Contract: Raytheon, $163M

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded a $163,223,113 fixed-price/fixed-price-incentive/cost-plus-incentive contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Program Support and Sustainment (PSAS). The PSAS contract provides sustaining engineering, program management, contractor logistics support and accomplishes the diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortage tasks of extending the life of the AMRAAM Central Processing Unit, improving the AMRAAM guidance section within the current performance envelope, and developing applicable test equipment. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2017. This contract has unclassified 45.7 percent foreign military sales service/repair requirements for Saudi Arabia, Korea, Israel, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBAK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-14-C-0026). (Source: DoD, 06/30/14)

Contract: Lockheed, $38.4M

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Sunnyvale, Calif., has been awarded a $38,378,116 modification (P00645) to the cost-plus-incentive-fee contract F04701-02-C-0002 for Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) System Interim Contractor Sustainment Re-vector under cost line item number 0610. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $8,752,571,223. The contract modification is for critical software development for Mission Planning Development for initial operational capability in 2015. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale and El Segundo, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2015. Space and Missile Systems Center/PKJ, AEHF, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/30/14) Gulf Coast note: Lockheed does core propulsion system work for AEHR at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Baldwin gets 6th AdvantageSite

LOXLEY, Ala. -- Loxley Commerce Site late last week became Baldwin County's sixth site to be designated an Alabama AdvantageSite. The program is coordinated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and is a collaboration between the private sector and state and local governments aimed at increasing the marketability of locations in Alabama. Since its inception in 2008, the program has recognized 48 locations in the state after meeting guidelines such as utility and environmental standards, size, zoning and accessibility. The 152.5-acre Loxley Commerce Site is about two miles from Interstate 10. This site is also adjacent to the to the 50-acre Loxley North Property which received its designation in July of 2013. The program is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Alabama Gas, Alabama Power, the North Alabama Industrial Development Association and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. (Source: al.com, 06/27/14)

Demag chosen for Mobile FAL

Terex Material Handling has been awarded a contract by Airbus to supply Demag crane installations for its new assembly facility in Mobile, Ala. Ten process cranes will be employed for the final assembly of A320 family aircraft in three production hangars. Measuring up to 218 feet in length and offering maximum load capacities of some 25 tons, the process cranes feature up to four suspensions for safe and precise handling of sensitive aircraft components. Demag Cranes is a German heavy equipment manufacturer, a Terex brand. (Source: Thomasnet, Demag, 06/27/14) The A320 final assembly line is being built at Mobile Aeroplex and will open in 2015. It will produce its first A320 in 2016. About 1,000 workers will be employed at the $600 million FAL.

Contract: Northrop Grumman, $63M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $63,070,969 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-07-C-0055) for the Phase II continuation of post-demonstration activities in support of the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program. Activities include continued X-47B aircraft systems, test bed and flight test support at both shore-based locations and associated carrier detachments, continued development of Fleet Concepts of Operations, X-47B maintenance support, lab and test bed operational support and continued flight test opportunities. Work will be performed in San Diego (70 percent) and Patuxent River, Md., (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2015. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/26/14) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman makes portions of two other UAV’s, Fire Scout and Global Hawk, in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: EADS NA, $14.4M

EADS-NA, Herndon, Va., was awarded a $14,436,295 modification (P00811) to a firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-06-C-1094) to exercise options for contractor logistics support for the Utility Helicopter 72A Lakota. Work will be performed at Columbus, Miss., with an estimated completion date of May 15, 2015. Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal - Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/26/14)

AF keeps limits on F-35 flights

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force will continue to limit F-35 flights over Valparaiso to limit the impact of jet noise. The decision announced today overruled a previous recommendation to lift restrictions. Takeoffs and landings on a runway that sends traffic over Valparaiso will only be allowed in emergencies, unplanned contingencies and when forced by weather. Lifting restrictions would have allowed up to an average of 33 operations over Valparaiso per day, but Friday's decision limits operations to an average of one per day. In practice, it means many days with no operations at all and other days with more than one, said Kathleen Ferguson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics. (Sources: Northwest Florida Daily News, WEAR-TV, 06/27/14)

