A nearly $1 billion order for F-35 aircraft, a report about the cause of an F-35 fire a year ago, a separate report about the cause of a fatal helicopter crash, a change of command at Eglin Air Force Base and an order for Airbus A320s were some of the stories of interest to the Gulf Coast aerospace region during the week.
But before we get to the week in review, I'll address a couple of housekeeping items.
First, as many of you know, we don't publish our bi-monthly aerospace newsletter during the month when we publish our annual book. That happened Monday. But we decided that it makes sense to publish a newsletter after all, but use it to summarizing the book chapters. We figured that's perfect for folks who simply don't have the time or inclination to sift through the book.
If you're on our newsletter subscriber list, you’ll get the summary newsletter Tuesday.
Second, there was a story during the week that some media outlets reported that you didn't see in the Gulf Coast aerospace daily news feed – and never will. All I'll say is it involved the fight against ISIS.
It's our policy not to publish anything that may jeopardize our troops or provide information that an enemy might use to its advantage. Sure, the information is easy to find elsewhere, but you won't find it here.
We still practice traditional journalism at Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor, and that calls for us to be gatekeepers. Part of that is to consider the consequences of what we publish. And if it's something that might help those who wish to destroy us, we won't use it. That will always be the case for us.
Now for your week in review:
F-35
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $920.4 million advance acquisition contract for 94 F-35 low rate initial production aircraft. The contract provides for 78 F-35A aircraft: 44 for the Air Force, 2 each for Italy and Turkey, 8 for Australia, 6 for Norway and 16 for various foreign military sales customers.
It also provides for the procurement of 14 F-35B aircraft: 9 for the Marine Corps, 3 for Britain and 2 for Italy, as well as 2 F-35C aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Texas, California, the United Kingdom, Florida, New Hampshire, Maryland and Italy and is expected to be completed in May 2019. 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 and mission data repramming office. (Post)
-- Last year's fire that destroyed an F-35A at Eglin AFB and grounded the fleet of the fifth generation fighter for nearly a month was caused by "catastrophic engine failure," according to an Air Force investigation released at the end of the week.
The fire occurred June 23 as the pilot was beginning to take off. Investigators say it was caused by a fractured engine rotor. In addition to the grounding, the F-35 was also prohibited from flying to the Farnborough International Airshow in England. The problem has since been fixed by engine-maker Pratt and Whitney. (Post)
In a separate accident report for another aircraft, this one fatal, investigators say "spatial disorientation" caused a Louisiana National Guard UH-60 helicopters to crash in the water near Navarre, Fla., March 10. Spatial disorientation happens when a person's sense of where he or she is relative to surroundings is lost due to fog or other conditions. The helicopter crash killed seven Marines and four National Guardsmen. Another helicopter that was training at the time returned to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., because of the conditions. (Post)
Bases
The 96th Test Wing at Eglin AFB held a change of command ceremony Thursday. Col. Christopher Azzano assumed command of the wing from Brig. Gen. David Harris. Azzano was the commander of the 72nd Air Base Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Harris received his second star prior to the ceremony. He becomes the Air Force Test Center commander at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (Post)
Airbus
Frontier Airlines placed a firm order for 10 A321 and two A320 aircraft with the current engine option. This is the second time in less than a year that the Denver-based airline has ordered the A321. Including this order, Frontier has a backlog of 101 Airbus single-aisle aircraft. The company’s current in-service fleet consists of 34 A319s and 21 A320s. A new A320 family assembly line is opening in Mobile, Ala., this summer. It will be the fourth A320 assembly line operated by Airbus. (Post)
Contract
CAE USA Inc., Tampa, Fla., was awarded a $29.3 million contract that is zero-funded subject to availability of funds in accordance with federal acquisition regulation 52.232-18 as long-lead time is required for preparation to perform by the contractor. This contract is for fixed-wing flight training services. The contractor must have the plane for single-engine and upset-recovery training, flight simulators, hangar space and training space within a 50-mile radius of Fort Rucker, Ala., in order to perform the training services. Work will be performed in Fort Rucker, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2023. Army Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity.
PERSPECTIVES: Commentary and analysis on aerospace and defense activities in the Gulf Coast
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Week in review (5/25 to 5/30)
We’ll have to mark up this past week as one of the most historically significant for the Gulf Coast aerospace corridor. Airbus sent its first shipment of aircraft sections to its brand new assembly plant in Mobile, Ala., one of the RS-25 engines that will power NASA's Space Launch System was tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss., commercial space company SpaceX got the thumbs up to compete for military launches, and the QF-4 target drone has wrapped up its service to the military.
And this isn’t on the same historic playing field, but the Gulf Coast Reporters' League has finished its fifth annual aerospace book. It will be available Monday.
Here's your week in review:
Airbus
The ship carrying major aircraft sections for the Airbus jetliner that will be built in Mobile, Ala., is on its way. The BBC Fuji left Hamburg Friday for its 20-day voyage across the Atlantic. The major parts include fuselage sections, wings and tail sections built at plants in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, all made from parts from an international supply chain.
They'll be assembled starting this year and will come out at the other end of the plant as an A321 jetliner for customer JetBlue. That plane will be delivered in the spring of 2016. (Post)
The Airbus plant at the Mobile Aeroplex will eventually produce four to five aircraft a month, but that figures is likely going to go upward. The sales chief of Airbus, John Leahy, said during the week that Airbus may be producing as many as 60 A320 family passenger jets per month, up from the current 42.
There are currently three plants that produce A320 family aircraft: Toulouse, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Tianjin, China. Mobile will be the fourth assembly line, and will have to pull its weight with any increase in production.
Both Airbus and Boeing have huge backlogs for their popular single-aisle jetliners, and both are talking about producing more planes. The question has always been, can the supply chains keep up.
Airbus Chief Operating Officer Tom Williams said Airbus could ramp up to 60 planes per month as soon as 2018. A formal decision by the company is expected by the year's end. (Post)
Meanwhile, Airbus rival Boeing is making additional inroads in this Southeast region, specifically in Mississippi. The company chose Mississippi State University, thats up in Starkville, as the host for a research center that will lead development on composites the company will eventually use to build aircraft.
The Stitched Resin Infused Composite Research Center will be housed within MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Boeing would provide $3 million on equipment and fund two full-time engineers.
But South Mississippi isn't being left out. The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg will serve as a technology incubator of next-generation composite material systems. Southern Miss has entered into a new master agreement with Boeing to accelerate research and development of next generation materials, including polymers and polymer matrix composites.
The new agreement builds on an existing relationship between Southern Miss and Boeing, which currently has a research contract to utilize the assets of the Accelerator, the university's business incubator. (Post)
Space
An RS-25 rocket engine had a successful 450-second test during the week at NASA's Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi. The hotfire test was at the A-1 test stand, where Apollo rocket stages and Space Shuttle main engines, also RS-25s, were tested in the past.
One of the objectives being evaluated in this test is the new engine controller, or "brain" of the engine. The controller monitors the engine conditions and communicates the performance needs. RS-25 engines tested on the stand will power the core stage of NASA's new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which is being developed to carry humans deeper into space than ever before.
A cluster of four RS-25s will power the SLS. NASA engineers conducted an initial RS-25 engine test on the A-1 stand Jan. 9. RS-25 testing now is set to continue through the summer. (Post)
In another key event regarding space, the Air Force certified private company SpaceX to launch military satellites, opening the door to a lucrative market previously held solely by a Lockheed and Boeing joint venture. SpaceX can compete for military space contracts valued at $9.5 billion over the next five years.
SpaceX, established in 2002, is a leader in commercial space launches. Its Dragon space capsule and Falcon launch vehicle have notched successful cargo flights to the International Space Station, and is moving toward approval to eventually carry astronauts. SpaceX is using facilities at Stennis Space Center, Miss., for R&D on its next generation rocket engine. (Post)
Bases
Another piece of history is going away. Tyndall Air Force Base's QF-4 aerial target drone operations came to an end in mid-May following Combat Archer, an air-to-air targeting mission for the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard.
The unmanned QF-4 provided full-scale targets for the pilots, but it's being replaced by the QF-16 Viper, a fourth-generation fighter. Six Vipers are scheduled for delivery to Tyndall by the close of 2015. (Post)
Cybersecurity
Space Florida and the University of West Florida signed a three-year memorandum of understanding to further develop cybersecurity technologies. Space Florida, the state's aerospace development authority, and UWF's Center for Research and Economic Opportunity will work together to determine opportunities to further develop and cybersecurity technologies to the commercial sector.
The region is heavily involved in cybersecurity. Pensacola's Corry Station is home to the Navy's Center for Information Dominance and a Department of Homeland Security Computer Emergency Readiness Team. Air Force cybersecurity personnel receive initial training at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., and advanced training at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Contracts
Odyssey Systems Consulting Group LTD, Wakefield, Mass., was awarded a $212.4 million contract for advisory and assistance services for the Armament Munitions Directorate in support of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Work will be done at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2020. … Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $12 million contract to procure Griffin missiles. Work will be done in Tucson and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2016. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Sunshine Aero Industries Inc., Florala, Ala., was awarded a maximum $12.4 million contract for jet-A with additives fuel. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. … Three companies from Pensacola, Fla., were among 10 awarded a $45 million contract for architect and engineering design serves with the Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. The companies are Hernandez Calhoun Design International P.A., BTA-TLC JV LLC and Bullock Tice Associates Inc. The contract is to support the Mobile District and South Atlantic Division military construction design program. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with a completion date of May 26, 2020. The Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity. … L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., was awarded a $56.2 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for logistics and depot level services for 119 TH-57 aircraft in support of the Naval Air Training Command's Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training Program. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed in May 2016.
And this isn’t on the same historic playing field, but the Gulf Coast Reporters' League has finished its fifth annual aerospace book. It will be available Monday.
Here's your week in review:
Airbus
The ship carrying major aircraft sections for the Airbus jetliner that will be built in Mobile, Ala., is on its way. The BBC Fuji left Hamburg Friday for its 20-day voyage across the Atlantic. The major parts include fuselage sections, wings and tail sections built at plants in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, all made from parts from an international supply chain.
They'll be assembled starting this year and will come out at the other end of the plant as an A321 jetliner for customer JetBlue. That plane will be delivered in the spring of 2016. (Post)
The Airbus plant at the Mobile Aeroplex will eventually produce four to five aircraft a month, but that figures is likely going to go upward. The sales chief of Airbus, John Leahy, said during the week that Airbus may be producing as many as 60 A320 family passenger jets per month, up from the current 42.
There are currently three plants that produce A320 family aircraft: Toulouse, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Tianjin, China. Mobile will be the fourth assembly line, and will have to pull its weight with any increase in production.
Both Airbus and Boeing have huge backlogs for their popular single-aisle jetliners, and both are talking about producing more planes. The question has always been, can the supply chains keep up.
Airbus Chief Operating Officer Tom Williams said Airbus could ramp up to 60 planes per month as soon as 2018. A formal decision by the company is expected by the year's end. (Post)
Meanwhile, Airbus rival Boeing is making additional inroads in this Southeast region, specifically in Mississippi. The company chose Mississippi State University, thats up in Starkville, as the host for a research center that will lead development on composites the company will eventually use to build aircraft.
The Stitched Resin Infused Composite Research Center will be housed within MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Boeing would provide $3 million on equipment and fund two full-time engineers.
But South Mississippi isn't being left out. The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg will serve as a technology incubator of next-generation composite material systems. Southern Miss has entered into a new master agreement with Boeing to accelerate research and development of next generation materials, including polymers and polymer matrix composites.
The new agreement builds on an existing relationship between Southern Miss and Boeing, which currently has a research contract to utilize the assets of the Accelerator, the university's business incubator. (Post)
Space
An RS-25 rocket engine had a successful 450-second test during the week at NASA's Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi. The hotfire test was at the A-1 test stand, where Apollo rocket stages and Space Shuttle main engines, also RS-25s, were tested in the past.
One of the objectives being evaluated in this test is the new engine controller, or "brain" of the engine. The controller monitors the engine conditions and communicates the performance needs. RS-25 engines tested on the stand will power the core stage of NASA's new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which is being developed to carry humans deeper into space than ever before.
A cluster of four RS-25s will power the SLS. NASA engineers conducted an initial RS-25 engine test on the A-1 stand Jan. 9. RS-25 testing now is set to continue through the summer. (Post)
In another key event regarding space, the Air Force certified private company SpaceX to launch military satellites, opening the door to a lucrative market previously held solely by a Lockheed and Boeing joint venture. SpaceX can compete for military space contracts valued at $9.5 billion over the next five years.
SpaceX, established in 2002, is a leader in commercial space launches. Its Dragon space capsule and Falcon launch vehicle have notched successful cargo flights to the International Space Station, and is moving toward approval to eventually carry astronauts. SpaceX is using facilities at Stennis Space Center, Miss., for R&D on its next generation rocket engine. (Post)
Bases
Another piece of history is going away. Tyndall Air Force Base's QF-4 aerial target drone operations came to an end in mid-May following Combat Archer, an air-to-air targeting mission for the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard.
The unmanned QF-4 provided full-scale targets for the pilots, but it's being replaced by the QF-16 Viper, a fourth-generation fighter. Six Vipers are scheduled for delivery to Tyndall by the close of 2015. (Post)
Cybersecurity
Space Florida and the University of West Florida signed a three-year memorandum of understanding to further develop cybersecurity technologies. Space Florida, the state's aerospace development authority, and UWF's Center for Research and Economic Opportunity will work together to determine opportunities to further develop and cybersecurity technologies to the commercial sector.
The region is heavily involved in cybersecurity. Pensacola's Corry Station is home to the Navy's Center for Information Dominance and a Department of Homeland Security Computer Emergency Readiness Team. Air Force cybersecurity personnel receive initial training at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., and advanced training at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Contracts
Odyssey Systems Consulting Group LTD, Wakefield, Mass., was awarded a $212.4 million contract for advisory and assistance services for the Armament Munitions Directorate in support of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Work will be done at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2020. … Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $12 million contract to procure Griffin missiles. Work will be done in Tucson and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2016. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Sunshine Aero Industries Inc., Florala, Ala., was awarded a maximum $12.4 million contract for jet-A with additives fuel. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. … Three companies from Pensacola, Fla., were among 10 awarded a $45 million contract for architect and engineering design serves with the Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. The companies are Hernandez Calhoun Design International P.A., BTA-TLC JV LLC and Bullock Tice Associates Inc. The contract is to support the Mobile District and South Atlantic Division military construction design program. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with a completion date of May 26, 2020. The Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity. … L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., was awarded a $56.2 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for logistics and depot level services for 119 TH-57 aircraft in support of the Naval Air Training Command's Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training Program. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed in May 2016.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Week in review (5/17 to 5/14)
Not a day passes without some new item about unmanned aerial systems. Here's one from this week that caught my eye.
