s future fleet plan for 2045 on meeting a goal of 500 ships. He opined that the effort should instead focus on building in the necessary capability for future operational requirements. “Seemingly, for as long as I’ve been a member on the Armed Services Committee, they’ve been talking about a 350-ship Navy,” the congressman continued. “(W)e’ve never gotten there, we’ve never gotten particularly close.” In early October, Defense Secretary Mark Esper unveiled the service’s ‘Battle Force 2Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Mark Esper unveiled the new Battle Force 2045 fleet plan that calls for calls for building out a 500-ship fleet. Smith indicated “‘maybe the 350-ship Navy isn’t the thing, maybe we should look at capabilities” instead. The Navy saus “say if we can’t build 350 (ships) let’s build 500. That aspect of it is utterly nonsensical. The congressman wants the Navy to future-plan with targeted investments in next-generation capabilities required for a future fight rather than trying to meet a specific, pre-set I’m number of ships. However, he did note the 2025 plan did include discussions on capabilities that would allow the Navy to be “survivable, (and would) have command and control systems that will enable them to function and how to take advantage of the mobility of those ships.” (Source: Defense Daily 10/21/20) https://www.defensedaily.com/utterly-nonsensical-focus-navy-future-fleet-plan-meeting-500-ship-goal-hasc-chair-says/navy-usmc/

MSU grad, attorney to lead MDEQ

Gov. Tate Reeves has named attorney Chris Wells as the permanent Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Wells served as the Chief of Staff at MDEQ for six years, and the Senior Attorney for the department. He has served as Interim Executive Director since the governor’s inauguration. Wells is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the Mississippi College School of Law. (Source: WXXV 10/21/20) https://www.wxxv25.com/2020/10/21/chris-wells-named-permanent-executive-director-mississippi-department-environmental-quality/

MS native 1st SpOC commander

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - Ocean Springs, Miss., native, Maj. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting was promoted to lieutenant general and named commander of the U.S. Space Force’s first Field Command - Space Operations Command (SpOC) - at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Whiting is an Ocean Springs High School graduate. SpOC is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping fielded space forces who will execute space war-fighting operations for combatant commanders, coalition partners, the joint force, and nation. SpOC is the first of three Space Force Field Commands, including Space Systems Command and the Space Training and Readiness Command. Whiting had been serving as deputy commander of Space Force HQ. “He is the right leader to become the first commander … and to accelerate the transformation of space operations,” said Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond. Whiting has “mastered command at nearly every echelon, from the 13th Space Warning Squadron in Clear, Alaska, to the 21st Space Wing here at Peterson, to our first commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command.” (Source: WLOX/Defense News 10/21/20) https://www.wlox.com/2020/10/21/ocean-springs-native-named-commander-space-force-first-field-command/ and https://www.wlox.com/2020/10/21/ocean-springs-native-named-commander-space-force-first-field-command/

Golden trousers pact: $10.6M

Golden Manufacturing, Golden, Miss., has been awarded a maximum $10,629,109 modification (P00010) exercising the first one-year option period of an 18-month base contract (SPE1C1-19-D-1160) with three one-year option periods for various types of trousers and slacks. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Mississippi, with an Oct. 23, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military services are Navy and Army. Type of appropriation is FY 2021 through FY-22 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa. (Source: DoD 10/21/20)

Navy RFI for LAW prelim design

On Oct. 16, the Navy issued a solicitation for a Request For Information (RFI) on a preliminary design (PD) for the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) for "conducting market research to identify industry feedback” on specification documents. The Navy RFI is for “soliciting Preliminary Design (PD)/Contract Design (CD) for the ship class." The government intends to award multiple contracts for LAW PD/CD. Navy documents specify LAW will be a new ship designed to “support the employment of the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) by providing direct conveyance to beaches in order to on-load and off-load expeditionary forces, equipment and supplies.” A May RFI Q&A industry answers document revealed the Navy expects to buy 28-to-30 LAWs to cost “several digit millions” each. The Navy expects a six to eight-to-month detail design period, a 24-month production duration, down-selecting to a single winner, and using only one variant and a single yard. Specs: Full beaching and deployment operation in less than 90 minutes; cargo deck capable of carrying 648 tons; minimum deck area of 8,000 square feet capable of carrying at least 90,000 gallons of JP-5 fuel without deck storage; minimum transit speed of 14 knots; operating at least 11-day missions without replenishment for 40 crew and 50 embarked personnel. The Navy is interested in industry responses to areas where Navy standards or material will drive cost while and commercial options can save costs. (Source: Defense Daily 10/19/20) https://www.defensedaily.com/navy-issues-rfi-light-amphibious-warship-preliminary-design/navy-usmc/

Ala. Shipyard $18M overhaul pact

Alabama Shipyard LLC, Mobile, Ala., is awarded a $17,902,644 firm-fixed-price contract (N32205-21-C-4010) for a 76-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry-docking of USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11). The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $19,278,302. Work will be performed in Mobile, and is expected to be completed by March 20, 2021. Funds in the amount of $17,902,644 are obligated in FY 2021 using Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the beta.SAM.gov website and two offers were received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 10/19/20)