Contract: Raytheon, $80.8M

Raytheon Co. Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., has been awarded an $80,768,012 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Lot 7 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J) missile (200 each) to include: data, mission planning, process verification program, and operational flight software. Work will be performed at Tucson and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2016. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBJM, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-14-C-0004). (Source: DoD, 06/27/14)

Contract: Northrop, $8.4M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $8,465,734 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-12-C-0126) for the extension of engineering and software sustainment services in support of the Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Fire Scout MQ-8B. Work will be performed in San Diego and is expected to be completed in November 2014. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/27/14). Gulf Coast note: Final assembly of Fire Scouts is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Air Methods buys LifeFlight

Colorado-based Air Methods Corp., an air medical transportation firm, has acquired the four bases of aeromedial transport Baptist LifeFlight, owned by Baptist Health Care of Pensacola, Fla. The change is effective immediately. The four operating bases of LifeFlight are in Pensacola; Semmes, Ala.; Greenville, Ala.; and Hattiesburg, Miss., and will continue serving their respective areas. Each has an EC-130 helicopter owned by AMC. As part of the acquisition, 43 clinical Baptist employees will join the Air Methods team. (Source: Global Newswire, 06/24/14)

Mattituck buying Southern Avionics

MOBILE, Ala. – Continental Motors MRO subsidiary, Mattituck Services, will purchase Southern Avionics and Communications Inc. Southern Avionics, of Mobile, has been involved in avionics sales, installation and services since 1981 and has 14 employees at the Mobile Aeroplex. The purchase adds avionics and aircraft interior maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to Mattituck Services, located in Fairhope, Ala. Mattituck has been involved in general aviation service since 1996 and has 20 full-time workers. It offers overhaul/repair for Continental and Lycoming engines and major aircraft repairs. Southern Avionics has serviced aircraft ranging from small personal aircraft to large corporate jets. (Source: AviationPros, 06/24/14)

Eglin and the state parks

Eglin Air Force Base in military friendly Northwest Florida is one of the largest bases in the world with 460,000 acres, and while its primary mission is aerial weapons development, it's taken on more missions in more recent years, including F-35 training and serving as the home of a special forces group. Now the military says it needs more land for training, and hopes to use two nearby Florida state forests. Florida hopes to be accommodating, but opponents think it would be a bad move. A feature story. (Source: Greenwire, 06/26/14)

Orion chutes hit no snags

Orion test in Arizona a success. NASA photo

NASA completed the most complex and flight-like test of the parachute system for the agency's Orion spacecraft on Wednesday. A test version of Orion touched down safely in the Arizona desert after being pulled out of a C-17 aircraft, 35,000 feet above the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground. It was the first time some parachutes in the system had been tested at such a high altitude. The test also marked the last time the entire parachute sequence will be tested before Orion launches into space in December on its first space flight test, EFT-1. During the flight, an uncrewed Orion launched by an Atlas V will travel 3,600 miles into space, farther than any spacecraft built to carry humans has been in more than 40 years. (Source: NASA, 06/25/14) Gulf Coast note: The Orion for EFT-1 was built at Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. Stennis Space Center, Miss., is testing the engines that will be used in NASA's Space Launch System that will be used for future Orion launches.

Website highlights industrial sites

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Gulf Power has launched an interactive website to market 13 industrial sites in a bid to attract new businesses to Northwest Florida. FloridaFirstSites.com highlights sites going through the company's site certification program, designed to create an inventory of shovel-ready parcels that a business prospect can occupy quickly. "Having great sites is key to being competitive for new jobs," said John Hutchinson, Gulf Power's director of Community and Economic Development. "Our site certification program is designed to help communities get in the game when it comes to economic development." (Source: Gulf Power, 06/24/14. Website) Note: A feature story on the program and sites can be found in the December 2013 issue of the Gulf Coast Reporters' League aerospace newsletter.