Pilots of F-35s will one day control a small fleet of drones from the cockpit while in flight. That's according to a new upcoming Air Force report on autonomous systems. Word about the report came from Air Force Chief Scientist Mica Endsley, as reported by Military.com.
The Air Force is poised to unveil a new strategy for unmanned aircraft systems next month, and it will discuss, among other things, greater levels of automation and a wider scope of missions. The new Air Force report will highlight plans to improve sensors, develop new algorithms and introduce new unmanned platforms.
The Air Force currently uses Predators, Reapers and Global Hawks, all remotely piloted from the ground. Endsley said the future will include drones that are smarter and will handle things like mission planning. (Story)
If you want to really get a sense of how far robotics has come, pay attention next month to the robotic competition that will take place in California. Top robotic teams in the nation will go against each other to see which has created a robot that can handle chores like driving a vehicle, opening a door and turning a wrench.
One of the teams that will be competing is from the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola. In two previous competitions leading up to this one for a $2 million prize the Pensacola team came in first in the first competition and second the next time around with its 6-foot tall Atlas robot.
Now here's a review of the stories during the week of interest to the Gulf Coast Interstate 10 region:
F-35
Before pilots of F-35s can start controlling drones, the planes first have to achieve initial operating capability. Six Marine Corps F-35B fighters are currently aboard the USS Wasp off the East Coast for two weeks of operational tests.
Those tests are needed before the Marines can declare its first squadron of 10 F-35s ready for combat in July. The planes are assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 of Beaufort, S.C. That unit transferred to Beaufort last year from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where initial F-35 maintenance and pilot training is conducted. (Post)
Space
NASA started work earlier this month in preparation for testing the core stage of its new, powerful Space Launch System (SLS). One million pounds of structural steel is being added to the B-2 stand to handle the large SLS stage.
A major step in the modification involves extension of the test stand's Main Propulsion Test Article (MPTA) framework, which supports the rocket stage for testing. It was repositioned last summer, now it's being heightened. An addition 100 feet will be added to the current 61-foot height.
When testing begins, all four RS-25 will be tested simultaneously. NASA's SLS is being developed to return humans to deep-space missions. Boeing is building the core stage at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. (Post)
Speaking of Stennis Space Center, NASA is looking for companies interested in using underutilized federal facilities at its rocket engine test site in South Mississippi, including the 300-foot tall, $350 million A-3 test stand.
NASA issued a request for information May 13. In addition to four test stands, NASA is looking for parties interested in utilizing portions of the Mississippi Army Ammunition Plant, which occupies a large tract in the north of Stennis Space Center. SSC will make all facilities available during the week of June 22-26 for site visits. (Post)
Economic development
Three new engineering companies set up shop recently at Alabama's Mobile Aeroplex, joining Safran Engineering and Airbus Engineering to form a new engineering cluster. Sonovision, Inter-Informatics and AKKA Technologies currently share some 3,500 square feet of space.
They have a total of five people between them, but are expected to grow over time and might move to a larger location at the complex. All of this is occurring because of the Airbus assembly line that is nearing its opening. The assembly line will build A320 family aircraft beginning this summer. (Post)
Contracts
Lockheed Martin Space System Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., was awarded a $735.5 million contract for sustainment of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), Milstar, and Defense Satellite Communications System III. Work will be performed in California and Colorado, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2015. Core propulsion subsystem work on the AEHF was done at Stennis Space Center, Miss. … Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems Inc., Bethesda, Md., was awarded a $12.5 million contract modification for an extension of the Next Generation Technical Services (NGTS) III requirement. The scope of this effort contains the management and technical support necessary to advance high performance computing services, capabilities, infrastructure, and technology. Work will be done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; Stennis Space Center, Miss.; Vicksburg, Miss.; and Lorton, Va., with an estimated completion date of July 19, 2015.
Pilots of F-35s will one day control a small fleet of drones from the cockpit while in flight. That's according to a new upcoming Air Force report on autonomous systems. Word about the report came from Air Force Chief Scientist Mica Endsley, as reported by Military.com.
The Air Force is poised to unveil a new strategy for unmanned aircraft systems next month, and it will discuss, among other things, greater levels of automation and a wider scope of missions. The new Air Force report will highlight plans to improve sensors, develop new algorithms and introduce new unmanned platforms.
The Air Force currently uses Predators, Reapers and Global Hawks, all remotely piloted from the ground. Endsley said the future will include drones that are smarter and will handle things like mission planning. (Story)
If you want to really get a sense of how far robotics has come, pay attention next month to the robotic competition that will take place in California. Top robotic teams in the nation will go against each other to see which has created a robot that can handle chores like driving a vehicle, opening a door and turning a wrench.
One of the teams that will be competing is from the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola. In two previous competitions leading up to this one for a $2 million prize the Pensacola team came in first in the first competition and second the next time around with its 6-foot tall Atlas robot.
Now here's a review of the stories during the week of interest to the Gulf Coast Interstate 10 region:
F-35
Before pilots of F-35s can start controlling drones, the planes first have to achieve initial operating capability. Six Marine Corps F-35B fighters are currently aboard the USS Wasp off the East Coast for two weeks of operational tests.
Those tests are needed before the Marines can declare its first squadron of 10 F-35s ready for combat in July. The planes are assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 of Beaufort, S.C. That unit transferred to Beaufort last year from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where initial F-35 maintenance and pilot training is conducted. (Post)
Space
NASA started work earlier this month in preparation for testing the core stage of its new, powerful Space Launch System (SLS). One million pounds of structural steel is being added to the B-2 stand to handle the large SLS stage.
A major step in the modification involves extension of the test stand's Main Propulsion Test Article (MPTA) framework, which supports the rocket stage for testing. It was repositioned last summer, now it's being heightened. An addition 100 feet will be added to the current 61-foot height.
When testing begins, all four RS-25 will be tested simultaneously. NASA's SLS is being developed to return humans to deep-space missions. Boeing is building the core stage at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. (Post)
Speaking of Stennis Space Center, NASA is looking for companies interested in using underutilized federal facilities at its rocket engine test site in South Mississippi, including the 300-foot tall, $350 million A-3 test stand.
NASA issued a request for information May 13. In addition to four test stands, NASA is looking for parties interested in utilizing portions of the Mississippi Army Ammunition Plant, which occupies a large tract in the north of Stennis Space Center. SSC will make all facilities available during the week of June 22-26 for site visits. (Post)
Economic development
Three new engineering companies set up shop recently at Alabama's Mobile Aeroplex, joining Safran Engineering and Airbus Engineering to form a new engineering cluster. Sonovision, Inter-Informatics and AKKA Technologies currently share some 3,500 square feet of space.
They have a total of five people between them, but are expected to grow over time and might move to a larger location at the complex. All of this is occurring because of the Airbus assembly line that is nearing its opening. The assembly line will build A320 family aircraft beginning this summer. (Post)
Contracts
Lockheed Martin Space System Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., was awarded a $735.5 million contract for sustainment of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), Milstar, and Defense Satellite Communications System III. Work will be performed in California and Colorado, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2015. Core propulsion subsystem work on the AEHF was done at Stennis Space Center, Miss. … Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems Inc., Bethesda, Md., was awarded a $12.5 million contract modification for an extension of the Next Generation Technical Services (NGTS) III requirement. The scope of this effort contains the management and technical support necessary to advance high performance computing services, capabilities, infrastructure, and technology. Work will be done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; Stennis Space Center, Miss.; Vicksburg, Miss.; and Lorton, Va., with an estimated completion date of July 19, 2015.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Week in review (5/10 to 5/16)
It's that time of year again. In just a little over two weeks you'll be able to grab a copy of the fifth annual edition of the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor book, either a free electronic PDF or you can order a printed book at cost, thanks to our underwriters.
As with previous issues, this book by the Gulf Coast Reporters’ League has some updated chapters from last year's book along with new ones.
This year we have a chapter about the Airbus assembly line that opens this summer in Mobile, Ala., and a chapter about the activities of the top aerospace/defense companies in this region. And because the military is such a big part of this region, we have a chapter detailing all the military aircraft that call this region home. We also have a new section this year, a library that will help you find past chapters and articles we’ve written about this aerospace region.
Drop me a line if you want to get the free book PDF delivered to your inbox once it's available. Or remember to visit www.gulfcoastaerospacecorridor.com next month and download it from there.
Now for your week in review:
Space
Engineers at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans began welding together the first pieces of the structure of the Orion crew module pathfinder. This pathfinder is a full-scale version of the current spacecraft design. It's used to demonstrate the manufacturing and assembly procedures that will be used to produce the actual flight hardware.
Using a pathfinder allows engineers to make sure those procedures work correctly and to improve the process before producing the flight article. This pathfinder will help NASA prepare for Orion's next mission to deep space atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket. (Post)
Speaking of Michoud, NASA, Michoud and the State of Louisiana honored their long partnership in support of the nation's space goals during Thursday's 2015 NASA Louisiana Aerospace Day at the capitol. NASA's economic, educational and cultural contributions to the state were recognized by proclamations in the House and Senate, while displays in the rotunda and on the lawn gave visitors a look at work underway on the Space Launch System, Orion and other NASA projects. (Post)
Aircraft
Back in 2013 four Navy SEALS were wounded when a CV-22 was hit with rounds of AK-47 and .50 caliber fire. It happened when three CV-22s tried to land in South Sudan to evacuate U.S. citizens from a civil war.
The military wanted a solution, so a Florida company came up with a composite armor kit that can be installed in the back cabin to protect passengers. The Protective Group’s kit has 66 armor plates sized to fit along the Osprey’s interior bulkheads and deck. Sixteen of the Advanced Ballistic Stopping System kits have been delivered to the Air Force. (Post)
-- The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., flew its WC-130J Hercules to check out the first storm of the 2015 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Ana, earlier this month. Ana made landfall May 11 near Myrtle Beach, S.C., and was quickly downgraded to a tropical depression. The Hurricane Hunters flew six sorties into the storm. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. (Post)
Contracts
Jacobs Technology Inc., of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was among a host of companies awarded a $634 million contract for research and development services to include services for the purpose of creating and developing new processes or products. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 13, 2023. … Army Fleet Support LLC, Fort Rucker, Ala., and Jacobs Technology Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., were among a host of companies were awarded a $1.1 billion order-dependent multiple award task order contract for equipment related services. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 13, 2023. … Jacobs Technology Inc., of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was among a host of companies awarded a $1.8 billion order dependent contract for knowledge based service-type requirements. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 13, 2023. ... Leebcor Services LLC, Williamsburg, Va., was awarded a $7.1 million task order under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract for renovation and repairs to buildings 3701 and 3706 at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. Work is expected to be completed by May 2017. … M7 Aerospace LLC, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded a $13.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for logistics support for 12 Navy/Marine Corps UC-35 aircraft and seven Navy C-26 aircraft at nine global locations. Ten percent of the work will be at Fleet Marine Reserve Detachment, Belle Chase, La.
As with previous issues, this book by the Gulf Coast Reporters’ League has some updated chapters from last year's book along with new ones.
This year we have a chapter about the Airbus assembly line that opens this summer in Mobile, Ala., and a chapter about the activities of the top aerospace/defense companies in this region. And because the military is such a big part of this region, we have a chapter detailing all the military aircraft that call this region home. We also have a new section this year, a library that will help you find past chapters and articles we’ve written about this aerospace region.
Drop me a line if you want to get the free book PDF delivered to your inbox once it's available. Or remember to visit www.gulfcoastaerospacecorridor.com next month and download it from there.
Now for your week in review:
Space
Engineers at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans began welding together the first pieces of the structure of the Orion crew module pathfinder. This pathfinder is a full-scale version of the current spacecraft design. It's used to demonstrate the manufacturing and assembly procedures that will be used to produce the actual flight hardware.
Using a pathfinder allows engineers to make sure those procedures work correctly and to improve the process before producing the flight article. This pathfinder will help NASA prepare for Orion's next mission to deep space atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket. (Post)
Speaking of Michoud, NASA, Michoud and the State of Louisiana honored their long partnership in support of the nation's space goals during Thursday's 2015 NASA Louisiana Aerospace Day at the capitol. NASA's economic, educational and cultural contributions to the state were recognized by proclamations in the House and Senate, while displays in the rotunda and on the lawn gave visitors a look at work underway on the Space Launch System, Orion and other NASA projects. (Post)
Aircraft
Back in 2013 four Navy SEALS were wounded when a CV-22 was hit with rounds of AK-47 and .50 caliber fire. It happened when three CV-22s tried to land in South Sudan to evacuate U.S. citizens from a civil war.
The military wanted a solution, so a Florida company came up with a composite armor kit that can be installed in the back cabin to protect passengers. The Protective Group’s kit has 66 armor plates sized to fit along the Osprey’s interior bulkheads and deck. Sixteen of the Advanced Ballistic Stopping System kits have been delivered to the Air Force. (Post)
-- The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., flew its WC-130J Hercules to check out the first storm of the 2015 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Ana, earlier this month. Ana made landfall May 11 near Myrtle Beach, S.C., and was quickly downgraded to a tropical depression. The Hurricane Hunters flew six sorties into the storm. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. (Post)
Contracts
Jacobs Technology Inc., of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was among a host of companies awarded a $634 million contract for research and development services to include services for the purpose of creating and developing new processes or products. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 13, 2023. … Army Fleet Support LLC, Fort Rucker, Ala., and Jacobs Technology Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., were among a host of companies were awarded a $1.1 billion order-dependent multiple award task order contract for equipment related services. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 13, 2023. … Jacobs Technology Inc., of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was among a host of companies awarded a $1.8 billion order dependent contract for knowledge based service-type requirements. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 13, 2023. ... Leebcor Services LLC, Williamsburg, Va., was awarded a $7.1 million task order under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract for renovation and repairs to buildings 3701 and 3706 at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. Work is expected to be completed by May 2017. … M7 Aerospace LLC, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded a $13.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for logistics support for 12 Navy/Marine Corps UC-35 aircraft and seven Navy C-26 aircraft at nine global locations. Ten percent of the work will be at Fleet Marine Reserve Detachment, Belle Chase, La.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Week in review (5/3 to 5/9)
The first female F-35 pilot; another contract for engines for the F-35; a UAV center for excellence; the certification of another aerospace park; and the official opening of an aviation education center were among the stories of interest to the Gulf Coast region during the week.
Here's the week in review:
F-35
The first female F-35 pilot has started training. It's Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group deputy commander, who completed her first training flight in the single-seat fighter following 14 virtual training missions in the full mission simulator at the F-35 Academic Training Center. (Post)
-- Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $7.6 million modification to a previously awarded F135 advanced acquisition contract for long-lead items for low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lot X.
The long-lead items include group hardware supporting the LRIP Lot X delivery of conventional take off and landing (CTOL) propulsion systems for the Air Force, group hardware supporting the LRIP Lot X delivery of CTOL, carrier variant propulsion systems for the Navy/Marine Corps, and group hardware supporting the LRIP Lot X delivery of short take-off and vertical landing propulsion systems for the Marine Corps.
