Week in review (5/19 to 5/25)

Airbus during the week marked the delivery of its 12,000th aircraft in its 50-year history. The aircraft was an A220-100, assembled in Mirabel, Canada, and handed over to U.S.-based Delta Air Lines.

The aircraft is the 12th A220 delivered to date to Delta Air Lines since the first A220 in October 2018. Delta is the first U.S. airline to operate the A220 and is the largest A220 customer, with a firm order for 90 aircraft.

Ground was broken in January this year in Mobile, Ala. for the construction of a second A220 final assembly line, set to start deliveries to U.S. customers in 2020. (Post)

Meanwhile, Airbus has emerged as the newest potential buyer for Bombardier’s plant in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Bombardier announced in early May that it was seeking to divest its facilities in both Northern Ireland and Morocco.

According to a report from the UK’s Guardian newspaper, the Airbus CEO said that this would be an option for Airbus, effectively leading to the manufacturer taking control of the wing production for its A220 airliner, as well as engine covers for its A320 series.

Purchase of the Belfast operation would add to Airbus’s operations in the UK, which include wing manufacture for most of its commercial aircraft products at Broughton, North Wales, as well as production and design of wings at Filton, near Bristol. (Post)

Speaking of the A220, Airbus announced that beginning in the second half of 2020 the jetliner will be offered with a longer range. It will allow the A220 to reach markets that cannot be served by other small single-aisle aircraft types. (Post)

Blue Angels

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team is retiring its existing C-130T Fat Albert cargo plane, but the Fat Albert program isn't going away. The Department of Defense is looking at replacement options. The team announced during the week that Fat Albert had reached the end of its flying life after 17 years with the team, accumulating more than 30,000 flight hours. The Blue Angels are based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. (Post)

Contracts

Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colo., was awarded a $16.2 million modification to a previously awarded contract for Base Operations Support services. This modification provides for the exercise of the third option period. Work will be performed at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2020. The 81st Contracting Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. … Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded an $11.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract. This modification exercises an option for deployment and operation of test aircraft in support of the F-35 development, production, and sustainment for the Air Force, Navy, and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants. Work will be performed in Lakehurst, N.J. (70 percent); and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2020. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. … BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Md., was awarded a $7.8 million delivery order against a previously awarded contract for serviceable components and subsystems for Instrumentation Tracking Systems (ITS). This delivery order provides for a 5.5 KVDC transmitter power upgrade for Phased Array Radar. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by March 17, 2021. The 45th Contracting Squadron, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Alfab Inc., Enterprise, Ala., is awarded a $127.9 million contract to provide new and refurbished Airfield Matting 2 (AM2) packages in accordance with Naval Air Systems Command drawing packages. Work will be performed in Enterprise and is expected to be completed in May 2024. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity. … Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $24.5 million modification to a previously awarded contract for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile System Improvement Program software architecture and design risk reduction efforts to counter evolving threats. Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2022. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Week in review (5/12 to 5/17)

Since we have one location in the Gulf Coast region seeking a license to become a space port, this item might be of interest to Hancock County, Miss. It’s from late last week, and shows the importance of patience.

Spaceport America in southern New Mexico is finally getting its anchor tenant since its official opening in 2011. Billionaire Richard Branson said at a news conference May 10 that Virgin Galactic will relocate its headquarters and flight operations from California’s Mojave Air and Space Port to Spaceport America.

The move will be this summer, in anticipation of commercial spaceflights beginning by the end of the year. More than 100 Virgin Galactic flight personnel and support staff are expected to move. Virgin Galactic affiliate, manufacturer The Spaceship Company, will remain in Mojave.

Spaceport America, near Truth or Consequences, has hosted close to 50 private suborbital launches since its official 2011 opening. Taxpayers invested some $200 million with the idea that Virgin Galactic would be the anchor tenant. The facility is on the northwestern edge of the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range. (Story)

The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission hopes to make Stennis International Airport in Kiln, just outside Stennis Space Center, one of the nation’s licensed spaceports. It’s no doubt a long road. But every journey begins with the first step.

Contracts – F-35

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded three contracts in connection with the F-35 program during the week. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity for all three contracts. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., trains F-35 pilots and maintainers.

One was a $21.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract that will provide initial repair material for the Electronic Warfare Digital Channelized Receiver/Techniques Generator Tuner Insertion Program, Fuel and Life Support systems at multiple F-35 depots within the continental U.S. Work will be performed in New Hampshire, Texas, and the United Kingdom and is expected to be completed in January 2022.

The company also was awarded an $11.9 million modification to a delivery order previously issued against a basic ordering agreement. This modification provides for modification kits and special tooling required for the modification and retrofit of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter in support of the Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, non-U.S. Department of Defense (non-U.S. DoD) participants; and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2023.

The company also was awarded an $18.5 million modification to a previously awarded contract. This modification authorizes the procurement of Diminishing Manufacturing Sources redesign activities in support of the F-35 aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in January 2024.

Other contracts

Sikorsky, Stratford, Conn., was awarded a $1.1 billion modification to a previously awarded contract. This modification provides for the procurement of 12 Lot II and Lot III low-rate initial production CH-53K aircraft, including programmatic support, logistics support, and peculiar support equipment. Fort Walton Beach, Fla., will handle 1.11 percent of the work. Other work sites are in Connecticut, Kansas, Utah, Missouri, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, New York, the United Kingdom and Canada. Work is expected to be completed in December 2023. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. … Raytheon Co., Keyport, Wash., was awarded a $20.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise options for maintenance and support of AN/AQS-20 Sonar Mine Detecting Set. The AN/AQS-20 is a towed, mine hunting and identification system for Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants. Panama City, Fla., will handle 5 percent of the work. Other work sites are in Rhode Island and Washington. Work is expected to be completed by May 2020. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, is the contracting activity. … EMR Inc., Niceville, Fla., is awarded an $18.9 million task order under a multiple award construction contract for the design and construction of P855 expeditionary combat skills student berthing at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss. Work will be performed in Gulfport and is expected to be completed by June 2021. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.