R-R partnering over MS ship facility

Rolls-Royce and the Defense Production Act Title III office will invest millions of dollars to upgrade the company’s capability and capacity for U.S. Navy ship propulsion components in its facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi. DPA III has agreed to invest $22M for equipment. Rolls-Royce will make an additional investment for building improvements, supplemented with support from Jackson County and the State of Mississippi. Daniel Rediger, head of R-R’s Naval Operations, said: “This community partnership … is a major success for all involved.” R-R will improve its capability to serve Navy shipbuilding. The Navy will benefit from added capacity. Jackson County will add new, jobs and a secure future for local industry.  The Pascagoula facility is already considered a “Center of Excellence” within Rolls-Royce, and with new investment will strengthen the R-R's ability to manufacture propellers and propulsor components for the Navy. Rolls-Royce will build a new 26,000-square-foot building, with new foundry and machining equipment provided by DPA funding. Partner organizations will adds support in the form of land, roadway and infrastructure improvements, and workforce development assistance. Naval components manufactured by Rolls-Royce in Pascagoula include controllable-pitch propeller systems, fixed pitch propellers, and water jets. The components help power the majority of Navy ships, including aircraft carriers, destroyers and other vessels.  (Source: Rolls-Royce August 2020) https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2020/12-08-2020-rr-defense-production-act-title-iii-investment-to-upgrade-companys-naval-facility.aspx

2 GC bases move to HIPCON B

At least two Gulf Coast regional military bases have gone to what DoD calls Health Production Condition (HIPCON) B in response to COVID-19. In addition to the limited level HPCON Alpha actions, HPCON Bravo (one step above at the moderate level) includes the following actions: Strict Hygiene (no handshaking, wipe common-use items); if exposed, self-isolate (wear mask and remain home); avoid contaminated water/food or risk areas; and communicate personal risk, symptoms through the chain of command. NAS/JRB New Orleans officially went to HIPCON B on Oct. 15; and NCBC Gulfport, Miss., on Oct. 16. HPCON B measures are mandatory for service members and highly encouraged for civilians/contractors, and family members. These measures are required to ensure the continued health and safety for all aboard. (NAS/JRB & NCBC Gulfport 10/15/20)

USM finds mysterious GoM reef

Ocean researchers knew there something was rising from the depths of the Gulf of Mexico about 70 miles southeast of Gulfport, Miss., but didn’t know what. Equipment malfunction prevented a group from exploring the area, where the Flower Garden Bank National Marine Sanctuary might be expanded. Researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi’s Hydrographic Science Research Center (HSRC) decided to explore with underwater drones for the first time. “It was nice to see that there were some corals and fish living there,” said Brian Connon, HSRC director, told the Sun Herald. “I think we were all surprised to see the amount of life there” on the Mountain Top Bank Reef, one of a series of mesophotic reefs that support coral ecosystems in the GoM. Mesophotic reefs sit 100-490 feet below the surface. The HSRC is helping NOAA with its goal of mapping Gulf Coast waters. What they found was a reef in shallower water than expected (200 feet). The base sits 450 feet below the surface and rises up to 200 feet. The reef covers 975 acres. said Chet Rakocinski, a professor in USM’s School of Ocean Science and Engineering, examined photos from the reef and identified some aquatic life, including a spiral-shaped, bright white coral, called wire coral, that he had never seen. “It just expands our awareness of the distribution of these type of deep-water coral systems right here in our backyard in Mississippi,” he said. “That’s pretty notable.” HSRC is going to upgrade the camera system on its drone for a return trip to the reef in 2021. The drone, called Mola Mola, cost about $800,000. A second one would cost about $1.3M, and an unmanned surface vessel with sonar has a $900,000 price tag. (Source: Sun Herald 10/1920) https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/education/article246396875.html?ac_cid=DM304799&ac_bid=-1713976572

Air Methods signs HCare w/ AHI

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Air Methods Corporation, the largest civil operator of Airbus helicopters worldwide with more than 450, has signed a $24M Airbus Helicopters Inc. HCare Smart support contract to cover its fleet of 31 EC145 helicopters. HCare is AHI’s comprehensive services delivering solutions to customers. It spans five domains: Material management, helicopter maintenance, technical support, training and flight operations, and connected services, with experts available on-call 24/7. “This contract provides us peace of mind knowing that we are working with the manufacturer, to provide a higher level of service, and responsiveness for our patients.” said Leo Morrissette, EVP of Operations for Air Methods. AMC is a privately owned helicopter operator headquartered in Greenwood, Colo. Its air medical division provides emergency medical services and operates in 48 states and Haiti. Air medical is its primary business. AHI is the leading supplier of helicopters in the United States. A team of more than 700 employees also operate local production and completion facilities for the H125 and UH-72 Lakota aircraft out of Columbus, Miss. (Source: AHI/Air Methods 10/15/20) https://www.airbus.com/us/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020/10/Air-Methods-chooses-Airbus-HCare-to-support-its-fleet.html