This contract combines purchases for the Navy (97.4 percent), and the Air Force (2.6 percent). 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. (Post)
Unmanned
The Federal Aviation Administration chose Mississippi State University as the FAA's Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The center will focus on research, education and training in areas critical to integration of unmanned systems into the nation’s airspace.
The MSU team brings together 15 of the nation's leading UAS and aviation universities. It will be able to begin research by September 2015 and be fully operational and engaged in a research agenda by January 2016. The Gulf Coast region is heavily involved in unmanned systems. (Post)
Economic development
DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport has become the first certified industrial park in Walton County through Gulf Power's Florida First Sites program. The program was created in 2013 to help communities prepare sites to attract new industries and new jobs to the region. It's the seventh site to be certified in Northwest Florida. (Post)
Space
NASA selected research and technology proposals from 254 small businesses and 39 research institutions in the United States for grants to develop new technologies that will further NASA's journey to Mars. A dozen selected proposals involve technology being administered by the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., each worth up to $125,000 in the Phase 1 period. (Post)
Bases
More than 2,100 personnel from across the Gulf Cost and New Mexico on earlier this month completed the two-week-long Air Force Special Operations Command training exercise Emerald Warrior 2015. Among the training sites were Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base and Apalachicola in Florida, Camp Shelby and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the Pelham Range in Alabama, and Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. (Post)
-- The Navy's Blue Angels announced a new commanding officer for the demonstration
squadron's 2016-17 season. It's Navy Cmdr. Ryan Bernacchi, a California native and experience F/A-18 pilot. He'll take over command after early November’s final show of the 2014-15 season at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Bernacchi will succeed Capt. Tom Frosch. (Post)
Education
Educators, politicians, students and residents gathered in Fairhope, Ala., last weekend to dedicate a new aviation training academy at H.L. "Sonny" Callahan Airport. The academy first opened to students in January and teaches aviation, industrial maintenance and welding to adult and high school students for college credit. (Post)
Contracts
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., was awarded a $38 million modification to a previously awarded contract. It provides 64 MQ-9 Electrical Safety Improvement Program retrofit kits on 64 Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command, and Air National Guard Block 1 aircraft. Air Force Special Operations Command is headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla. … Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24 million modification to a multi-year contract for mission equipment packages to be cut into the Lakota Helicopter production line as part of the Army Aviation Restructure Initiative for training aircraft. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. … Applied Research Associates Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded an $18.8 million contract to provide research and development for the Air Force Civil Engineer Center in the development and evaluation of enhanced and emerging technologies under robotics and automation. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2020. The 325th Contracting Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, is the contracting activity.
Here's the week in review:
F-35
The first female F-35 pilot has started training. It's Lt. Col. Christine Mau, 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group deputy commander, who completed her first training flight in the single-seat fighter following 14 virtual training missions in the full mission simulator at the F-35 Academic Training Center. (Post)
-- Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $7.6 million modification to a previously awarded F135 advanced acquisition contract for long-lead items for low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lot X.
The long-lead items include group hardware supporting the LRIP Lot X delivery of conventional take off and landing (CTOL) propulsion systems for the Air Force, group hardware supporting the LRIP Lot X delivery of CTOL, carrier variant propulsion systems for the Navy/Marine Corps, and group hardware supporting the LRIP Lot X delivery of short take-off and vertical landing propulsion systems for the Marine Corps.
This contract combines purchases for the Navy (97.4 percent), and the Air Force (2.6 percent). 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. (Post)
Unmanned
The Federal Aviation Administration chose Mississippi State University as the FAA's Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The center will focus on research, education and training in areas critical to integration of unmanned systems into the nation’s airspace.
The MSU team brings together 15 of the nation's leading UAS and aviation universities. It will be able to begin research by September 2015 and be fully operational and engaged in a research agenda by January 2016. The Gulf Coast region is heavily involved in unmanned systems. (Post)
Economic development
DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport has become the first certified industrial park in Walton County through Gulf Power's Florida First Sites program. The program was created in 2013 to help communities prepare sites to attract new industries and new jobs to the region. It's the seventh site to be certified in Northwest Florida. (Post)
Space
NASA selected research and technology proposals from 254 small businesses and 39 research institutions in the United States for grants to develop new technologies that will further NASA's journey to Mars. A dozen selected proposals involve technology being administered by the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., each worth up to $125,000 in the Phase 1 period. (Post)
Bases
More than 2,100 personnel from across the Gulf Cost and New Mexico on earlier this month completed the two-week-long Air Force Special Operations Command training exercise Emerald Warrior 2015. Among the training sites were Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base and Apalachicola in Florida, Camp Shelby and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the Pelham Range in Alabama, and Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. (Post)
-- The Navy's Blue Angels announced a new commanding officer for the demonstration
squadron's 2016-17 season. It's Navy Cmdr. Ryan Bernacchi, a California native and experience F/A-18 pilot. He'll take over command after early November’s final show of the 2014-15 season at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Bernacchi will succeed Capt. Tom Frosch. (Post)
Education
Educators, politicians, students and residents gathered in Fairhope, Ala., last weekend to dedicate a new aviation training academy at H.L. "Sonny" Callahan Airport. The academy first opened to students in January and teaches aviation, industrial maintenance and welding to adult and high school students for college credit. (Post)
Contracts
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, Calif., was awarded a $38 million modification to a previously awarded contract. It provides 64 MQ-9 Electrical Safety Improvement Program retrofit kits on 64 Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command, and Air National Guard Block 1 aircraft. Air Force Special Operations Command is headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla. … Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24 million modification to a multi-year contract for mission equipment packages to be cut into the Lakota Helicopter production line as part of the Army Aviation Restructure Initiative for training aircraft. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss. … Applied Research Associates Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded an $18.8 million contract to provide research and development for the Air Force Civil Engineer Center in the development and evaluation of enhanced and emerging technologies under robotics and automation. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2020. The 325th Contracting Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, is the contracting activity.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Week in review (4/26 to 5/2)
Furloughs at a Cantonment aerospace company; a contract approval by members of a union; changes in F-35 flights over town near Eglin; a report critical of the F-35 engine; and two F-35 contracts totaling some $300 million were among the stories of interest to the Gulf Coast aerospace region during the week.
Here's the week in review:
Workers
Marianna Airmotive has furloughed part of its workforce because of a slowdown in work for the government. The company, which overhauls and fabricates parts for Air Force C-5 aircraft, has not closed and expects to bring workers back when some expected contracts come through. In the most recent figures available, the company had 125 workers. (Post)
Meanwhile, union members of local 2777 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ratified a three-year agreement with L-3 Vertex Aerospace at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The agreement includes a three percent general wage increase for each year of the contract, among other things. (Post)
F-35
Work on a runway will cause the temporary shift of F-35 operations to another runway, which may lead to a slight increase in noise over Valparaiso for a few months. Most F-35 flight operations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., use Runway 12/30, but that runway was closed for upgrades Friday. The F-35 traffic will shift to Runway 01/19, the base’s main north/south runway.
The Air Force also said that Eglin will become a temporary host to 15 F-35Cs that are part of the Navy’s backup aircraft inventory. The 15 planes will relocate to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., when construction there is completed in three years. (Post)
-- A Government Accountability Office report slammed the reliability of Pratt and Whitney's F-35 engine. Federal auditors warned lawmakers that the engine "has a long way to go to meet program goals." Company executives said they were surprised by the strong language, and that the report, while accurate, fails to tell the rest of the story. The company says it’s updated its latest production engines to fix prior reliability issues, and those engines are meeting current government reliability marks. (Post)
Even with the criticism, Pratt and Whitney Military Engines of East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $157 million advance acquisition contract during the week to procure long lead-time components, parts, materials and effort in support of 90 low-rate initial production Lot X F-135 propulsions systems for the F-35.
It includes 44 F-135-PW-100 for the Air Force; 9 F-135-PW-600 for the Marine Corps; and 2 F-135-PW-100 for the Navy. In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of 30 F-135-PW-100 and 5 F135-PW-600 systems for international partners and Foreign Military Sales customers. (Post)
-- In addition to the F135 engine contract, the Defense Department during the week awarded another contract related to the F-35, this one to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Ft. Worth, Texas. It was awarded a $142.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract to continue development of the Joint Strike Fighter Autonomics Logistics Information System Standard Operating Unit Version 2 capability development effort.
ALIS monitors every component of the aircraft and alerts operators of any breakdowns. At least that's what it's supposed to do. But complaints heard by members of Congress range from the user-unfriendliness and slow response to queries to the high frequency of false alarms.
This modification includes the incorporation of sub-squadron reporting, dynamic routing, and decentralized maintenance capabilities. Work will be done in Orlando, Fla., and Fort Worth, Texas (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2017. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Post)
Airbus
Airbus awarded Turkish Aerospace Industries a new contract to supply its A320 aircraft with fuselage panels. Turkish Aerospace Industries has been the sole supplier for the Section 18 fuselage panels for the A320 since 2014. The new contract gives the Turkish company responsibility to manufacture another section of the Airbus A320 aircraft called Section 19. An A320 final assembly line will open in Mobile, Ala., this year. (Post)
Bases
Army Aviation's 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker, Ala., has a new commanding officer. Lt. Col. James Ashburn assumed command last month during a change of command ceremony. Ashburn returns to Fort Rucker from an assignment with the joint plans office, and executive officer, for the U.S. Central Command headquarters in south Florida. He attended the Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training at Fort Rucker after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy. (Post)
Contracts
Systima Technologies Inc., Kirkland, Wash., was awarded a $12.5 million contract for stand-off precision guided munitions (SOPGM) precision strike capability. Contractor will provide support of the munition system carriage and release with products for employing SOPGMs and precision strike packages; installation, test, and operation of SOPGMs and precision strike capability on government specified platforms, assets (including aircraft) to support test of and training with SOPGMs and precision strike capability. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $14.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract for F-22 Sustainment contract for Reliability and Maintainability Maturation Program (RAMMP) annual support. F-22 pilots are trained at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. … Northrop Grumman Undersea Systems, Annapolis, Md., was awarded a $31.7 million contract for depot level repair, maintenance, and modifications of the AN/AQS-24 Mine Detecting System to support the Navy for the currently deployed Airborne Mine Countermeasures legacy systems. Naval Surface Warfare Center - Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Here's the week in review:
Workers
Marianna Airmotive has furloughed part of its workforce because of a slowdown in work for the government. The company, which overhauls and fabricates parts for Air Force C-5 aircraft, has not closed and expects to bring workers back when some expected contracts come through. In the most recent figures available, the company had 125 workers. (Post)
Meanwhile, union members of local 2777 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ratified a three-year agreement with L-3 Vertex Aerospace at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The agreement includes a three percent general wage increase for each year of the contract, among other things. (Post)
F-35
Work on a runway will cause the temporary shift of F-35 operations to another runway, which may lead to a slight increase in noise over Valparaiso for a few months. Most F-35 flight operations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., use Runway 12/30, but that runway was closed for upgrades Friday. The F-35 traffic will shift to Runway 01/19, the base’s main north/south runway.
The Air Force also said that Eglin will become a temporary host to 15 F-35Cs that are part of the Navy’s backup aircraft inventory. The 15 planes will relocate to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., when construction there is completed in three years. (Post)
-- A Government Accountability Office report slammed the reliability of Pratt and Whitney's F-35 engine. Federal auditors warned lawmakers that the engine "has a long way to go to meet program goals." Company executives said they were surprised by the strong language, and that the report, while accurate, fails to tell the rest of the story. The company says it’s updated its latest production engines to fix prior reliability issues, and those engines are meeting current government reliability marks. (Post)
Even with the criticism, Pratt and Whitney Military Engines of East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $157 million advance acquisition contract during the week to procure long lead-time components, parts, materials and effort in support of 90 low-rate initial production Lot X F-135 propulsions systems for the F-35.
It includes 44 F-135-PW-100 for the Air Force; 9 F-135-PW-600 for the Marine Corps; and 2 F-135-PW-100 for the Navy. In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of 30 F-135-PW-100 and 5 F135-PW-600 systems for international partners and Foreign Military Sales customers. (Post)
-- In addition to the F135 engine contract, the Defense Department during the week awarded another contract related to the F-35, this one to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Ft. Worth, Texas. It was awarded a $142.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract to continue development of the Joint Strike Fighter Autonomics Logistics Information System Standard Operating Unit Version 2 capability development effort.
ALIS monitors every component of the aircraft and alerts operators of any breakdowns. At least that's what it's supposed to do. But complaints heard by members of Congress range from the user-unfriendliness and slow response to queries to the high frequency of false alarms.
This modification includes the incorporation of sub-squadron reporting, dynamic routing, and decentralized maintenance capabilities. Work will be done in Orlando, Fla., and Fort Worth, Texas (20 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2017. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Post)
Airbus
Airbus awarded Turkish Aerospace Industries a new contract to supply its A320 aircraft with fuselage panels. Turkish Aerospace Industries has been the sole supplier for the Section 18 fuselage panels for the A320 since 2014. The new contract gives the Turkish company responsibility to manufacture another section of the Airbus A320 aircraft called Section 19. An A320 final assembly line will open in Mobile, Ala., this year. (Post)
Bases
Army Aviation's 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker, Ala., has a new commanding officer. Lt. Col. James Ashburn assumed command last month during a change of command ceremony. Ashburn returns to Fort Rucker from an assignment with the joint plans office, and executive officer, for the U.S. Central Command headquarters in south Florida. He attended the Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training at Fort Rucker after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy. (Post)
Contracts
Systima Technologies Inc., Kirkland, Wash., was awarded a $12.5 million contract for stand-off precision guided munitions (SOPGM) precision strike capability. Contractor will provide support of the munition system carriage and release with products for employing SOPGMs and precision strike packages; installation, test, and operation of SOPGMs and precision strike capability on government specified platforms, assets (including aircraft) to support test of and training with SOPGMs and precision strike capability. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $14.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract for F-22 Sustainment contract for Reliability and Maintainability Maturation Program (RAMMP) annual support. F-22 pilots are trained at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. … Northrop Grumman Undersea Systems, Annapolis, Md., was awarded a $31.7 million contract for depot level repair, maintenance, and modifications of the AN/AQS-24 Mine Detecting System to support the Navy for the currently deployed Airborne Mine Countermeasures legacy systems. Naval Surface Warfare Center - Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Week in review (4/19 to 4/25)
A new ranking of aerospace manufacturing attractiveness, a radar test on a Triton maritime surveillance drone, the aerial refueling of an X-47B drone, a contract for metrology services at the Airbus plant in Mobile, problems with the F-35 maintenance software, and an upcoming Navy test of a railgun were some of the stories during the week of interest to the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor.
