December newsletter coming

The year is drawing to a close, and the December issue of the Gulf Coast Aerospace Newsletter will be published Tuesday. While it’s likely you may be too busy getting ready for the holidays, it will be there to read when you have some time.

This eight-page issue focuses on the incoming Biden administration, and what it might mean for the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor. Let’s face it: there is a lot of uncertainty when any new administration comes in, and this one is no different.

Reporter Timothy Boone takes a look at what a Biden administration might mean for the region’s two NASA operations, one in New Orleans and the other in South Mississippi. The expectation is NASA under a new administration might focus more on climate change and earth science. But as you’ll find out, that’s primarily a reading of the tea leaves, since the transition team has not had a lot to say about space issues.

What about national defense? This region is heavy with military bases, most of them aviation focused, so a new administration’s views on national defense are always of high interest. Reporter Lisa Monti delves into that issue. At this juncture, it doesn’t appear there will be any sort of dramatic shift that will impact the defense budget.

Jane Nicholes has a column in this issue where she takes a look at what the new administration might mean for the Airbus operation in Mobile, where the issue of tariffs caused some concerns over the past few years. Airbus established the operation in Mobile as a hedge against any protectionist policies, and it has been quite successful. The new administration is likely to have no specific impact on Airbus, but it's likely to change the trajectory of relationships with allies when it comes to trade.

But all of it is overshadowed by the still raging worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Our cover story takes a look at that, because the incoming administration has said that everything for the economy’s future depends on controlling it. While we are now in one of the darkest times as deaths continue to rise, there are some encouraging signs that we may find out way out of it in 2021.

The issue will be sent to the inbox of subscribers, but others can go to our website to download a copy. As always, it’s free thanks to the ongoing support of our underwriters.

One more thing. We are in the process of creating a Facebook page where readers can go to see our stories, and to comment if they so desire. It will be up and running before the end of the year.

The best to all of you.