F-35A still suspended from flying

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Flights of the Air Force's version of the F-35 fighter will remain suspended indefinitely after one of the planes caught on fire on the runway on Monday. Lt. Hope Cronin, spokeswoman for the 33rd Fight Wing, said Wednesday that additional evidence and information in the initial safety probe prompted the decision to continue the suspension. Initially officials had said flights would resume Wednesday. The suspension does not impact flights of the Marine and Navy versions of the plane. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 06/25/14) Previous

F-35A returning to flight

The U.S. Air Force said it will resume flights of F-35A fighter jets at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on Wednesday, two days after one of the jets caught fire while preparing for takeoff. The 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin trains Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy pilots to fly the new Lockheed Martin jets. The Air Force declined comment on the possible cause, but said the other 25 F-35A models at the base had not shown similar problems. (Source: Reuters, 06/24/14) Previous

Contract: Lockheed, $8.9M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an $8,942,741 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to the previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-11-C-0083) for the procurement of 14 repeatable release holdback bars and common sustainment support of the F-35 Low Rate Initial Production 6 aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif., (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla., (10 percent); Nashua, N.H., (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2017. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force (34.5 percent); the U.S. Navy (28.5 percent); the U.S. Marine Corps (17.3 percent); and the international partners (19.7 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the F-35 training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $76M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $75,980,553 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-0004) for the procurement of 252 helmet mounted display systems in support of the F-35 aircraft for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the governments of Japan and Israel. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (44 percent); U.S. Air Force (38 percent); international partners (13 percent); and the governments of Japan (3 percent) and Israel (2 percent). Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in July 2017. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the F-35 training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $1.8B

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., has been awarded a $1,863,474,312 modification (P00001) to previously awarded contract (FA8810-13-C-0001) for Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) 5 and 6 satellites, including performance incentives and options for acoustic testing and launch operations. This contract modification will complete the production of the SBIRS GEO 5/6 satellites, which was started with the procurement of long lead parts, and also complete the associated ground operations and processing updates. The contract modification also includes adding options for acoustic testing, launch vehicle integration, launch and early on-orbit testing, and contractor operations support. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2022. Space and Missile System Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base/El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Work on the SBIRS core propulsion system is done at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Training center has grand opening

MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama Industrial Development Training program's $7 million Alabama Aviation Training Center, already opened for a month, had its grand opening Tuesday. Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line at the Mobile Aeroplex that will open next year and produce its first A320 the following year. The nearby training facility has six classrooms, five labs, general office space, a conference room, break room and a shop floor where the majority of the training will take place for jobs at the Airbus plant. (Source: al.com, 06/24/14) Previous. Meanwhile, Airbus is also seeking two testing technicians for the plant. The positions require a minimum of nine months training abroad and an associates degree in aviation, mechanical or electrical engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. (Source: al.com, 06/24/14)

F-35 upgrade $920M less

The projected cost to upgrade F-35s declined by about $920 million, or 36 percent, in less than two years. That's according to the Pentagon's latest analysis. The estimate for improvements and corrections for Lockheed Martin aircraft already built or planned in contracts to be awarded through 2016 has dropped to about $1.65 billion from a $2.57 billion estimate in September 2012. The need to retrofit the planes stems from the Defense Department's decision to produce the F-35 as it's still being developed, called concurrency. (Source: Bloomberg, 06/23/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center.

City eyes investing in schools

ENTERPRISE, Ala. -- Enterprise City Schools are asking for help from the city council to fund a $16.5 million improvement plan designed in part to bolster the community's support of the Army's nearby Fort Rucker. At a joint work session last week of the school board and city council, Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell applauded the school superintendent for helping the city prepare for an impending BRAC round. "I sit on the Military Stability Commission for the state of Alabama, and education has been at the focus of every meeting over the last year or so. So for this board to listen to and to be prepared for a potential BRAC, that is very forward thinking for the school system and for our city," Boswell said. (Source: DothanFirst via Defense Communities 360, 06/23/14) Fort Rucker is the Army's aviation center.

Fire halts F-35 flights

The Air Force on Monday halted flights of 26 F-35A fighters at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., after a jet caught fire as it was readied for take off for a training flight. The pilot aborted the takeoff and was not injured, said a spokesman for the Pentagon's F-35 program office. The fire occurred in the rear part of the plane where the engine is located, but it was unclear whether the engine was involved. Engine maker Pratt and Whitney said it was aware of the incident and stood ready to assist in the Air Force investigation. This is the second incident that has affected F-35 flights in recent weeks. The U.S. military ordered mandatory inspections of all 97 F-35 fighter jets earlier this month after a Marine Corps F-35 B-model jet suffered an oil leak in flight. (Source: Reuters, Northwest Florida Daily News, Air Force Times, 06/23/14)