Here's the week in review:
Economic development
Florida is No. 1 when it comes to aerospace manufacturing attractiveness. That's according to the latest study by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The 2015 Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Rankings has the United States ranked No. 1 of 142 countries, and within the United States Florida tops the list. Alabama is No. 22, Mississippi No. 30 and Louisiana 36.
The analysis looks at how countries and states in the U.S. compare in terms of their attractiveness as locations for commercial aircraft manufacturing. The 2015 report ranked states on tax rates, industry size, operating cost and education. The study used a weighted average of variables such as costs, workforce and number of aerospace companies in each state.
Florida is home to more than 2,000 aerospace and aviation companies that employ more than 82,000 workers. (Post) The state is part of the Aerospace Alliance, which also includes Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. That group had its spring summit at the Embry-Riddle campus in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday and Friday.
The non-profit was created in 2009 and had its first summit in Sandestin, Fla. The next one was in New Orleans, followed by a summit in Huntsville, Ala. The focus this year was on workforce training and the future workforce.
Unmanned
The Navy has launched flight tests on the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton of one of the first active electronically scanned array radars with 360-degree coverage developed exclusively for the maritime patrol mission. The multifunction active sensor (MFAS) completed first flight onboard the unmanned MQ-4C on April 18 following risk reduction phase testing on a Gulfstream GII.
The tests on the MQ-4C are critical to a Navy decision at the end of this year on whether to launch low-rate initial production of a Triton fleet, expected to number 70 aircraft. The unmanned Triton, the Navy's variant of a Global Hawk, is designed to augment the Navy's manned fleet of P-8A maritime patrol aircraft in broad area maritime surveillance missions.
Triton fuselage work is done by Northrop Grumman in Moss Point, Miss. (Post)
Another Northrop Grumman-built unmanned system, the X-47B, successfully conducted the first Autonomous Aerial Refueling of an unmanned aircraft April 22. It happened off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, and was the final test objective under the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration program.
The X-47B, which in earlier Navy tests showed it could catapult off a carrier deck and make arrested landings, connected to a tanker aircraft and received over 4,000 pounds of fuel. Earlier in the month, the X-47B successfully hooked up with the tanker but no fuel transferred. (Post)
Airbus
ATT Metrology Services Inc., of Issaquah, Wash., was awarded a contract by Airbus for metrology services at Airbus' $600 million facility being built in Mobile, Ala. The company provides precision measurement and alignment services. It will build out an existing structure to house a 5,000-square-foot lab that should be operational when the aircraft manufacturer begins production this year.
The company's clients in the aerospace sector include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Bombardier, Bell Helicopters and others. The Mobile Aeroplex facility represents a capital investment of between $200,000 and $300,000, and will have four to eight workers, according to the Mobile Register. (Post)
F-35
The F-35 logistics information system has drawn the attention of key lawmakers who got an earful from F-35 maintenance crews during a visit to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The autonomic logistics information system, or ALIS, monitors every component of the aircraft and alerts operators of any breakdowns. At least that's what it's supposed to do.
The complaints heard by members of Congress range from the user-unfriendliness and slow response to queries to the high frequency of false alarms. Military aviation experts said some of these issues are temporary and should be expected in new programs. Other shortcomings might take years to fix. Program Executive Officer Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan visited Eglin this week to personally look into the issues raised by the committee. (Post)
Bases
The first at-sea test of the Electromagnetic Railgun will be done in the summer of 2016 near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The BAE Systems designed test gun will be mounted on the USNS Trenton, built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., and taken to Eglin’s maritime test range.
It will fire a series of hypervelocity projectiles fitted with GPS electronics at a barge floating in the Gulf of Mexico. The rail gun uses high powered electromagnetic pulses instead of chemical propellants to fire projectiles that can move at seven times the speed of sound. The kinetic energy can accelerate a 45-pound projectile from zero to 5,000 mph in less than a second. (Post)
Contracts
HX5, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $24.2 million cost reimbursable contract for advisory and assistance services. Contractor will provide A&AS for the Munitions Division and the Range Systems Branch to support of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and is expected to be complete by May 30, 2020. … Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $14 million modification to a previously awarded contract for F-22 sustainment. Contractor will provide trainer hardware modifications, training system development, and distributed mission operations federation and integration. Work will be performed at Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; and St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2017.
Here's the week in review:
Economic development
Florida is No. 1 when it comes to aerospace manufacturing attractiveness. That's according to the latest study by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The 2015 Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Rankings has the United States ranked No. 1 of 142 countries, and within the United States Florida tops the list. Alabama is No. 22, Mississippi No. 30 and Louisiana 36.
The analysis looks at how countries and states in the U.S. compare in terms of their attractiveness as locations for commercial aircraft manufacturing. The 2015 report ranked states on tax rates, industry size, operating cost and education. The study used a weighted average of variables such as costs, workforce and number of aerospace companies in each state.
Florida is home to more than 2,000 aerospace and aviation companies that employ more than 82,000 workers. (Post) The state is part of the Aerospace Alliance, which also includes Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. That group had its spring summit at the Embry-Riddle campus in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday and Friday.
The non-profit was created in 2009 and had its first summit in Sandestin, Fla. The next one was in New Orleans, followed by a summit in Huntsville, Ala. The focus this year was on workforce training and the future workforce.
Unmanned
The Navy has launched flight tests on the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton of one of the first active electronically scanned array radars with 360-degree coverage developed exclusively for the maritime patrol mission. The multifunction active sensor (MFAS) completed first flight onboard the unmanned MQ-4C on April 18 following risk reduction phase testing on a Gulfstream GII.
The tests on the MQ-4C are critical to a Navy decision at the end of this year on whether to launch low-rate initial production of a Triton fleet, expected to number 70 aircraft. The unmanned Triton, the Navy's variant of a Global Hawk, is designed to augment the Navy's manned fleet of P-8A maritime patrol aircraft in broad area maritime surveillance missions.
Triton fuselage work is done by Northrop Grumman in Moss Point, Miss. (Post)
Another Northrop Grumman-built unmanned system, the X-47B, successfully conducted the first Autonomous Aerial Refueling of an unmanned aircraft April 22. It happened off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, and was the final test objective under the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration program.
The X-47B, which in earlier Navy tests showed it could catapult off a carrier deck and make arrested landings, connected to a tanker aircraft and received over 4,000 pounds of fuel. Earlier in the month, the X-47B successfully hooked up with the tanker but no fuel transferred. (Post)
Airbus
ATT Metrology Services Inc., of Issaquah, Wash., was awarded a contract by Airbus for metrology services at Airbus' $600 million facility being built in Mobile, Ala. The company provides precision measurement and alignment services. It will build out an existing structure to house a 5,000-square-foot lab that should be operational when the aircraft manufacturer begins production this year.
The company's clients in the aerospace sector include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Bombardier, Bell Helicopters and others. The Mobile Aeroplex facility represents a capital investment of between $200,000 and $300,000, and will have four to eight workers, according to the Mobile Register. (Post)
F-35
The F-35 logistics information system has drawn the attention of key lawmakers who got an earful from F-35 maintenance crews during a visit to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The autonomic logistics information system, or ALIS, monitors every component of the aircraft and alerts operators of any breakdowns. At least that's what it's supposed to do.
The complaints heard by members of Congress range from the user-unfriendliness and slow response to queries to the high frequency of false alarms. Military aviation experts said some of these issues are temporary and should be expected in new programs. Other shortcomings might take years to fix. Program Executive Officer Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan visited Eglin this week to personally look into the issues raised by the committee. (Post)
Bases
The first at-sea test of the Electromagnetic Railgun will be done in the summer of 2016 near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The BAE Systems designed test gun will be mounted on the USNS Trenton, built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., and taken to Eglin’s maritime test range.
It will fire a series of hypervelocity projectiles fitted with GPS electronics at a barge floating in the Gulf of Mexico. The rail gun uses high powered electromagnetic pulses instead of chemical propellants to fire projectiles that can move at seven times the speed of sound. The kinetic energy can accelerate a 45-pound projectile from zero to 5,000 mph in less than a second. (Post)
Contracts
HX5, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $24.2 million cost reimbursable contract for advisory and assistance services. Contractor will provide A&AS for the Munitions Division and the Range Systems Branch to support of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Work will be performed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and is expected to be complete by May 30, 2020. … Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $14 million modification to a previously awarded contract for F-22 sustainment. Contractor will provide trainer hardware modifications, training system development, and distributed mission operations federation and integration. Work will be performed at Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; and St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2017.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Week in review (4/12 to 4/18)
An Air Force decision to keep C-130Js at Keesler; new flights between New Orleans and Pensacola; more responsibilities for Airbus Military in Mobile; kudos for the larger version of the Fire Scout; the first-ever aerial refueling of the X-47B drone; and a decision by a union to delay a vote in South Carolina were among the stories of interest to the Gulf Coast aerospace corridor during the week.
Here's the week in review:
Bases/airports
The Air Force has abandoned plans to transfer C-130Js from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and deactivate the 815th Tactical Airlift Squadron. That's according to a release from Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss.
Palazzo said that since he first learned of the plan three years ago to move the 10 C-130Js, he has worked with Sens. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., to ensure that would not happen. He said in the release that the Air Force "made the right decision" to keep the C-130Js at Keesler. (Post)
-- Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced that Silver Airways will begin daily service between Pensacola International Airport (PNS) and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) starting on June 16, 2015.
With the addition of the New Orleans service, Pensacola International Airport will offer non-stop service to 13 destinations. New Orleans becomes the fourth destination served by Silver from PNS, which also flies non-stop from Pensacola to Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville, with connecting service to Fort Lauderdale. (Post)
Airbus
Airbus Defense and Space selected Airbus DS Military Aircraft Inc. at Mobile Regional Airport as the new worldwide support center for the C212 aircraft series, which is a pretty big deal for the Airbus operation that doesn't get nearly as much publicity as the still-being-built assembly line.
The C212 transport aircraft was designed to operate in austere environments for extended periods of time, without the need for ground support equipment. It is able to carry up to 25 people or a 6,200 pound payload. With a large customer base both in military and civil operations, North and South America are collectively home to the largest C212 fleet in the world.
The 50-worker Mobile operation, now in its 10th year, provides operators of the C212 and CN235 tactical transports with the capabilities of a certified FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency repair station. Last year, the company opened a new 7,500-square-foot component repair facility, expanding on its 30,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) delivery center. (Post)
Research
One interesting development in the region during the week was the announcement by the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola that associate director John "Row" Rogacki will become deputy director of the Doolittle Institute of Fort Walton Beach.
The Doolittle Institute is a not-for-profit organization that was established to support the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, in part by facilitating transfer of technology to and from the private sector.
The news release said Rogacki would continue working with IHMC in his new capacity at the Doolittle Institute. "The arrangement between IHMC and the Doolittle Institute allows us to form a mutually beneficial relationship for collaborations in research programs related to science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine," Rogacki said. "It really builds upon the strengths of both organizations.” (Post)
But the collaboration is likely to be even bigger than that. Back in October we had a story in the Gulf Coast Reporters’ League Aerospace Newsletter about the Doolittle Institute, and one of the things that Director Steve Butler said is that the institute, originally located at the University of Florida Research and Education Facility right outside Eglin, would maintain strong ties to REEF even though it moved to a new, more heavily trafficked location in Fort Walton Beach.
Rogacki, in fact, may be the perfect person to maintain those strong ties. He headed up REEF before he joined IHMC in 2010 and went to the IHMC operation in Ocala. The combined brainpower of IHMC, REEF and the Doolittle Institute might make for some interesting research.
As they say, stay tuned.
Workers
There will be no union vote at the Boeing plant in North Charleston, S.C., next week afterall. The International Association of Machinists withdrew its petition to for an April 22 vote to see if workers are interested in having a union at the North Charleston facilities. The union will not be able to file for a new election for at least six months. (Post)
The union activity in South Carolina is being closely watched in this region. The machinists have already said they are interested in representing workers at the Airbus plant that will open this year in Mobile.
-- DynCorp International has been recognized as a top veteran employer by Military Times for the fourth year in a row. Jim Geisler, DynCorp International chief executive officer, said some 70 percent of the company's workers are former military. Companies from across the U.S. were invited to complete survey about their efforts to recruit employees connected to the military, their company policies related to veterans, reservists and their families and the organization's culture. DynCorp International has employees in the Pensacola metro area. (Post)
Space
NASA has selected 149 research and technology proposals from American small businesses and research institutions that will enable NASA's future missions into the solar system and beyond while benefiting America's technology-driven economy.
The selected aerospace technology and innovation projects have a total value of some $118.1 million, supporting 117 U.S. firms and research institutions in 26 states. Five selected proposals involve technology being administered by the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA's Stennis Space Center. (Post)
-- A technology company founded in South Mississippi to help coordinate resources and teams after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 now is the exclusive partner to provide technical support for all Google Geo Products, including Google Maps Engine, Google Maps API and Google Earth Enterprise.
Navigas, started at Stennis Space Center, is now headquartered in San Francisco. Its home office is in Jackson, Miss.
Craig Harvey, president of the Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions, a cluster of geospatial industries, universities and state and federal agencies along the northern Gulf Coast, said Navagis exemplifies the goals of the EIGS cluster. (Post)
Unmanned
The larger version of the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has completed 297 test sorties and is scheduled to begin initial operational testing and evaluation in 2016, the Navy program manager said.
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout is larger and faster and can fly longer than the MQ-8B and will reduce the burden of manned aircraft, Capt. Jeff Dodge told a briefing at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition in Maryland. He told Seapower after the briefing that for the Navy, it’s a great fit.
The Navy has 23 MQ-8Bs and 19 MQ-8Cs, with five more C models that will be put on the contract this year, said Dodge. Long-term production plans are for two air vehicles per year between fiscal 2016 and 2023 for a total of 40 MQ-8Cs.
Final assembly on both variants of the Fire Scout is done in Moss Point, Miss. (Post)
Meanwhile, another Northrop Grumman unmanned aerial vehicle, the X-47B carrier drone, had a first-ever aerial refueling off the coast of Maryland during the week. The aircraft’s refueling probe plugged into the hose of a KC-707 tanker. The X-47B used optical sensors and a camera to monitor its approach.
Although none of the X-47B is built in the Gulf Coast region, this is of high interest because naval aviators receive initial training in Florida’s Pensacola and Milton. (Post)
Safety
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $1.54 million civil penalty against Air Methods Corp. of Englewood, Colo., for allegedly operating Eurocopter EC-130 helicopters on dozens of flights around Pensacola, Fla., when they were not in compliance with FAA regulations.
The FAA alleges Air Methods operated two helicopters on 70 passenger-carrying flights over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore, when they lacked required helicopter flotation devices and flotation gear for each occupant. The agency alleges the company operated another helicopter on 13 such flights when it lacked required flotation gear for each occupant. All 83 flights by the emergency medical transport company occurred around Pensacola.
