But that momentary thought left quickly when I realized it was actually building its first A320 member of the A320 series, or "family" as the company calls it. So far all 27 jetliners that have been built and delivered at the plant have been the A321, the largest member of the A320 series.
The major component assemblies for the A320 recently arrived from Europe. This aircraft will be delivered to Spirit this summer. The plant, which began production in July 2015, is equipped to assemble A319, A320 and A321 passenger jets. (Post)
Later this year the U.S. Manufacturing Facility will begin building its first Airbus with the new engine option, a more fuel-efficient aircraft.
In another Airbus story during the week, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has placed an incremental order for 30 A321ceo aircraft. This order follows three previous Delta orders for the Current Engine Option version of the largest Airbus A320 series.
The airline took delivery of its first A321 in March of last year. Delta now has ordered a total of 112 A321s, each powered by CFM56 engines from CFM International.
Many of Delta’s A321s are being delivered from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile. By the end of 2017, the Airbus facility in Mobile is expected to produce four aircraft per month, most going to Airbus’ U.S. customers. (Post)
Then there's this interesting Airbus item. The company announced during the week that it is launching a new drone aerial imagery service in Atlanta. The subsidiary, called Airbus Aerial, plans to sell its imagery services to a variety of industries, including insurance, oil and gas, utilities and others.
It plans to partner with others to provide the needed service. It will use drones and satellites to capture imagery. Airbus announced the new service at a drone conference during the week in Dallas. (Press release)
Bases There was a changing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., during the week when the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center was deactivated and the 492nd Special Operations Wing activated.
Like the organization it replaces, the 492nd SOW's mission is to train, educate and equipping special operators and perform test and evaluations of special operations programs and equipment.
The wing's forerunner is the 492nd Bombardment Group, which flew special operations missions in World War II in Europe. (Post)
-- Airmen, Marines, sailors and soldiers came together May 6 to honor and remember their fallen explosive ordnance disposal brethren during the annual memorial ceremony at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Six new names were added to the engraved lists that now contains 326 people. The 2017 event marked the ceremony's 48th year. Each year, a wreath is placed in front of each branch of service's list of names before they are read aloud. (Post)
-- Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich wants to honor Keesler Air Force Base with the return of an Air Force plane along U.S. 90. Gilich proposes moving a decommissioned 1956 F-104 jet on display at Keesler to the center median of U.S. 90 near White Avenue, down the street from the base. Keesler supports the idea and has offered logistical support for the move. (Post)
Space
A piece of test hardware for NASA's Space Launch System was damaged May 3 at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The hardware damaged was the bottom dome of a test Liquid Oxygen Tank. It was not welded to the rest of the tank at the time. NASA and prime contractor Boeing have both formed independent assessment teams. The impact on the SLS development calendar is unclear. There were no injuries. (Post)
Economic development
State and local leaders gathered at the new GKN Aerospace facility near Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport this week to welcome the new arrival. In February the aircraft supply company announced it would build a manufacturing facility in Bay County. It’s the company’s first site in Florida. GKN Aerospace will create at least 170 new full-time equivalent jobs y the end of 2020. (Post)
T-45
The House Armed Services Committee wants more information from the Navy as part of its ongoing probe into problems with T-45 training aircraft used at Naval Air Station Pensacola and bases in Mississippi and Texas. The committee wants to schedule of all tests and evaluations of equipment associated with the trainer, as well as the Navy’s actions in response to test results. Pilots had complained about oxygen issues with the jet, which is still flying with limitations on maneuvers. (Post)
Airports
The number of passengers passing through Pensacola International Airport have steadily grown over the past five years. Departures during this year’s first three months are 4.7 percent higher than in the same span in 2013. March performed particularly well, with 7.4 percent more departures this year over 2016. (Post)
Contract
Raytheon Missile Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $7.2 million modification to a previously awarded contract to provide life of type buys, obsolescence components under the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile Lots 28-30 production. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2019. This contract involves foreign military sales to Japan, Norway, Romania, Turkey, and Australia. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.
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