Airbus, DHL sign delivery contract

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist within Deutsche Post DHL, has signed a contract with Airbus to provide transportation of A319, A320 and A321 aircraft components and general cargo from the Airbus production site in Hamburg, Germany, to Airbus' final assembly line in Mobile, Ala. DHL will provide air, ocean and road freight services beginning in 2015. The agreement comprises general cargo, which will be shipped via air and ocean, and major aircraft components including rear fuselage, forward fuselage, wings, and the vertical as well as horizontal tail plane. The major components will be shipped via coaster from the Airbus site in Hamburg to Bremerhaven, Germany, where they will be loaded onto container liner shipping service. After their arrival in Mobile, trucks will take care of delivery to the final assembly line at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. (Source: Business Wire, 06/23/14) The $600 million final assembly line will open in 2015 and the first aircraft will be produced in 2016. The plant will eventually employ about 1,000 workers to produce four jetliners per month.

Contract: Boeing, $80M

The Boeing Co. Defense, Space and Security, St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded an $80,000,000 indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for Small Diameter Bomb Increment 1 (SDB 1) technical support. The contractor will provide SDB 1 weapon integration support, including technical support to the designated aircraft System Program Offices testing, upgrades, program management support, and software updates to the SDB 1system required to integrate the SBD 1 weapon system with other weapons systems. Work will be performed in St. Louis and is expected to be completed by June 19, 2019. Fiscal 2014 U.S. Navy research, development, training and evaluations funds in the amount of $250,774 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/EBMK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8672-14-D-0007). (Source: DoD, 06/20/14)

PW now has 2nd F135 source

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Pratt and Whitney leadership, employees, and state and local leaders early in the week officially dedicated the company's new engine center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The expansion of the Palm Beach County facility is designed to meet forecasted demands of the Next Generation Product Family of engines. The 97,000-square-foot facility will be responsible for the PW1100G-JM for the A320neo that offers dramatic  reductions in noise, emissions and fuel burn. The facility will also be a second source for the F135 engine used in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. It was two years ago when the expansion of the facility was announced, an investment of more than $63 million. (Source: Pratt and Whitney, 06/19/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center. Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala.

Contract: Head, $13.7M

Head Inc., Columbus, Ohio, is being awarded a $13,721,888 firm-fixed-price contract for the repair of the airfield at Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. The work to be performed provides for the repair of the main runway 4/22 and taxiways associated with runway 4/22. The contract includes pavement demolition, temporary removal of arresting gear, debris disposal, grading, settlement monitoring, concrete pavement repairs, asphalt paving repairs, pavement striping, resealing asphalt, runway light repairs, grounding light can repairs and other additional work as provided in the contract. The contract also contains seven unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $19,872,983. Work will be performed in New Orleans and is expected to be completed by February 2015. If options are exercised, the work will continue through November 2015. Fiscal 2014 operation and maintenance (Navy Reserve) contract funds in the amount of $13,721,888 are being obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-14-C-1759). (Source: DoD, 06/19/14)

Airbus name change a plus

ATLANTA -- Airbus Group's name change is enhancing how the European weapons and plane maker is perceived. That's according to Allan McArtor, chairman and chief executive of Airbus Group Inc., the U.S. unit of the European company. The company formerly known as EADS announced the rebranding last summer to highlight the name of its commercial plane unit, Airbus. "Already, it's made an impact, particularly on Capitol Hill," McArtor said in an interview at the AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum in Atlanta. McArtor said Airbus is still looking to expand its share of the U.S. defense market by selling its helicopters, explosive detection technologies and other products. He said the new A320 final assembly line being built in Mobile, Ala., will produce four planes a month by 2017, but can ramp up to eight a month if needed. Citing feedback from Delta and JetBlue, McArtor said airlines love the idea of taking delivery of planes in Mobile. (Source: Reuters, 06/17/14)

Airbus job posted

MOBILE, Ala. -- Airbus is seeking aircraft quality conformance specialists for its A320 final assembly line being built at the Mobile Aeroplex. The position requires a minimum of four months' training abroad and a degree in aerospace/industrial engineering or business quality management is preferred. The assembly line is slated to open in 2015 and the first A320 will be produced in 2016. The plant will employ about 1,000 workers. Click here for a complete list of job postings. (Source: al.com, 06/17/14)