Air Methods acquired the four bases of Baptist LifeFlight, owned by Baptist Health Care of Pensacola, in June 2014. (Post)
Contracts
NASA awarded a contract to The MathWorks Inc., of Natick, Mass., to provide new software licenses, maintenance and product training for mathematical computing software to be used by NASA engineers and scientists. The MathWorks contract consists of a one-year base period and four one-year options. The period of performance will begin May 1 with a potential end date of April 30, 2020, and total value of $30 million. The contract will be administered by the Enterprise License Management Team at the NASA Shared Services Center, Stennis Space Center, Miss. … Applied Research Associates Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded an $11.7 million DoD contract for airfield operating surfaces and airfield damage repair technology development. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by April 14, 2020. The 772nd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. … Geocent LLC, Metairie, La., was awarded a $10.1 million multiple award DoD contract for software and systems engineering, development and support services to assist in the delivery and maintenance of business applications, systems, and enabling technologies. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (90 percent); and Metairie (10 percent), and work is expected to be completed April 15, 2018. … Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $9.9 million modification to a previously awarded DoD contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) production lots 28 and 29. This modification provides for the purchase of an additional 24 Captive Air Training Missile AIM-120D guidance section spares. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2017. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Here's the week in review:
Bases/airports
The Air Force has abandoned plans to transfer C-130Js from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and deactivate the 815th Tactical Airlift Squadron. That's according to a release from Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss.
Palazzo said that since he first learned of the plan three years ago to move the 10 C-130Js, he has worked with Sens. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., to ensure that would not happen. He said in the release that the Air Force "made the right decision" to keep the C-130Js at Keesler. (Post)
-- Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced that Silver Airways will begin daily service between Pensacola International Airport (PNS) and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) starting on June 16, 2015.
With the addition of the New Orleans service, Pensacola International Airport will offer non-stop service to 13 destinations. New Orleans becomes the fourth destination served by Silver from PNS, which also flies non-stop from Pensacola to Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville, with connecting service to Fort Lauderdale. (Post)
Airbus
Airbus Defense and Space selected Airbus DS Military Aircraft Inc. at Mobile Regional Airport as the new worldwide support center for the C212 aircraft series, which is a pretty big deal for the Airbus operation that doesn't get nearly as much publicity as the still-being-built assembly line.
The C212 transport aircraft was designed to operate in austere environments for extended periods of time, without the need for ground support equipment. It is able to carry up to 25 people or a 6,200 pound payload. With a large customer base both in military and civil operations, North and South America are collectively home to the largest C212 fleet in the world.
The 50-worker Mobile operation, now in its 10th year, provides operators of the C212 and CN235 tactical transports with the capabilities of a certified FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency repair station. Last year, the company opened a new 7,500-square-foot component repair facility, expanding on its 30,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) delivery center. (Post)
Research
One interesting development in the region during the week was the announcement by the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola that associate director John "Row" Rogacki will become deputy director of the Doolittle Institute of Fort Walton Beach.
The Doolittle Institute is a not-for-profit organization that was established to support the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, in part by facilitating transfer of technology to and from the private sector.
The news release said Rogacki would continue working with IHMC in his new capacity at the Doolittle Institute. "The arrangement between IHMC and the Doolittle Institute allows us to form a mutually beneficial relationship for collaborations in research programs related to science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine," Rogacki said. "It really builds upon the strengths of both organizations.” (Post)
But the collaboration is likely to be even bigger than that. Back in October we had a story in the Gulf Coast Reporters’ League Aerospace Newsletter about the Doolittle Institute, and one of the things that Director Steve Butler said is that the institute, originally located at the University of Florida Research and Education Facility right outside Eglin, would maintain strong ties to REEF even though it moved to a new, more heavily trafficked location in Fort Walton Beach.
Rogacki, in fact, may be the perfect person to maintain those strong ties. He headed up REEF before he joined IHMC in 2010 and went to the IHMC operation in Ocala. The combined brainpower of IHMC, REEF and the Doolittle Institute might make for some interesting research.
As they say, stay tuned.
Workers
There will be no union vote at the Boeing plant in North Charleston, S.C., next week afterall. The International Association of Machinists withdrew its petition to for an April 22 vote to see if workers are interested in having a union at the North Charleston facilities. The union will not be able to file for a new election for at least six months. (Post)
The union activity in South Carolina is being closely watched in this region. The machinists have already said they are interested in representing workers at the Airbus plant that will open this year in Mobile.
-- DynCorp International has been recognized as a top veteran employer by Military Times for the fourth year in a row. Jim Geisler, DynCorp International chief executive officer, said some 70 percent of the company's workers are former military. Companies from across the U.S. were invited to complete survey about their efforts to recruit employees connected to the military, their company policies related to veterans, reservists and their families and the organization's culture. DynCorp International has employees in the Pensacola metro area. (Post)
Space
NASA has selected 149 research and technology proposals from American small businesses and research institutions that will enable NASA's future missions into the solar system and beyond while benefiting America's technology-driven economy.
The selected aerospace technology and innovation projects have a total value of some $118.1 million, supporting 117 U.S. firms and research institutions in 26 states. Five selected proposals involve technology being administered by the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA's Stennis Space Center. (Post)
-- A technology company founded in South Mississippi to help coordinate resources and teams after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 now is the exclusive partner to provide technical support for all Google Geo Products, including Google Maps Engine, Google Maps API and Google Earth Enterprise.
Navigas, started at Stennis Space Center, is now headquartered in San Francisco. Its home office is in Jackson, Miss.
Craig Harvey, president of the Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions, a cluster of geospatial industries, universities and state and federal agencies along the northern Gulf Coast, said Navagis exemplifies the goals of the EIGS cluster. (Post)
Unmanned
The larger version of the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has completed 297 test sorties and is scheduled to begin initial operational testing and evaluation in 2016, the Navy program manager said.
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout is larger and faster and can fly longer than the MQ-8B and will reduce the burden of manned aircraft, Capt. Jeff Dodge told a briefing at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition in Maryland. He told Seapower after the briefing that for the Navy, it’s a great fit.
The Navy has 23 MQ-8Bs and 19 MQ-8Cs, with five more C models that will be put on the contract this year, said Dodge. Long-term production plans are for two air vehicles per year between fiscal 2016 and 2023 for a total of 40 MQ-8Cs.
Final assembly on both variants of the Fire Scout is done in Moss Point, Miss. (Post)
Meanwhile, another Northrop Grumman unmanned aerial vehicle, the X-47B carrier drone, had a first-ever aerial refueling off the coast of Maryland during the week. The aircraft’s refueling probe plugged into the hose of a KC-707 tanker. The X-47B used optical sensors and a camera to monitor its approach.
Although none of the X-47B is built in the Gulf Coast region, this is of high interest because naval aviators receive initial training in Florida’s Pensacola and Milton. (Post)
Safety
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $1.54 million civil penalty against Air Methods Corp. of Englewood, Colo., for allegedly operating Eurocopter EC-130 helicopters on dozens of flights around Pensacola, Fla., when they were not in compliance with FAA regulations.
The FAA alleges Air Methods operated two helicopters on 70 passenger-carrying flights over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore, when they lacked required helicopter flotation devices and flotation gear for each occupant. The agency alleges the company operated another helicopter on 13 such flights when it lacked required flotation gear for each occupant. All 83 flights by the emergency medical transport company occurred around Pensacola.
Air Methods acquired the four bases of Baptist LifeFlight, owned by Baptist Health Care of Pensacola, in June 2014. (Post)
Contracts
NASA awarded a contract to The MathWorks Inc., of Natick, Mass., to provide new software licenses, maintenance and product training for mathematical computing software to be used by NASA engineers and scientists. The MathWorks contract consists of a one-year base period and four one-year options. The period of performance will begin May 1 with a potential end date of April 30, 2020, and total value of $30 million. The contract will be administered by the Enterprise License Management Team at the NASA Shared Services Center, Stennis Space Center, Miss. … Applied Research Associates Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded an $11.7 million DoD contract for airfield operating surfaces and airfield damage repair technology development. Work will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by April 14, 2020. The 772nd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. … Geocent LLC, Metairie, La., was awarded a $10.1 million multiple award DoD contract for software and systems engineering, development and support services to assist in the delivery and maintenance of business applications, systems, and enabling technologies. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (90 percent); and Metairie (10 percent), and work is expected to be completed April 15, 2018. … Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $9.9 million modification to a previously awarded DoD contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) production lots 28 and 29. This modification provides for the purchase of an additional 24 Captive Air Training Missile AIM-120D guidance section spares. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2017. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Week in review (4/5 to 4/11)
A lot of international attention has been focused on this region because of the Airbus A320 plant that will open this year in Mobile, Ala. But another group has folks from overseas has also been paying close attention for another reason. They'll be making investments in this region of a different sort - they'll be putting money into reprogramming labs.
We had a story this week in the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor/Gulf Coast Reporters League newsletter about the two new F-35 reprogramming labs that will be built at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. They'll join the reprogramming lab that has been at the base for about five years now.
The two new labs will be for five countries that are partners in the F-35 project. Groundbreaking for the Australia, Canada, United Kingdom Reprogramming Lab (ACURL) will be this year, then next year ground will be broken for the Norway Italy Reprogramming Lab (NIRL). How many folks they’ll have and what they'll cost hasn't been detailed because it involves foreign dollars.
These labs are crucial to the success of the F-35 program. The labs are used to create mission data, packages that hold terrain and enemy threat information, including radar, surface-to-air missiles and fighters, along with data on friendly forces, non-beligerants and commercial aircraft. All of that goes into providing the pilot with battle space awareness.
Partner nations for some time now have complained that they need to customize their F-35s to suit their own needs. These labs will allow that. (Post)
In a related matter, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $150.6 million contract to provide an integrated reprogramming capability to build, test, modify, and field F-35 mission data files for Australia and the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas and is expected to be completed in December 2018. (Post)
Space
The newsletter also had a story during the week about SpaceX at Stennis Space Center. South Mississippi is playing a major role in development of SpaceX's next generation rocket engine that will make the company’s plans for trips to Mars -- and the eventual colonization -- possible.
It was a year ago that SpaceX cut the ribbon on its test stand at the NASA facility. Since then SpaceX has been testing components for its Raptor rocket engine, specifically injectors and combustion chambers, with additional components ready for testing in the near future. In a typical week, SpaceX conducts multiple tests, according to a company spokesman. (Post)
Bases
With more than 1,300 acres acquired around Whiting Field Naval Air Station since 2001, on Thursday Santa Rosa County approved adding about 330 acres of conservation easements adjacent to the base. Another 2,000 or so acres are also being sought pending negotiations with landowners. The land purchase is designed to protect the base from encroachment. The base has a $1.1 billion annual economic impact. (Post)
-- After a four-year absence, the Gulf Coast Salute Air Show is being held this weekend at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The last show was in 2011, and was dropped because of budget issues. The Air Force Thunderbirds and the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, as well as the Army Golden Knights jump team, are performing. (Post)
-- Speaking of bases, the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala., was highlighted in one of our newsletter stories. The base is where Coast Guard aviators learn how to fly various aircraft, and it also sets the standards for the service's aviators. It's also gotten some international attention thanks to a full-motion simulator developed for the HC-144 Ocean Sentry. (Post)
Two other bases, Florida's Naval Air Station Pensacola and Naval Air Station Whiting Field, were also highlighted in a story about the folks who maintain their training aircraft. It's a big job making sure those aircraft are airworthy, and that responsibility falls to some 800 workers for several different companies. (Post)
Unmanned
Gulf Coast State College plans to offer a two-year degree in unmanned vehicle systems. The Gulf Coast Unmanned Vehicle Systems Program launches this summer with student enrollment planned for the 2015-2016 school year. The two-year degree would be credited toward a four-year degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which offers classes at Tyndall Air Force Base. (Post)
Airports
Silver Airways has launched new service between Florida's Pensacola International Airport and Jacksonville International Airport. The non-stop flights will operate Monday through Friday. With the addition of the Jacksonville service, Pensacola International Airport now offers non-stop service to 12 international hubs. (Post)
Also, Southwest Airlines, which in early March started offering Saturday service between Florida's Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and Dallas Love Field, is now offering daily flights to that destination. The more frequent schedule began Wednesday. The airport is in West Bay, northwest of Panama City. (Post)
Economic development
Northwest Florida will be represented at the upcoming MRO Americas 2015 event taking
place at the Miami Beach Convention Center April 14-16. The aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul conference attracts airlines, manufacturers and service providers who are involved in a range of MRO activities. Florida's Great Northwest is coordinating a regional marketing effort at the three-day event. (Post)
Contracts
Crew MW LLC, Goldsboro, N.C., was awarded a $9.2 million contract for Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by April 6, 2016. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity.
We had a story this week in the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor/Gulf Coast Reporters League newsletter about the two new F-35 reprogramming labs that will be built at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. They'll join the reprogramming lab that has been at the base for about five years now.
The two new labs will be for five countries that are partners in the F-35 project. Groundbreaking for the Australia, Canada, United Kingdom Reprogramming Lab (ACURL) will be this year, then next year ground will be broken for the Norway Italy Reprogramming Lab (NIRL). How many folks they’ll have and what they'll cost hasn't been detailed because it involves foreign dollars.
These labs are crucial to the success of the F-35 program. The labs are used to create mission data, packages that hold terrain and enemy threat information, including radar, surface-to-air missiles and fighters, along with data on friendly forces, non-beligerants and commercial aircraft. All of that goes into providing the pilot with battle space awareness.
Partner nations for some time now have complained that they need to customize their F-35s to suit their own needs. These labs will allow that. (Post)
In a related matter, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $150.6 million contract to provide an integrated reprogramming capability to build, test, modify, and field F-35 mission data files for Australia and the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas and is expected to be completed in December 2018. (Post)
Space
The newsletter also had a story during the week about SpaceX at Stennis Space Center. South Mississippi is playing a major role in development of SpaceX's next generation rocket engine that will make the company’s plans for trips to Mars -- and the eventual colonization -- possible.
