Week in review (1/11 to 1/17)

Airbus moves toward increasing A320 production; more jobs posted for Airbus in Mobile, Ala.; the resignation of the top job recruiter in Florida; and the streamlining at United Technologies were among the stories of interest to the Gulf Coast region during the week.

Here's the week in review:

Airbus
Airbus is moving closer towards raising production of its A320. The company declared the supply chain is stable, and hinted on a decision to produce more A320s in coming months. Airbus produces 42 A320-family jets a month and is targeting 46 a month. Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., that will open in the fall of this year. (Post)

Speaking of the Airbus plant in Mobile, the company is looking for a final assembly line planner and delivery planner. Both require at least nine months' training abroad, and both require at least an associate's degree with a bachelor's degree preferred. (Post)

-- China Aircraft Leasing Co. has firmed up its contract with Airbus for 100 A320 family aircraft. The order comprises 74 A320neo, 16 A320ceo and 10 A321ceo. Including this new order, China Aircraft Leasing’s backlog with Airbus stands at 140 A320 family aircraft. (Post)


Rolls-Royce
Spanish carrier Air Europa has selected Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines for 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Rolls-Royce powered the first 787 test flight in December 2009, the first 787-8 to enter service in 2011 and the first 787-9 to enter service last year. Trent engines are tested at the company’s test facility at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Post)


UTC
United Technologies Corp. is eliminating UTC Propulsion and Aerospace Systems and creating two stand-alone business units: engine-maker Pratt and Whitney and UTC Aerospace Systems. UT Aerospace Systems has 160 locations, including UTC in Foley, Ala. (Post)


F-35
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $7 million modification to a previously awarded delivery order. This modification authorizes two additional Engineering Change Proposals for air vehicle retrofit modifications to be incorporated into designated F-35 aircraft, and includes retrofit modification kits, installation, and labor.

Five percent of the work will be done at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Other work locations will be in Fort Worth, Texas; Ogden, Utah; Cherry Point, N.C.; Yuma, Ariz.; and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (Post)


Economic development
Florida's top jobs recruiter is stepping down. Gray Swoope, the state's secretary of commerce and head of Enterprise Florida, is resigning at the end of February. Swoope, who came to Florida after leading Mississippi’s economic development team, served during the entire first term of Gov. Rick Scott. Swoope said he plans to remain in Florida but did not say what he plans to do next. (Post)


Contracts
L-3 Communications Corp., Madison, Miss., was awarded a $60.3 million modification
to previous contract to support maintenance for the Army's fleet of C-12/RC-12/UC-35 fixed wing aircraft. Work will be performed in Madison. … HX5 of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $3 million incentive contract for advisory and assistance services. The contractor will provide combat rescue helicopter program support. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. … Williams Electric Co. Inc., of Fort Walton Beach was among 10 companies added as awardees to previously announced $2.5 billion contract for services necessary to perform the procurement and installation of utility monitoring and control systems, and similar services such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, building automation systems, supervisory control and data acquisition systems and other automated control systems and electronic security systems and/or force protection measures worldwide.