DAGR, Hellfire tested at Eglin

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Lockheed Martin successfully fired HELLFIRE and DAGR missiles from its Long Range Surveillance and Attack Vehicle (LRSAV) turreted weapon system during recent ground-to-ground tests at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The LRSAV ground-vehicle weapon system uses advanced missile and weapon control-system technologies and a newly developed 15-inch, spherical, mast-mounted electro-optical/infrared sensor to enable targeting. In the tests the vehicle-mounted LRSAV launched a HELLFIRE II missile from 6.4 km and a DAGR missile from 3.5 km. Both missiles successfully impacted their targets. An AH-64D Apache helicopter with Lockheed Martin's Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Nigh Vision Sensor was used to remotely designate the short-range target. (Source: Lockheed Martin via PRNewswire, 06/17/14)

Airbus, Safran join in space

Airbus and Safran agreed to set up a joint venture to develop launchers for satellites and other space vehicles in a move intended to provide stronger competition for rivals like SpaceX. The 50-50 venture will combine Airbus’s launch technology with Safran’s propulsion systems. The venture is designed to ensure Europe can keep pace with U.S. performers such as SpaceX, one of a dozen privae space companies competing to develop lower-cost technology, as well as increasing competition from China and Russia. (Source: Financial Times, 06/16/14) Gulf Coast note: Airbus and Safran both have operations in Mobile, Ala.

MQ-8B gets improved radar

SAN DIEGO -- Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy demonstrated a new multimode maritime surveillance radar on the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter that will drastically enhance long-range imaging and search capabilities for Navy commanders. Integrating this new radar system will provide the MQ-8B Fire Scout with essential operational capabilities in all tactical environments and will improve how it addresses threats in real-world scenarios. Northrop Grumman modified a Telephonics AN/ZPY-4 multi-mode maritime surveillance radar system used for manned aircraft so it could be used on the MQ-8B. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 06/17/14) Gulf Coast note: Final assembly of the Fire Scout B and C variants is done in Moss Point, Miss.

NASA to show Orion progress

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With six months until its first trip to space, the Orion spacecraft is taking shape at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The media has been invited to a status update on Orion and to see the spacecraft Wednesday. Technicians began attaching the crew module on top of the completed service module on Monday. This is the first step in moving the three primary Orion elements, the crew module, service module and launch abort system, into the correct configuration for launch. This is all part of NASA’s Space Launch System program, designed to carry astronauts deeper in space than ever before. (Source: GCAC, 06/17/14, NASA release) Gulf Coast note: Orion was built at Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, and rocket engines for the SLS program are tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss. But Orion on this first flight will be lifted atop a Delta IV, which is powered by RS-68 engines tested at SSC.

Inspection of F-35s ordered

The military ordered mandatory inspections of all F-35 fighters after a Marine Corps F-35B suffered an in-flight emergency last week, a Pentagon spokesman said. Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the program office, said the inspections were ordered late Friday but that a majority of the 97 F-35s in the fleet, 69 operational jets used for training and 28 test aircraft, had already been inspected and cleared to resume flights on Monday. He said the inspections, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, were focused on the oil flow management valve fitting on all F135 engines, which are built by Pratt and Whitney. The valve provides oil flow to the engine bearing compartments. (Source: Reuters via Today, 06/16/14, Wall Street Journal, 06/15/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center.

Airbus to train Volaris pilots

Airbus will provide A320 family flight simulator training and courses to Mexican airline Volaris in Miami and Mexico. It's part of an agreement that includes more than 25,000 flight training hours for 500 pilots. The all-Airbus operator has ordered 74 aircraft to date and operates 47 A320 family aircraft. Training of Volaris pilots has already begun at the Airbus Training Center in Miami, and in 2015 Airbus will provide the airline with flight training in Mexico City. It will be Airbus' first flight training center in Latin America. (Source: Aviation Tribune, 06/13/14) Gulf Coast note: Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., that will open next year.