It was a year ago that SpaceX cut the ribbon on its test stand at the NASA facility. Since then SpaceX has been testing components for its Raptor rocket engine, specifically injectors and combustion chambers, with additional components ready for testing in the near future. In a typical week, SpaceX conducts multiple tests, according to a company spokesman. (Post)
Bases
With more than 1,300 acres acquired around Whiting Field Naval Air Station since 2001, on Thursday Santa Rosa County approved adding about 330 acres of conservation easements adjacent to the base. Another 2,000 or so acres are also being sought pending negotiations with landowners. The land purchase is designed to protect the base from encroachment. The base has a $1.1 billion annual economic impact. (Post)
-- After a four-year absence, the Gulf Coast Salute Air Show is being held this weekend at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The last show was in 2011, and was dropped because of budget issues. The Air Force Thunderbirds and the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, as well as the Army Golden Knights jump team, are performing. (Post)
-- Speaking of bases, the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala., was highlighted in one of our newsletter stories. The base is where Coast Guard aviators learn how to fly various aircraft, and it also sets the standards for the service's aviators. It's also gotten some international attention thanks to a full-motion simulator developed for the HC-144 Ocean Sentry. (Post)
Two other bases, Florida's Naval Air Station Pensacola and Naval Air Station Whiting Field, were also highlighted in a story about the folks who maintain their training aircraft. It's a big job making sure those aircraft are airworthy, and that responsibility falls to some 800 workers for several different companies. (Post)
Unmanned
Gulf Coast State College plans to offer a two-year degree in unmanned vehicle systems. The Gulf Coast Unmanned Vehicle Systems Program launches this summer with student enrollment planned for the 2015-2016 school year. The two-year degree would be credited toward a four-year degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which offers classes at Tyndall Air Force Base. (Post)
Airports
Silver Airways has launched new service between Florida's Pensacola International Airport and Jacksonville International Airport. The non-stop flights will operate Monday through Friday. With the addition of the Jacksonville service, Pensacola International Airport now offers non-stop service to 12 international hubs. (Post)
Also, Southwest Airlines, which in early March started offering Saturday service between Florida's Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and Dallas Love Field, is now offering daily flights to that destination. The more frequent schedule began Wednesday. The airport is in West Bay, northwest of Panama City. (Post)
Economic development
Northwest Florida will be represented at the upcoming MRO Americas 2015 event taking
place at the Miami Beach Convention Center April 14-16. The aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul conference attracts airlines, manufacturers and service providers who are involved in a range of MRO activities. Florida's Great Northwest is coordinating a regional marketing effort at the three-day event. (Post)
Contracts
Crew MW LLC, Goldsboro, N.C., was awarded a $9.2 million contract for Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by April 6, 2016. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Week in review (3/29 to 4/4)
The April edition of the Gulf Coast Reporters’ League Aerospace Newsletter will be published Tuesday. You'll be able to find the 8-page, four-story PDF at the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor website beginning Tuesday, or you can sign up and have it sent directly to your inbox. Just drop me a line if you want on our growing list of subscribers. It's free, as is all our material thanks to our underwriters.
In the upcoming newsletter, I wrote about the Eglin Air Force Base lab that puts the fight in the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, and about two new multimillion-dollar labs that will be built at Eglin by U.S. partner nations. In the same issue is a story by Duwayne Escobedo about the aviation jobs in the Pensacola metro area that have been here for so long now, sometimes folks forget they are here. They are the folks who maintain the hundreds of Navy trainers that operate in the region.
One of our writers in Alabama, Matt Irvin, wrote about the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, which is the go-to organization for Coast Guard aviation. It sets the standards for Coast Guard aviators, and is the place they receive training for in specific aircraft. One of the ATC simulator has gotten some international attention. Last but not least, one of our Mississippi writers, Lisa Monti, will tell you about high-flying SpaceX and how its work at Stennis Space Center, Miss., will help power a new rocket designed to go to Mars. Talk about a company that thinks big.
I always get a charge out of folks who tell me they had no idea all this aerospace and aviation activity has been taking place in the Gulf Coast I-10 region for years. But that's one of the purpose of our newsletter. We hope you enjoy it. You can see past issues by clicking here.
Now for the past week in review:
Economic development
The Okaloosa Industrial Air Park in Crestview has joined the list of sites certified through Gulf Power's Florida First Sites program. Florida First Sites was created in 2013 to help communities prepare locations to attract new industries and new jobs to the region.
Fourteen sites were initially submitted from public and private landowners, and six have been certified so far. The new site is 134.7 acres owned adjacent to Bob Sikes Airport. The previously certified sites include two each in Santa Rosa and Bay counties and one in Jackson County. (Post)
Airbus
Page & Jones Inc. of Mobile, Ala., has been awarded the import clearance and export services contract with Airbus related to its A320 final assembly line under construction at Mobile Aeroplex. Page & Jones is an international logistics company with branch offices at 12 ports and airports in a six-state area. It offers U.S. Customs clearance, export forwarding and ship agency services between ports and airports worldwide.
Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line that will open this year. (Post)
-- ANA Holdings has firmed up an order for seven more A321 aircraft, following the previous announcement in January this year. That brings ANA’s total order for the A320 family to 37 aircraft. In addition, CIT Group Inc. has placed a firm order for five more A321ceo aircraft, in effect doubling its most recent commitment for five A321 ceo aircraft signed at the 2014 Farnbourough International Airshow and firmed up in November 2014. (Post)
F-35
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $6.8 million modification to a previously awarded contract to provide interim contractor sustainment services in support of the F-35 low rate initial production lot aircraft for the Air Force. Work will be performed at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Ariz., and is expected to be completed in November 2015.
Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center. (Post)
Accident
Two people in a helicopter working a controlled burn in the DeSoto National Forest died in a crash early in the week near Saucier, Miss. The third person, a National Forest Service veteran of 20 years, was hospitalized but improving. The controlled burn today involved 800 acres right at the Harrison and Stone county lines. The victims were a National Forest Service employee and contract pilot. (Post)
Bases
About 155,000 people attended the air show last week at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The show featured the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team. About 96,000 people attended Saturday and 59,000 were on hand Sunday. (Post)
Contracts
Airbus Defense & Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $9.4 million contract for UH-72A helicopter support, hardware, and services for the Royal Thai Army. Work will be performed in Thailand with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2017. The helicopters are built in Columbus, Miss. … Ampex Data Systems Corp., Redwood City, Calif., was awarded a $10 million contract for sustainment of the current Airborne Data Recorder fleet. Contractor will provide spare parts, technical support, repair services, and upgrade support to the existing Airborne Data Recorder fleet. Work will be done at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2020. Air Force Test Center, Eglin, is the contracting activity. … Avarint LLC, Buffalo, N.Y., was awarded an $83.7 million contract for Virtual Integrated Electronic Warfare Simulations (VIEWS) II. Contractor will provide an integrated, multi-spectral, virtual battlespace environment suitable for the test and evaluation of advanced sensor, fused system performance. Continuous advancements in survivability technologies necessitate improvements to ground and open-air test capabilities, with particular focus on the areas of sensors and avionics architectures that fuse information from multiple sources including the F-22 and F-35. Both aircraft are based in Northwest Florida. … Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $10.8 million modification to previously awarded contract for the F-22 sustainment contract for the Reliability and Maintainability Maturation Program (RAMMP). Work will be performed at Fort Worth and is expected to be complete by Feb. 28, 2017. F-22 pilots are trained at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., which is also home to an operational F-22 squadron. … HX5 LLC of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $9.9 million contract for continuing research and development services. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2017.
In the upcoming newsletter, I wrote about the Eglin Air Force Base lab that puts the fight in the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, and about two new multimillion-dollar labs that will be built at Eglin by U.S. partner nations. In the same issue is a story by Duwayne Escobedo about the aviation jobs in the Pensacola metro area that have been here for so long now, sometimes folks forget they are here. They are the folks who maintain the hundreds of Navy trainers that operate in the region.
One of our writers in Alabama, Matt Irvin, wrote about the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, which is the go-to organization for Coast Guard aviation. It sets the standards for Coast Guard aviators, and is the place they receive training for in specific aircraft. One of the ATC simulator has gotten some international attention. Last but not least, one of our Mississippi writers, Lisa Monti, will tell you about high-flying SpaceX and how its work at Stennis Space Center, Miss., will help power a new rocket designed to go to Mars. Talk about a company that thinks big.
I always get a charge out of folks who tell me they had no idea all this aerospace and aviation activity has been taking place in the Gulf Coast I-10 region for years. But that's one of the purpose of our newsletter. We hope you enjoy it. You can see past issues by clicking here.
Now for the past week in review:
Economic development
The Okaloosa Industrial Air Park in Crestview has joined the list of sites certified through Gulf Power's Florida First Sites program. Florida First Sites was created in 2013 to help communities prepare locations to attract new industries and new jobs to the region.
Fourteen sites were initially submitted from public and private landowners, and six have been certified so far. The new site is 134.7 acres owned adjacent to Bob Sikes Airport. The previously certified sites include two each in Santa Rosa and Bay counties and one in Jackson County. (Post)
Airbus
Page & Jones Inc. of Mobile, Ala., has been awarded the import clearance and export services contract with Airbus related to its A320 final assembly line under construction at Mobile Aeroplex. Page & Jones is an international logistics company with branch offices at 12 ports and airports in a six-state area. It offers U.S. Customs clearance, export forwarding and ship agency services between ports and airports worldwide.
Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line that will open this year. (Post)
-- ANA Holdings has firmed up an order for seven more A321 aircraft, following the previous announcement in January this year. That brings ANA’s total order for the A320 family to 37 aircraft. In addition, CIT Group Inc. has placed a firm order for five more A321ceo aircraft, in effect doubling its most recent commitment for five A321 ceo aircraft signed at the 2014 Farnbourough International Airshow and firmed up in November 2014. (Post)
F-35
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $6.8 million modification to a previously awarded contract to provide interim contractor sustainment services in support of the F-35 low rate initial production lot aircraft for the Air Force. Work will be performed at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Ariz., and is expected to be completed in November 2015.
Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center. (Post)
Accident
Two people in a helicopter working a controlled burn in the DeSoto National Forest died in a crash early in the week near Saucier, Miss. The third person, a National Forest Service veteran of 20 years, was hospitalized but improving. The controlled burn today involved 800 acres right at the Harrison and Stone county lines. The victims were a National Forest Service employee and contract pilot. (Post)
Bases
About 155,000 people attended the air show last week at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The show featured the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team. About 96,000 people attended Saturday and 59,000 were on hand Sunday. (Post)
Contracts
Airbus Defense & Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $9.4 million contract for UH-72A helicopter support, hardware, and services for the Royal Thai Army. Work will be performed in Thailand with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2017. The helicopters are built in Columbus, Miss. … Ampex Data Systems Corp., Redwood City, Calif., was awarded a $10 million contract for sustainment of the current Airborne Data Recorder fleet. Contractor will provide spare parts, technical support, repair services, and upgrade support to the existing Airborne Data Recorder fleet. Work will be done at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2020. Air Force Test Center, Eglin, is the contracting activity. … Avarint LLC, Buffalo, N.Y., was awarded an $83.7 million contract for Virtual Integrated Electronic Warfare Simulations (VIEWS) II. Contractor will provide an integrated, multi-spectral, virtual battlespace environment suitable for the test and evaluation of advanced sensor, fused system performance. Continuous advancements in survivability technologies necessitate improvements to ground and open-air test capabilities, with particular focus on the areas of sensors and avionics architectures that fuse information from multiple sources including the F-22 and F-35. Both aircraft are based in Northwest Florida. … Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $10.8 million modification to previously awarded contract for the F-22 sustainment contract for the Reliability and Maintainability Maturation Program (RAMMP). Work will be performed at Fort Worth and is expected to be complete by Feb. 28, 2017. F-22 pilots are trained at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., which is also home to an operational F-22 squadron. … HX5 LLC of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded a $9.9 million contract for continuing research and development services. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2017.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Week in review (3/22 to 3/28)
It was a shocking story right from the start, and got more so by the end of the week.
I'm talking about the Germanwings A320 that crashed in the French Alps Tuesday, killing 150 people. Some of the initial reports, of course, talked about the 24-year-old plane itself, and pointed out that it was inspected as recently as the day before the crash.
But by the end of the week it was clear that this was no accident and nothing was wrong with the plane itself. German co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the pilot out of the cockpit when the pilot left him alone at the controls. He took the plane, on a flight from Barcelona, Spain, to Duesseldorf, Germany, on an intentional eight-minute descent that ended in rugged terrain on the side of a mountain. (Post)
The crash was of interest to this region because of the type of plane. Airbus will be opening an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., later this year.
-- In another story during the week, Airbus said it delivered its 9,000th aircraft, an A321, to Vietnamese carrier VietJetAir. Airbus delivered its first A300 in 1974, and its lineup today includes the A320 family and the world’s largest aircraft, the double deck A380. Over the last 10 years, Airbus has doubled its deliveries to reach over 600 aircraft a year today. (Post)
-- Also during the week, we learned that machinists at the Boeing plant in North Charleston, S.C., will vote April 22 on union representation. Voting will take place at five separate locations at the Boeing campus. There are about 3,000 workers at Boeing's 787 complex in South Carolina. Earlier an Airbus official said he fully expects unions to target the Airbus plant being built in Mobile, Ala.(Post)
Growth
New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show two metro areas in the Gulf Coast I-10 aerospace region were among the 20 fastest growing in the nation from 2013 to 2014. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Ala., with a growth of 2.4 percent, was 14th fastest growing, while Panama City, Fla., with a growth of 2.2 percent, was 19th.
Other metro areas in the region also grew: Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Fla., ranked 37, had a growth rate of 1.9 percent; Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, Fla., ranked 87, had a rate of 1.2 percent; Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss., ranked 124, had a growth rate of 1 percent; New Orleans, ranked 142, had a growth rate of .8 percent; and Mobile, Ala., ranked 267, had a rate of .1 percent. (Post)
F-35
Australia's first F-35A pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, took his first flight in an F-35A aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on March 17. He flew a U.S. Air Force F-35A because Australian F-35A aircraft are currently located at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in anticipation of the opening of a pilot training center there in mid-2015. (Post)
Airport
A spike in military aviation operations kept activity at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport from taking a dip in February. Airport Executive Director Parker McClellan said there were 3,665 aircraft operations in February 2015 compared to 3,703 in 2014. Airline operations were down 2.86 percent, general aviation operations dropped 18.63 percent and military operations increased 58.75 percent. (Post)
Space
United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy vehicle was chosen by NASA last week to launch the Solar Probe Plus mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The mission is scheduled to launch in July 2018 from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The Delta IV Heavy vehicle features a center common booster core along with two strap-on common booster cores, each powered by the RS-68 engine. The Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68 engines are assembled and tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Post)
-- NASA selected IT Federal Sales of Windham, N.H., to provide SAP software and maintenance support services to all NASA centers and associated facilities with a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) estimated at $23.1 million. The BPA is available for use by all NASA centers and associated facilities through March 31, 2018. The SAP agreement is administered by the NASA Shared Services Center at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Post)
Contracts
Kaman Precision Products Inc., Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $58 million modification to a previously awarded contract for Lot 12 production of Joint Programmable Fuze systems. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $528.8 million contract modification to exercise the option on a previously awarded contract for Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile Lot 29 production and other AMRAAM system items. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nev., was awarded a $15.1 million modification to exercise and option to a previously awarded contract to provide for contractor logistics services in support of the AC-130W and AC-130J precision strike package. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., and various deployment locations. ... Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., was awarded a $93.6 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option to provide intermediate, depot level maintenance and related logistics support for about 223 in-service T-45 F405-RR-401 Adour engines and MKII gas turbine starters. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., NAS Kingsville, Texas, NAS Pensacola, Fla., and NAS Patuxent River, Md. … Boeing of St. Louis, Mo., was awarded a $28.5 million modification to exercise the option on the purchase of QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) Lot 3. This option is for the purchase of 25 QF-16 FSATs and 25 four-year warranties of the QF-16 drone-peculiar equipment. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.