Mobile port’s coal-loading record

MOBILE, Ala. - The Alabama State Port Authority set an export coal shipment record by loading 146,479 short tons at its McDuffie Coal Terminal. The coal was loaded to the Newcastle Max class bulk carrier, NSU WELFARE. All of the cargo loaded at McDuffie consisted of Alabama metallurgical grade coal bound for Asian markets. (Source: Ala. State Port Authority 10/12/20) http://www.asdd.com/pdf/RecordExportCoalShip_PortofMobile_10122020.pdf 

GSM coming to Port NOLA

NEW ORLEANS - The Port of New Orleans announced that Gulf Stream Marine (GSM) will begin operations at the Alabo Street Wharf in the eastern section of the Port NOLA. It will be the second terminal, along with Lake Charles, that GSM is operating in Louisiana. GSM provides specialized expertise to serve break-bulk and project cargo customers. GSM has an additional network of six other ports in Texas and one at Pascagoula, Miss. The company is a Gulf Coast cargo handling, stevedoring and terminal operator specializing in handling wind energy components, general, bulk and break-bulk cargoes and is headquartered in Houston. GSM will join Coastal Cargo, Empire Stevedoring and Ports America in offering breakbulk and heavy-lift cargo services at Port NOLA. (Source: Port NOLA/GSM 10/07/20)  (Source: Port NOLA/GSM 10/07/20)

Underground carbon gas repository

Lake Charles, La.-based Gulf Coast Sequestration LLC has embarked on a plan to create a major underground repository of up to 80M tons of carbon gas now being released into the air by state industrial plants. The repository is actually a permeable layer of rock containing saltwater located 10,000 feet beneath a cattle ranch owned by Gulf Coast Sequestration between the Sabine River and Lake Charles. GCS plans to sequester about 2.7M tons of carbon gas a year in underground layers capable of holding a total of 80M tons of carbon on its land. GCS began the process of obtaining an  EPA permit this past week, which may take more than a year before a decision is made. “This filing is a long time coming and an exciting moment for GCS,” Gray Stream, president of Matilda Stream Management Inc. and GCS owner, said in a news release. In August, Gov. John Bel Edwards called Louisiana the "canary in the coal mine" for climate risk. U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2017 totaled 5.1B tons, including 228M from Louisiana. A January 2020 Environmental Integrity Group report found that another 37 Louisiana petrochemical/plastics manufacturing projects are planned or under construction that could add another 63.5M tons of greenhouse gases a year. (Source: NOLA.com 10/18/20) https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_1cda1b74-0f2d-11eb-aa0a-03a0484aac1a.html

Ocean group partners with GSMFC

NOAA’s Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group announced a partnership agreement with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) of Ocean Springs, Miss., to restore recreational fish species impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The partnership will focus on the development of best practices for fish descender devices by distributing FDDs to recreational anglers and providing information on their use. Surveys on any changes in anglers’ perspectives of FDDs, how they’re being used, and the devices’ effectiveness will be conducted to track project success. The first award of this new 5-year agreement is $870,592. It will fund the commission’s work with anglers as part of a project to help restore chances of life for catch-and-release reef fish. The project is entitled “Reduction of Post-release Mortality from Barotrauma in Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Recreational Fisheries.” The project includes Gulf-wide collaboration with the commission, anglers, academics, and other stakeholders. GSMFC is one of three in the U.S. that administers cooperative state-federal marine fisheries resources programs. The project, estimated to cost $30M over eight years, was approved in the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group’s Restoration Plan 2 released last December. That plan included 18 projects totaling almost $226M to help restore fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and deep-sea coral habitat injured by the 2010 BP oil spill. (Source: Deepwater Horizon NRDA 10/14/20)

MS Lt. Gov. gives kudos to CMSAF

WASHINGTON - Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force (CMSAF) Joanne S. Bass was recognized by Mississippi’s Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for service while stationed at Keesler AFB, Miss. The recognition was during a virtual Mississippi State Air Force Association meeting Oct. 14. Bass served as the command chief master sergeant of the 2nd Air Force at Keesler – her last assignment before becoming CMSAF in August - from July 2018 to Aug. 2020. “We are very proud of her, and I want to first thank her service to the country. We were honored to have (had) her in Mississippi,” Hosemann said. Hosemann recognized Bass’ achievements and extended a personal invite to make Mississippi her home after she finishes her military service. During the call, he read the resolution honoring her achievements, and for being the first female and person of Asian-American descent to serve in the highest senior enlisted position of the service. Bass thanked Hosemann and the AFA for their leadership, and expressed her gratitude for the community’s support of Airmen and military families. “Our military career goes by very fast. I look at my career and at all of the places I’ve been stationed, and my two years in Mississippi were a great honor and a wonderful opportunity,” Bass said. “I want to thank you for what you do for all the Airmen across this great Air Force.” (Source: Secretary of AF 10/15/20)