Allegiant to get more A320s

Allegiant Air of Las Vegas will acquire 14 Airbus A320 family jetliners, and will purchase two additional A319s it leases. It will also buy six A319s when they are delivered in late 2014 through 2015 from lessor GECAS, which agreed to lease the aircraft to Allegiant in 2012. The 14 A320s that Allegiant will acquire includes 12 A319s now leased to an European airline until 2018. (Source: Flightglobal, 06/13/14) Gulf Coast note: Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala.

Contract: Northrop, $61.3M

Northrop Grumman System Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $61,326,794 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-12-C-0117) for operations and maintenance services in support of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance – Demonstrator (BAMS-D) Unmanned Aircraft System. This effort will provide logistics support; organization, intermediate, and depot (D) -level maintenance; and field service representatives, to ensure that the BAMS-D aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., (70 percent); outside continental United States (25 percent); and Rancho Bernardo, Calif., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2015. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $61,326,794 are being obligated on this award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/13/14) Gulf Coast note: BAMS-D is the Navy’s version of a Global Hawk, made in part in Moss Point, Miss.

PNS chief taking Melbourne job

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Greg Donovan, director of the city-owned Pensacola International Airport, is leaving to become executive director of the Melbourne Airport Authority/Melbourne International Airport. The announcement was made Thursday by Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. Donovan, who took the Pensacola airport post in 2013, will stay until the end of July. Hayward said that he would immediately begin the search for a new director. During Donovan's tenure, the airport added new service from Southwest Airlines and Silver Airways, increased seat capacity by 13 percent and the 127-room Hyatt Place hotel at the airport campus was completed. In addition, more than $21 million in aviation-specific grants from the Federal Aviation Administration and Florida Department of Transportation were secured. (Source: GCAC, 06/12/14)

New F-35 pact by summer

Lockheed Martin expects to sign a contract with the Defense Department this summer for an eighth batch of 43 F-35 fighters, but the deal is unlikely to match price reductions seen in the last several pacts, according to CFO Bruce Tanner. Although DOD’s F-35 program chief hoped to sign a new deal by the end of May, Tanner says it’s still possible by the end of June. (Source: Reuters 06/10/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home to F-35 training center for pilots and maintainers.

PNS director on short list

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The director of Pensacola International Airport, Greg Donovan, is among four finalists under consideration for the executive director's post at Melbourne International Airport in Florida. The current director is retiring next month. Donovan has been Pensacola's director since March 2013. Before that, he was director of Okaloosa County's three airports. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 06/09/14)

Global Hawk wins award

SAN DIEGO -- For the second year in a row, the U.S. Air Force awarded the Dr. James G. Roche Sustainment Excellence Award for superior performance in aircraft maintenance and logistics readiness to the U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk high altitude, long endurance unmanned aircraft program produced by Northrop Grumman. Global Hawk has flown 100,500 total flight hours supporting diverse global missions. Carrying a variety of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensor payloads, Global Hawk supports antiterrorism, antipiracy, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, airborne communications and information-sharing missions. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 06/09/14) Gulf Coast note: Central fuselage work on the Global Hawk is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: Lockheed, $122M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $122,099,075 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-13-C-0008) for the procurement of initial aircraft spares for the F-35 aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and international partners. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif., (25 percent); Warton, U.K., (20 percent); Orlando, Fla., (10 percent); Nashua, N.H., (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md., (5 percent); and is expected to be completed in December 2016. Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement (Navy and Air Force) and international partner funds in the amount of $122,099,075 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Marine Corps (31.3 percent); U.S. Air Force (22.9 percent); U.S. Navy (8.9 percent), and international partners (27.8 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting authority. (Source: DoD, 06/06/14)

Contract: UT, $113.4M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a $113,379,349 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-13-C-0016) for operations and maintenance support; non-recurring and recurring engineering sustainment, site activation, and depot activation work in support of Low Rate Initial Production Lot VIII F135 propulsion systems. This effort will include maintenance and repair of operational assets; procurement of initial support equipment; packing handling storage and transportation material; fleet management; item management; joint technical data; sustaining engineering; production support; site activation preparation for initial operations; and depot engineering, repair development, inspection limits development for engine depot stand-up and support. Work will be performed in East Hartford (63 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (25 percent); and Bristol, U.K. (12 percent); and is expected to be completed in March 2017. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force (44.1 percent); the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps (44.4 percent); and international partners (11.5 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/05/14)