I'm talking about the Germanwings A320 that crashed in the French Alps Tuesday, killing 150 people. Some of the initial reports, of course, talked about the 24-year-old plane itself, and pointed out that it was inspected as recently as the day before the crash.
But by the end of the week it was clear that this was no accident and nothing was wrong with the plane itself. German co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the pilot out of the cockpit when the pilot left him alone at the controls. He took the plane, on a flight from Barcelona, Spain, to Duesseldorf, Germany, on an intentional eight-minute descent that ended in rugged terrain on the side of a mountain. (Post)
The crash was of interest to this region because of the type of plane. Airbus will be opening an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., later this year.
-- In another story during the week, Airbus said it delivered its 9,000th aircraft, an A321, to Vietnamese carrier VietJetAir. Airbus delivered its first A300 in 1974, and its lineup today includes the A320 family and the world’s largest aircraft, the double deck A380. Over the last 10 years, Airbus has doubled its deliveries to reach over 600 aircraft a year today. (Post)
-- Also during the week, we learned that machinists at the Boeing plant in North Charleston, S.C., will vote April 22 on union representation. Voting will take place at five separate locations at the Boeing campus. There are about 3,000 workers at Boeing's 787 complex in South Carolina. Earlier an Airbus official said he fully expects unions to target the Airbus plant being built in Mobile, Ala.(Post)
Growth
New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show two metro areas in the Gulf Coast I-10 aerospace region were among the 20 fastest growing in the nation from 2013 to 2014. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Ala., with a growth of 2.4 percent, was 14th fastest growing, while Panama City, Fla., with a growth of 2.2 percent, was 19th.
Other metro areas in the region also grew: Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Fla., ranked 37, had a growth rate of 1.9 percent; Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, Fla., ranked 87, had a rate of 1.2 percent; Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss., ranked 124, had a growth rate of 1 percent; New Orleans, ranked 142, had a growth rate of .8 percent; and Mobile, Ala., ranked 267, had a rate of .1 percent. (Post)
F-35
Australia's first F-35A pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, took his first flight in an F-35A aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on March 17. He flew a U.S. Air Force F-35A because Australian F-35A aircraft are currently located at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in anticipation of the opening of a pilot training center there in mid-2015. (Post)
Airport
A spike in military aviation operations kept activity at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport from taking a dip in February. Airport Executive Director Parker McClellan said there were 3,665 aircraft operations in February 2015 compared to 3,703 in 2014. Airline operations were down 2.86 percent, general aviation operations dropped 18.63 percent and military operations increased 58.75 percent. (Post)
Space
United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy vehicle was chosen by NASA last week to launch the Solar Probe Plus mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The mission is scheduled to launch in July 2018 from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The Delta IV Heavy vehicle features a center common booster core along with two strap-on common booster cores, each powered by the RS-68 engine. The Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68 engines are assembled and tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Post)
-- NASA selected IT Federal Sales of Windham, N.H., to provide SAP software and maintenance support services to all NASA centers and associated facilities with a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) estimated at $23.1 million. The BPA is available for use by all NASA centers and associated facilities through March 31, 2018. The SAP agreement is administered by the NASA Shared Services Center at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Post)
Contracts
Kaman Precision Products Inc., Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $58 million modification to a previously awarded contract for Lot 12 production of Joint Programmable Fuze systems. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $528.8 million contract modification to exercise the option on a previously awarded contract for Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile Lot 29 production and other AMRAAM system items. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. … Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nev., was awarded a $15.1 million modification to exercise and option to a previously awarded contract to provide for contractor logistics services in support of the AC-130W and AC-130J precision strike package. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., and various deployment locations. ... Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., was awarded a $93.6 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option to provide intermediate, depot level maintenance and related logistics support for about 223 in-service T-45 F405-RR-401 Adour engines and MKII gas turbine starters. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., NAS Kingsville, Texas, NAS Pensacola, Fla., and NAS Patuxent River, Md. … Boeing of St. Louis, Mo., was awarded a $28.5 million modification to exercise the option on the purchase of QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) Lot 3. This option is for the purchase of 25 QF-16 FSATs and 25 four-year warranties of the QF-16 drone-peculiar equipment. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Week in review (3/15 to 3/21)
There was a story this week about the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold an election for 2,400 production workers at the Boeing plant in North Charleston, S.C.
The plant opened in late 2011 and is one of two final assembly and delivery points for the 787. Boeing last month opened a new propulsion plant in North Charleston and now employs about 7,500 people in South Carolina. (Post)
You just know that Airbus is keeping an eye on what's going on in South Carolina. Airbus, which will open an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., this year, has developed a strategy to counter an expected move by unions to organize the Alabama plant. That's the word from Alan McArtor, chairman and chief executive of the Airbus Group.
He said the Airbus business case for the Mobile plant doesn’t rely on whether workers decide to organize, but the company will seek to avoid a union presence by ensuring a rapport and fair treatment of its workers. (Post)
So how are unions doing? According to statistics released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide there were 14.6 million wage and salary workers who were members of unions in 2014, 11.1 percent of workers. That's down 0.2 percent from 2013.
While that's not much of a drop, the numbers are down considerably from 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available. In 1983 there were 17.7 million union workers, a membership rate of 20.1 percent.
In the four states that are part of the I-10 aerospace corridor, Mississippi had a union membership rate in 2014 of 3.7 percent and Louisiana had a rate of 5.2 percent. Florida's union membership rate in 2014 was 5.7 percent and Alabama's was 10.8 percent.
Unmanned
A Fire Scout and a Littoral Combat Ship both are making a showing for the first time in an annual war game in South Korea. The exercises began March 2 and will continue through April 24 and involve thousands of U.S. troops and their South Korean counterparts.
This year the USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) is participating. It's one of two LCS designs intended to fight in areas closer to shore than larger ships can enter and to counter attacks by swarms of smaller vessels. Also participating is the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.; Austal USA builds the second LCS variant in Mobile, Ala. (Post)
-- In another first involving an unmanned systems, an MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft fired a Hellfire missile at a sea-going target for the first time in a maritime test at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The test was during Eglin's Weapons Systems Evaluation Program over the Gulf of Mexico on March 16. The missile hit a boat that was being towed by another remotely-controlled vessel. (Post)
-- The first of 13 production QF-16 drones was delivered to the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., on March 11. The QF-16s will eventually replace the QF-4 as the next generation representative aerial target at Tyndall and Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The 82nd ATRS is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The first QF-16 for developmental testing arrived at Tyndall in November 2012. (Post)
In memory
Hundreds gathered Friday night on Navarre Beach in a final show of respect for 11 servicemen who died March 10 when a UH-60 helicopter crashed in Santa Rosa Sound during a training mission. Donated Army and Marine flags have been flying on the Navarre Beach Pier since the crash. In a ceremony Friday night those flags were retired. (Story)
Meanwhile, Eglin Air Force Base concluded active recovery efforts Saturday. The Safety Investigation Board from the Army Combat Readiness Center, Fort Rucker, Ala., has convened and Eglin has transferred responsibility of the accident site to the investigation board. All recovered human remains have been transferred to Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Post)
The Louisiana Army National Guard during the week released the names of the four guardsmen, all part of the Guard's 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Hammond. The seven Marines from Camp Lejeune were identified earlier. (Post)
Bases
Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., will host the Gulf Coast Salute 2015 air show and open house April 11-12. The show will feature the Air Force Thunderbirds flying demonstration team, the Army Golden Knights parachute team and the F-22 Raptor aerial demonstration team. Admission and parking for the show is free. Shuttle bus transportation is to be provided from the parking area to the flight line. (Post)
Contracts
A2R of Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $23.6 million, five-year laboratory services contract from NASA. A2R will be responsible for providing technical services for laboratory operations at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. … Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $91.6 million modification to exercise the option on previously awarded contract for Lot 8 of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer missile. Contractor will provide 250 MALD-J missiles. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2017. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.
The plant opened in late 2011 and is one of two final assembly and delivery points for the 787. Boeing last month opened a new propulsion plant in North Charleston and now employs about 7,500 people in South Carolina. (Post)
You just know that Airbus is keeping an eye on what's going on in South Carolina. Airbus, which will open an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., this year, has developed a strategy to counter an expected move by unions to organize the Alabama plant. That's the word from Alan McArtor, chairman and chief executive of the Airbus Group.
He said the Airbus business case for the Mobile plant doesn’t rely on whether workers decide to organize, but the company will seek to avoid a union presence by ensuring a rapport and fair treatment of its workers. (Post)
So how are unions doing? According to statistics released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide there were 14.6 million wage and salary workers who were members of unions in 2014, 11.1 percent of workers. That's down 0.2 percent from 2013.
While that's not much of a drop, the numbers are down considerably from 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available. In 1983 there were 17.7 million union workers, a membership rate of 20.1 percent.
In the four states that are part of the I-10 aerospace corridor, Mississippi had a union membership rate in 2014 of 3.7 percent and Louisiana had a rate of 5.2 percent. Florida's union membership rate in 2014 was 5.7 percent and Alabama's was 10.8 percent.
Unmanned
A Fire Scout and a Littoral Combat Ship both are making a showing for the first time in an annual war game in South Korea. The exercises began March 2 and will continue through April 24 and involve thousands of U.S. troops and their South Korean counterparts.
This year the USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) is participating. It's one of two LCS designs intended to fight in areas closer to shore than larger ships can enter and to counter attacks by swarms of smaller vessels. Also participating is the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.; Austal USA builds the second LCS variant in Mobile, Ala. (Post)
-- In another first involving an unmanned systems, an MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft fired a Hellfire missile at a sea-going target for the first time in a maritime test at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The test was during Eglin's Weapons Systems Evaluation Program over the Gulf of Mexico on March 16. The missile hit a boat that was being towed by another remotely-controlled vessel. (Post)
-- The first of 13 production QF-16 drones was delivered to the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., on March 11. The QF-16s will eventually replace the QF-4 as the next generation representative aerial target at Tyndall and Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The 82nd ATRS is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The first QF-16 for developmental testing arrived at Tyndall in November 2012. (Post)
In memory
Hundreds gathered Friday night on Navarre Beach in a final show of respect for 11 servicemen who died March 10 when a UH-60 helicopter crashed in Santa Rosa Sound during a training mission. Donated Army and Marine flags have been flying on the Navarre Beach Pier since the crash. In a ceremony Friday night those flags were retired. (Story)
Meanwhile, Eglin Air Force Base concluded active recovery efforts Saturday. The Safety Investigation Board from the Army Combat Readiness Center, Fort Rucker, Ala., has convened and Eglin has transferred responsibility of the accident site to the investigation board. All recovered human remains have been transferred to Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Post)
The Louisiana Army National Guard during the week released the names of the four guardsmen, all part of the Guard's 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Hammond. The seven Marines from Camp Lejeune were identified earlier. (Post)
Bases
Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., will host the Gulf Coast Salute 2015 air show and open house April 11-12. The show will feature the Air Force Thunderbirds flying demonstration team, the Army Golden Knights parachute team and the F-22 Raptor aerial demonstration team. Admission and parking for the show is free. Shuttle bus transportation is to be provided from the parking area to the flight line. (Post)
Contracts
A2R of Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $23.6 million, five-year laboratory services contract from NASA. A2R will be responsible for providing technical services for laboratory operations at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. … Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $91.6 million modification to exercise the option on previously awarded contract for Lot 8 of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer missile. Contractor will provide 250 MALD-J missiles. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be complete by June 30, 2017. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Week in review (3/8 to 3/14)
The crash of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a training mission in Northwest Florida on Tuesday took the lives of 11 servicemen, and reminds us again of how risky the military life can be, even without being in a combat zone.
The helicopter from the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Hammond, La., was with another UH-60 on the training mission at Eglin Range A-17 when thick fog enveloped the area. One helicopter returned to base, but the other went down hard in Santa Rosa Sound, separating the mainland from the nearby barrier island. The UH-60 crashed into 25 feet of water around 8:30 p.m.
Seven Marines and four Army helicopter crew members died. (Post) The Marines were all from the 2nd Special Operations Battalion of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The names of the four Louisiana National Guard soldiers who also died in the crash have not yet been released. (Post)
We're a military-friendly region, in part because of all our bases, in part because of all our veterans, in part because of our patriotism. So a tragedy like the UH-60 crash grabs our attention and we mourn along with their friends and families.
Bases
The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron will conduct flight and boat operations in the Gulf of Mexico eight to 20 miles south of Destin and in Choctawhatchee Bay March 16-19. The operations are part of the 53rd Wing's weapon system evaluation program. Fighter aircraft will release munitions in the morning between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. about eight to 20 nautical miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. Then around 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the bay, about 30 boats will be used as visual targets by fighter aircraft and helicopters flying mid to low level. Eglin held a similar exercise in early February. (Post)
F-35
The first F-35 assembled outside the United States rolled off an assembly line in Italy on Thursday. The F-35A designated AL-1 is being assembled at the final assembly and check out (FACO) facility at Cameri Air Base in northern Italy. The FACO will assemble F-35s for Italy and the Netherlands.
Owned by the Italian Ministry of Defense, Cameri also builds wing sets for the F-35 that will be shipped to Lockheed’s Fort Worth, Texas, assembly line. The plant, operated by Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi and Lockheed Martin, has 750 staff now at the 101-acre facility. Last December, it was chosen by the DoD as Europe's F-35 airframe maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade center.
Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home to the F-35 integrated training center. (Post)
-- Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $33.9 million modification to a previously awarded contract. The modification provides for retrofit modifications to the production thrust recovery, lift systems, and controller systems for low rate initial production VII F135/600 and F135/100 propulsion systems.
Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is expected to be completed in December 2016. The contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps (89.22 percent); the U.S. Air Force (24 percent); and the international partners (10.54 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Post)
Propulsion
Speaking of engines, Turkish Airlines selected Rolls-Royce to supply Trent 700 engines and long-term service support, worth $300 million, to power four Airbus A330 freighter aircraft. The airline already operates 11 A330ceo passenger and five A330 freighter aircraft powered by the Trent 700.
In the A330 freighter market, the Trent 700 now accounts for 90 per cent of aircraft in service and on order. More than 1,500 Trent 700s are now in service or on firm order. Rolls-Royce tests the Trent engines at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Post)
Airbus
Airbus could commit to a new hike in production of its A320 family of jetliners before the end of the year. A final decision depends in large part on the health of the supply chain. Sales chief John Leahy made the prediction days after the plane maker announced plans to raise production from 42 planes a month now to 50 a month in 2017, almost matching a monthly rate of 52 targeted by Boeing for the following year. Airbus this year will open an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala. (Post)
Unmanned
The U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system has seen a significant
decrease in cost per flight hour coupled with a sharp increase in flight hours, officials said. Global Hawk variants have flown more than 140,000 flight hours in support of diverse surveillance missions.