Week in review (5/5 to 5/11)

Facing a need for a lot more workers in the coming years, Airbus during the week announced the launch of two new programs designed to employ applicants with little-to-no previous aerospace experience.

The programs, FlightPath9 and Fast Track, are intended to train candidates to become workers on the company's A320 and A220 jetliner assembly lines in Mobile. FlightPath9 is a nine-month program for high school seniors. It will be run by Flight Works Alabama, which has partnered with Airbus, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Cintas, Snap-On Tools, Southwest Alabama Partnership for Training and Employment, and the National Coalition of Certification Centers.

Students will attend training after school during their senior year. Upon graduation, students who complete the program can start their career with Airbus through the second program, Fast Track.

Fast Track is a 12 to 15-week program for people with no aviation experience. It provides them with the skills needed for a career in aerospace maintenance. "When they come out of that training, the employee graduates to on-the-job training on A220 an A320 aircraft," said Daryl Taylor, vice president and general manager of the A320 manufacturing facility in Mobile.

Fast Track, while targeting Mobile-area residents, can be attended by others from the region. The announcement was attended by Gov. Kay Ivey, who congratulated each of the first class of 25 students who signed up for FlightPath9.

Airbus, which already has its A320 line up and running, is expanding that line and building a second assembly line for A220s, and expects to need 600 to 700 new workers in the next few years. (Post)

The Mobile-Pensacola portion of the aerospace corridor will be adding a lot of aviation jobs in the near future. In addition to the 600-700 in Mobile, some 60 miles to the east in Pensacola, Fla., there will be a need for 1,200 maintenance, repair and overhaul workers at the ST Engineering campus at Pensacola International Airport.

Military

Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the preferred alternative to receive an additional F-35A training squadron. Eglin was the location of the F-35 initial joint training site hosting Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps F-35s, but the Marine Corps relocated its F-35Bs in 2014 and the Navy announced its plans to relocate F-35Cs in 2019.

“By basing the next F-35A training squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, we are taking advantage of existing facilities and training air space,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson.

Additional F-35As are expected to begin arriving in the fall of 2021. The new squadron is expected to reach full operational capability by spring 2023. Eglin will only receive the additional F-35 training unit if the F-22 Raptor formal training unit temporarily operating at Eglin is permanently moved to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

In March, the Air Force acknowledged plans to move the F-22 training unit to JB Langley-Eustis, pending the outcome of the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulatory and planning processes. This F-35 basing action is also dependent on completing the environmental analysis. (Post)

Eglin got the F-22 training unit after Tyndall Air Force Base, to the east of Eglin near Panama City, was hit hard by Hurricane Michael. The base is being rebuilt, and now Tyndall is being recommended by the Air Force to receive up to three operational F-35 squadrons. If approved and funded by Congress, the squadrons would arrive in 2023.

Airports

Two Louisiana airports, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport and Lafayette Regional Airport, were awarded $15 million and $10.5 million grants, respectively, by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Lafayette will use the money from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program for taxiway improvement projects. The Lafayette airport is undergoing an $80 million construction project to build a new terminal. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. In Baton Rouge, the funding will be used for runway, safety, and other development projects included in the airport’s master plan. (Post)

Contract

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $55.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract. This modification provides additional funding for F135 long lead items to support the production delivery schedule, exercises an option for additional initial spare parts, and provides program administrative labor for the global spares pool in support of the Navy; Air Force, and Marine Corps, non-U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford (67 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (26.5 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (6.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in April 2022. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Week in review (4/28 to 5/4)

Blue Air Training, which provides training for military close air support personnel, has opened a facility at Pensacola International Airport. It’s the company’s fourth facility in this country.

Founder and CEO James Barlow said the company has more than 20 employees in Pensacola right now. But he's looking to grow that number. The company’s aircraft fleet is composed of fixed-wing A-90 Raiders, BAC-167 Strikemasters, IAR-823 Brasovs and rotary-wing AH-6 Little Birds.

Blue Air Training, headquartered in Las Vegas, began because Barlow, a former Air Force A-10 pilot, saw the need for more in-depth, hands-on close air support training for people who are on the radios.

The company received permission in 2011 to begin training Air Force attack controllers and fighter pilots. Barlow retired from the Air Force to lead the company full-time. The other U.S. operations are in Yuma, Ariz., and Oklahoma City, Okla.

Blue Air Training also has bases in South America and Wales. (Post)

Contracts

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $1.1 billion contract for sustainment services in support of the F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, non-U. S. Department of Defense (non-U.S. DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent); Orlando, Fla. (24 percent); Greenville, S.C. (7 percent); Samlesbury, Preston, United Kingdom (5 percent); and El Segundo, Calif. (4 percent). Work is expected to be completed in December 2022. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. … Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded $7.5 million modification to a previously awarded contract to establish organic depot component repair capabilities for the F-35 Lightning II Air Interceptor System in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. Work will be performed in Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom (81.6 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (18.4 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. … Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $19.3 million modification to previously awarded contract for the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) production program. Work will be performed in Tucson, and is expected to be complete by April 15, 2021. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.