Training mishap at OLF

PACE, Fla. -- A mishap involving a Training Air Wing FIVE TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter occurred at about 10:15 a.m. CDT at Naval Air Station Whiting Field's Navy Outlying Landing Field Spencer in Pace, Fla. Both student and instructor have been released from a local hospital, where they underwent routine evaluation for minor injuries. The incident is currently under investigation. (Source: NNS, 06/05/14)

Contract: Lockheed, $90.9M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $90,914,168 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price-incentive-fee contract (N00019-12-C-0004) to incorporate the updated system architecture into the original Diminishing Manufacturing Sources redesign activity for the Electronic Warfare System in support of the F-35 Lot VII effort for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marines and the governments of the F-35 International Partners. Work will be performed in Nashua, N.H. (81percent); Ft. Worth, Texas (19 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2018. Fiscal 2012 aircraft procurement (Navy and Air Force) and international partner funds in the amount of $90,914,168 are being obligated on this award, $71,576,724 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/04/14)

Airbus posts logistics jobs

MOBILE, Ala. -- Airbus Americas is seeking to fill four logistics coordinator positions for its new A320 final assembly line being built at the Mobile Aeroplex. Logistics coordinators will be the first contact for operations on any planning and logistics issues, acting as liaisons between production and the logistics service provider company. Click here for the complete job posting. (Source: al.com, 06/03/14)

Probe: Ex-Boss allowed harassment

Former Blue Angels lead pilot Capt. Greg McWherter has been found guilty by the Navy of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice in a case of sexual harassment involving the elite flight demonstration team when he commanded it for nearly four years ending in 2012. The probe focused on allegations that he allowed sexual harassment within the Pensacola-based flight demonstration squadron, the Navy said. In a statement, Vice Adm. David Buss said that the investigation concluded that McWherter's behavior as commander of the Blues was "completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any Navy squadron, let alone our elite flight demonstration team." (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 06/04/14)

Eglin gets final F-35A

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 58th Fighter Squadron became the Air Force's first complete F-35A squadron with the delivery of the 26th and final F-35A May 28 to the 33rd Fighter Wing. Maj. Scott Charlton ferried AF-45 from Lockheed Martin's plant in Fort Worth, Texas. The last F-35A delivered is more capable than the first F-35A delivered three years ago as a result of the F-35 program's concurrency development model. The concurrency model executes testing, training and development simultaneously and incorporates feedback from each area into subsequent Low Rate Initial Production blocks. The 33rd FW is home to the F-35 Integrated Training Center responsible for F-35 A/B/C pilot and maintainer training for the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force and, in the future, at least eight international partners. (Source: 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 06/02/14)

Delta getting Mobile-built A321s

A321ceo with Sharklets. Airbus image

Delta Air Lines is ordering 15 A321 aircraft to offset jet retirements, and many of them will be built and delivered at the new plant in Mobile, Ala., according to Airbus. Delta is going with the current engine option, selecting CFM56-5B engines from CFM International, a joint venture of Snecma (Safran) and GE, to power the new planes, slated to be delivered starting in 2018. All the planes will have Sharklets. The Mobile plant has begun the hiring process, and aircraft assembly will begin there next year. By 2017, the Mobile facility is expected to produce four aircraft per month. (Source: Airbus, 06/02/14)

Hurlburt Field appointment

Col. Kirk W. Smith, selected to the grade of brigadier general, is being assigned from special assistant to the commander, Headquarters United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., to director, plans, requirements and programs, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (Source: DoD, 06/02/14)

F/A-18s, X-47B to sortie together

The Navy's X-47B unmanned aerial vehicle will join the fleet in the summer for a new round of testing that includes landing and take offs alongside manned F/A-18 jets and flying in patterns from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. The goal after that is an autonomous aerial refueling. The team is developing software for that test of the Northrop Grumman-built unmanned combat aircraft. (Source: Navy Times, 06/02/14) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman operates the Unmanned Systems Center at Moss Point, Miss., where they do fuselage work on all variants of the Global Hawk and final assembly of Fire Scout unmanned helicopters; naval pilots receive initial training in the Pensacola, Fla., area.