Meanwhile, an RQ-4B Global Hawk, A2019, embarked on a mission March 7 that sent the aircraft past the 10,000 flying-hour milestone at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The aircraft has been providing support to warfighters by relaying communications between people and aircraft as well as enabling airstrikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Fuselage work for all Global Hawk variants is done in Moss Point, Miss. (Post)
F-16
The Air Force's F-16s used for homeland protection need radar upgrades urgently, according to the commander of the First Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. These are upgrades the service put off due to funding restrictions.
The First Air Force, the numbered Air Force with sole responsibility of ensuring air superiority and air sovereignty of the U.S., recently filed the urgent operational need request with the Air Force Requirements Council for fiscal 2015 funding for its Aerospace Control Alert mission.
The request now being considered, specifically for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Block 30 F-16s, seeks the installation of the Northrop Grumman APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array radar. The radar was part of the combat avionics program extension suite that the Air Force dropped from its fiscal 2015 and 2016 budget requests because of budget shortfalls. (Post)
Contracts
Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24 million contract modification to exercise an option to procure Program Year 10 contractor logistics support for UH-72A Lakota Helicopters. Work will be performed at in Columbus, Miss. … Atlas North America LLC, Virginia Beach, Va., was awarded a $14 million contract for depot level repair, maintenance, modifications, engineering services and spare parts for the AN/SLQ-60 Surface Mine Neutralization System. Sixty percent of the work will be done in Panama City Beach, Fla. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, is the contracting activity.
The helicopter from the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Hammond, La., was with another UH-60 on the training mission at Eglin Range A-17 when thick fog enveloped the area. One helicopter returned to base, but the other went down hard in Santa Rosa Sound, separating the mainland from the nearby barrier island. The UH-60 crashed into 25 feet of water around 8:30 p.m.
Seven Marines and four Army helicopter crew members died. (Post) The Marines were all from the 2nd Special Operations Battalion of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The names of the four Louisiana National Guard soldiers who also died in the crash have not yet been released. (Post)
We're a military-friendly region, in part because of all our bases, in part because of all our veterans, in part because of our patriotism. So a tragedy like the UH-60 crash grabs our attention and we mourn along with their friends and families.
Bases
The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron will conduct flight and boat operations in the Gulf of Mexico eight to 20 miles south of Destin and in Choctawhatchee Bay March 16-19. The operations are part of the 53rd Wing's weapon system evaluation program. Fighter aircraft will release munitions in the morning between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. about eight to 20 nautical miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. Then around 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the bay, about 30 boats will be used as visual targets by fighter aircraft and helicopters flying mid to low level. Eglin held a similar exercise in early February. (Post)
F-35
The first F-35 assembled outside the United States rolled off an assembly line in Italy on Thursday. The F-35A designated AL-1 is being assembled at the final assembly and check out (FACO) facility at Cameri Air Base in northern Italy. The FACO will assemble F-35s for Italy and the Netherlands.
Owned by the Italian Ministry of Defense, Cameri also builds wing sets for the F-35 that will be shipped to Lockheed’s Fort Worth, Texas, assembly line. The plant, operated by Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi and Lockheed Martin, has 750 staff now at the 101-acre facility. Last December, it was chosen by the DoD as Europe's F-35 airframe maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade center.
Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home to the F-35 integrated training center. (Post)
-- Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $33.9 million modification to a previously awarded contract. The modification provides for retrofit modifications to the production thrust recovery, lift systems, and controller systems for low rate initial production VII F135/600 and F135/100 propulsion systems.
Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is expected to be completed in December 2016. The contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps (89.22 percent); the U.S. Air Force (24 percent); and the international partners (10.54 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Post)
Propulsion
Speaking of engines, Turkish Airlines selected Rolls-Royce to supply Trent 700 engines and long-term service support, worth $300 million, to power four Airbus A330 freighter aircraft. The airline already operates 11 A330ceo passenger and five A330 freighter aircraft powered by the Trent 700.
In the A330 freighter market, the Trent 700 now accounts for 90 per cent of aircraft in service and on order. More than 1,500 Trent 700s are now in service or on firm order. Rolls-Royce tests the Trent engines at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Post)
Airbus
Airbus could commit to a new hike in production of its A320 family of jetliners before the end of the year. A final decision depends in large part on the health of the supply chain. Sales chief John Leahy made the prediction days after the plane maker announced plans to raise production from 42 planes a month now to 50 a month in 2017, almost matching a monthly rate of 52 targeted by Boeing for the following year. Airbus this year will open an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala. (Post)
Unmanned
The U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system has seen a significant
decrease in cost per flight hour coupled with a sharp increase in flight hours, officials said. Global Hawk variants have flown more than 140,000 flight hours in support of diverse surveillance missions.
Meanwhile, an RQ-4B Global Hawk, A2019, embarked on a mission March 7 that sent the aircraft past the 10,000 flying-hour milestone at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The aircraft has been providing support to warfighters by relaying communications between people and aircraft as well as enabling airstrikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Fuselage work for all Global Hawk variants is done in Moss Point, Miss. (Post)
F-16
The Air Force's F-16s used for homeland protection need radar upgrades urgently, according to the commander of the First Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. These are upgrades the service put off due to funding restrictions.
The First Air Force, the numbered Air Force with sole responsibility of ensuring air superiority and air sovereignty of the U.S., recently filed the urgent operational need request with the Air Force Requirements Council for fiscal 2015 funding for its Aerospace Control Alert mission.
The request now being considered, specifically for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Block 30 F-16s, seeks the installation of the Northrop Grumman APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array radar. The radar was part of the combat avionics program extension suite that the Air Force dropped from its fiscal 2015 and 2016 budget requests because of budget shortfalls. (Post)
Contracts
Airbus Defense and Space Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24 million contract modification to exercise an option to procure Program Year 10 contractor logistics support for UH-72A Lakota Helicopters. Work will be performed at in Columbus, Miss. … Atlas North America LLC, Virginia Beach, Va., was awarded a $14 million contract for depot level repair, maintenance, modifications, engineering services and spare parts for the AN/SLQ-60 Surface Mine Neutralization System. Sixty percent of the work will be done in Panama City Beach, Fla. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, is the contracting activity.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Week in review (2/29 to 3/7)
With both Airbus and Boeing gearing up for increasing production of A320 and 737 jetliners, at least one research firm is warning that there may end up being more planes than the airline market can absorb.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts warn that the two giants may be on a path to produce more jetliners than the airline market can absorb. Airbus and Boeing are planning to hike production of the two families of jets by 20 percent between 2014 and 2018. That’s on top of a previous increase from 2010 to 2014.
But a big drop in aircraft retirements, lower oil prices and the possibility of higher interest rates in the U.S. could combine to weaken demand and lead to a glut of jets, according to the Merrill Lynch analysts.
Of course we’ll have to see how all this pans out over time, but anything about A320 production is of high interest to our region. Airbus is building an assembly line for A320 jets in Mobile, Ala., that will open this year. In fact, the first shipment of large sections from Europe will arrive in Mobile in June.
The first plane, an A321 for JetBlue, will be delivered in 2016, and when in full swing the plant will produce four or five jetliners a month. The company is continuing to hire to fill what will eventually be about 1,000 jobs.
Airbus planes aside, this whole region is gearing up for a larger aerospace footprint. The Alabama Aviation Center is holding an Aviation Career Fair and Open House March 13. It's the second such fair for the Aviation Center in five months.
Ten employers and recruiters from the Air National Guard and Air Force will be on hand. The career fair is coordinated by the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council and the aviation center of Enterprise State Community College. The Alabama Aviation Center is at the Mobile Aeroplex. (Post)
Meanwhile, across from Mobile in Pensacola, Fla., Aero Sekur, specialist in helicopter lift-raft and flotation systems, is relocating its U.S. subsidiary from Parsippany, N.J., to a Pensacola site that's three times larger. The move provides the company with an 8,000 square-foot facility for its administrative offices, maintenance repair and overhaul operations and spare parts buildings.
The site is west of Interstate 110 and north of Town and Country Plaza. Aero Sekur, headquartered in Italy, specializes in safety systems and advanced flexible structures for the global aerospace and defense markets. (Post)
There won’t be a lot of jobs associated with the office, seven initially and perhaps twice that as it gears up. But since this region is making a push for more aerospace, any new operation is important and sends a message.
Airports
Three airports in Northwest Florida had increases in their passenger counts in January 2015 compared to January 2014. The newly renamed Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport at Eglin Air Force Base had an 8.56 percent increase. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City had a 5.83 percent increase and Pensacola International Airport had an increase of 4.5 percent. (Post)
Meanwhile, agreements were finalized for United Airlines and Silver Airways to begin service at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. United Express started daily service to Houston. Silver Airways is set to kick off service to Orlando and Tampa March 19. (Post)
F-35
The F-35 Joint Program Office has asked Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to start an initial low-rate production of a new Hand-held Imaging Tool (HIT) that will be able to check the surface of a plane to check its health.
The Air Force currently uses a 1,200-pound piece of equipment and needs two operators and three hours. But AFRL through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) developed HIT. It's a portable, non-destructive method to inspect an aircraft. It consists of a handheld unit weighing less than seven pounds and an 11-pound backpack that can image 100 percent of an aircraft's surface in 15 minutes.
The test and demonstration was done at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in late 2014 and led to the culmination of a five-year research effort. So expect to see that device there, since it's home of the F-35 Integrated Training Center. (Post)
-- Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded an $8.2 million modification to a previously awarded contract for the procurement and delivery of electronic components to support low-rate initial production Lot VII F-35 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and international partners. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in March 2016.
This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (59.4 percent), Navy (18.7 percent), Marine Corps (12.5 percent), and international partners (9.4 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Post)
-- Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $7 million modification to a previously awarded contract for retrofit modifications to the F-135 propulsion system, including production thrust recovery and integrated power package manifold. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is expected to be completed in December 2016.
This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force (50 percent); the U.S. Navy (49 percent); and the international partners (1 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. The F135 is used in the F-35. (Post)
Contracts
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded an $8.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for delivery of one Bell 407 Analog Helicopter, and preservation and storage of seven aircraft in support of the endurance upgrade of the MQ-8C Fire Scout. Work will be performed in Ozark, Ala., and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Final assembly of Fire Scouts is done at Moss Point, Miss. … L-3 Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., was awarded an $8.8 million modification for F-16 aircraft maintenance for Taiwan. Work will be performed at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and is expected to be complete by Feb. 29, 2016.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts warn that the two giants may be on a path to produce more jetliners than the airline market can absorb. Airbus and Boeing are planning to hike production of the two families of jets by 20 percent between 2014 and 2018. That’s on top of a previous increase from 2010 to 2014.
But a big drop in aircraft retirements, lower oil prices and the possibility of higher interest rates in the U.S. could combine to weaken demand and lead to a glut of jets, according to the Merrill Lynch analysts.
Of course we’ll have to see how all this pans out over time, but anything about A320 production is of high interest to our region. Airbus is building an assembly line for A320 jets in Mobile, Ala., that will open this year. In fact, the first shipment of large sections from Europe will arrive in Mobile in June.
The first plane, an A321 for JetBlue, will be delivered in 2016, and when in full swing the plant will produce four or five jetliners a month. The company is continuing to hire to fill what will eventually be about 1,000 jobs.
Airbus planes aside, this whole region is gearing up for a larger aerospace footprint. The Alabama Aviation Center is holding an Aviation Career Fair and Open House March 13. It's the second such fair for the Aviation Center in five months.
Ten employers and recruiters from the Air National Guard and Air Force will be on hand. The career fair is coordinated by the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council and the aviation center of Enterprise State Community College. The Alabama Aviation Center is at the Mobile Aeroplex. (Post)
Meanwhile, across from Mobile in Pensacola, Fla., Aero Sekur, specialist in helicopter lift-raft and flotation systems, is relocating its U.S. subsidiary from Parsippany, N.J., to a Pensacola site that's three times larger. The move provides the company with an 8,000 square-foot facility for its administrative offices, maintenance repair and overhaul operations and spare parts buildings.
The site is west of Interstate 110 and north of Town and Country Plaza. Aero Sekur, headquartered in Italy, specializes in safety systems and advanced flexible structures for the global aerospace and defense markets. (Post)
There won’t be a lot of jobs associated with the office, seven initially and perhaps twice that as it gears up. But since this region is making a push for more aerospace, any new operation is important and sends a message.
Airports
Three airports in Northwest Florida had increases in their passenger counts in January 2015 compared to January 2014. The newly renamed Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport at Eglin Air Force Base had an 8.56 percent increase. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City had a 5.83 percent increase and Pensacola International Airport had an increase of 4.5 percent. (Post)
Meanwhile, agreements were finalized for United Airlines and Silver Airways to begin service at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. United Express started daily service to Houston. Silver Airways is set to kick off service to Orlando and Tampa March 19. (Post)
F-35
The F-35 Joint Program Office has asked Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to start an initial low-rate production of a new Hand-held Imaging Tool (HIT) that will be able to check the surface of a plane to check its health.
The Air Force currently uses a 1,200-pound piece of equipment and needs two operators and three hours. But AFRL through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) developed HIT. It's a portable, non-destructive method to inspect an aircraft. It consists of a handheld unit weighing less than seven pounds and an 11-pound backpack that can image 100 percent of an aircraft's surface in 15 minutes.
The test and demonstration was done at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in late 2014 and led to the culmination of a five-year research effort. So expect to see that device there, since it's home of the F-35 Integrated Training Center. (Post)
-- Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded an $8.2 million modification to a previously awarded contract for the procurement and delivery of electronic components to support low-rate initial production Lot VII F-35 aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and international partners. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in March 2016.
This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (59.4 percent), Navy (18.7 percent), Marine Corps (12.5 percent), and international partners (9.4 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Post)
-- Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded a $7 million modification to a previously awarded contract for retrofit modifications to the F-135 propulsion system, including production thrust recovery and integrated power package manifold. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is expected to be completed in December 2016.
This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force (50 percent); the U.S. Navy (49 percent); and the international partners (1 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. The F135 is used in the F-35. (Post)
Contracts
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded an $8.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for delivery of one Bell 407 Analog Helicopter, and preservation and storage of seven aircraft in support of the endurance upgrade of the MQ-8C Fire Scout. Work will be performed in Ozark, Ala., and is expected to be completed in September 2015. Final assembly of Fire Scouts is done at Moss Point, Miss. … L-3 Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., was awarded an $8.8 million modification for F-16 aircraft maintenance for Taiwan. Work will be performed at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and is expected to be complete by Feb. 29, 2016.
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