Allegiant to buy 12 A320s

Allegiant Travel Co., of Las Vegas, Nev., has signed a purchase agreement for 12 Airbus A320ceo (current engine option) aircraft. This deal marks the first time the low-cost airline has purchased new aircraft from any manufacturer. Each will be powered by CFM56 engines from CFM International. The company's current fleet plan is focused on a transition to all Airbus aircraft including a mix of previously-owned aircraft along with those included in this deal. (Source: Airbus, 07/29/16) Gulf Coast note: Airbus builds A320 series jetliners in Mobile, Ala., for customers in North America.

RS-25 has another test

RS-25 test at SSC. NASA/SSC photo

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- NASA engineers conducted a successful developmental test of RS-25 rocket engine No. 0528 today to collect critical performance data for the Space Launch System (SLS). The engine fired a full 650-second test on the A-1 Test Stand. The SLS will launch humans deeper into space than ever before. Four Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 engines, joined with a pair of solid rocket boosters, will power the SLS core stage. The RS-25 engines used on the first four SLS flights are former space shuttle main engines, modified to operate at a higher performance level and with a new engine controller, which allows communication between the vehicle and engine. NASA conducted a series of developmental tests on the engine last year before testing a flight engine that will be used on its second test flight, Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2). EM-2 will be the first crewed flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, launching on the SLS. A second series of developmental tests began July 14. The test was conducted by a team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services engineers and operators. (Source: NASA/SSC, 07/29/16) Previous related: RS-25 has early shutdown; RS-68A successfully tested

New Orleans airport cost leader

The New Orleans airport has the lowest average airfares of 10 airports in the Gulf Coast I-10 region. According to 1st quarter data from the Federal Aviation Administration's Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Louis Armstrong International (MSY) had an average fare of $324.90 -- the only airport in the region with a fare below the national average of $361.20. Pensacola International Airport (PNS) was second in the region with an average fare of $454.77, followed by Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) at $463.41, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) at $472.22, Hattiesburg/Laurel Regional Airport (PIB) was $479.25, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) at $489.30, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) at $512.26, Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) at $554.86, Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) at $574.79, and Dothan Regional Airport (DHN) at $721.69. (Source: GCRL, 07/28/16) FAA release

Gulf site of UAV swarm test

The Navy will conduct two technology demonstrations of swarming unmanned vehicles over the next nine weeks. In the first demonstration Friday, a "flock" of 30 unmanned aerial vehicles will fly over the Gulf of Mexico. The LOCUST (Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology), first demonstrated in 2014, use a tube launcher that can propel the 30 UAVs within two minutes. An information-sharing data link between the UAVs enables autonomous collaboration. They will form up and four will break off and perform an unspecified task. The next demonstration in September will feature swarming unmanned surface vehicles. (Source: Sea Power 07/22/16)

Last Raider will dedicate exhibit

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The co-pilot who sat next to Jimmy Doolittle during the bombing run over Japan five months after Pearl Harbor will be on hand to dedicate the newly remodeled Doolittle Raiders exhibit at the Air Force Armament Museum. Retired Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole will attend the July 30 ceremony at the museum just outside Eglin Air Force Base. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. Lt. Gen. Marshall "Brad" Webb, commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command at nearby Hurlburt Field, will be the featured speaker. Cole, who is 100, is the last surviving member of the Doolittle Raiders. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/26/16) Eighty airmen took off from the USS Hornet April 18, 1942, to bomb the Japanese homeland. The attack helped lift U.S. morale early in the war. The crews trained at Eglin.

Contract: Harris, $8.5M

Harris Corp., Colorado Springs, Colo., has been awarded a $8,541,525 modification (P00685) to previously awarded contract F19628-02-C-0010 for the Eglin Beam Steer Segment technology refresh, System Program Agency development and risk reduction efforts. Contractor work includes establishing the BEAMSTR lab environment; conducting trade studies and analysis; prototyping solutions and reduce risk of implementation of the BEAMSTR replacement project. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by Oct. 31, 2017. Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity. (Source: 07/26/16)

Contract: Vanquish, $7.3M

Vanquish Worldwide LLC, Maryville, Tenn., was awarded a $7,267,496 modification (0001) to contract W52P1J-14-G-0026 for supply, maintenance and transportation for logistics support services, Fort Rucker, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2017. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., is the contracting activity. (Source: 07/26/16)

Aero state's 2nd largest in growth

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- Agriculture and tourism continue to be vital to Alabama's economy, but the second largest growing industry sector now is aerospace. That's according to Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield, who made the comment at the Economic Development Association of Alabama's annual summer conference Monday. He said the arrival of Airbus in Mobile "is going to bring great results for this region for months and years to come.” (Source: WKRG-TV, 07/25/16)

JetBlue increases A321 order

JetBlue has amended its purchase agreement with Airbus to include an additional 15 Airbus A321ceo (current engine option) and 15 A321neo (new engine option) jetliners. The New York-based airline, which already operates A321s, has not announced its engine selection for the newly ordered aircraft. Beginning in 2019, JetBlue has the flexibility to configure the New Engine Option aircraft to the Longer Range version of the A321 – the A321LR. Many of JetBlue’s newly ordered aircraft are expected to be assembled at the Airbus plant in Mobile, Ala. The first aircraft to be produced at the Airbus' U.S. Manufacturing Facility, a JetBlue A321 known as BluesMobile, is on public display today at the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisc. BluesMobile entered service in the spring. (Source: Airbus, 07/26/16) More reading: Order opens door to European routes, Bloomberg, 07/26/16

Contract: Boeing, $12M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded $12,053,076 for cost-plus-fixed-fee, delivery order 0002 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001) for non-recurring design and development engineering for an engineering change proposal for the “Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) Super Hornet Conversion.” Work will be performed in St. Louis (82.8 percent); and El Segundo, Calif. (17.2 percent), and is expected to be completed September 2017. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/25/16) The Blue Angels are based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.

Contract: UTC, $11.4M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded $11,418,713 for modification P00016 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-firm, cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-14-C-0026). This modification exercises an option for the supplies and services to implement engineering changes to the Rolls Royce lift fan systems and engine ice protection system in support of the F-35 for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and international partners. Work will be performed at Indianapolis, Ind. (97 percent); and Oklahoma City, Okla. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2017. This modification combines purchases for the Marine Corps (97.32 percent); Navy (0.75 percent); Air Force (0.62 percent); and international partners (1.31 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/25/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: L-3, $216.4M

L-3 Communications Corp. System Field Support, Madison, Miss., was awarded a $216,370,058 modification (P00196) to contract W58RGZ-10-C-0107 for 12 months of continued contractor aircraft logistics support. Work will be performed in Madison with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2017. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/25/16)

Plane makes emergency stop

An American Eagle flight from Pensacola to Miami, Fla., with 46 passengers had to make an emergency landing in Panama City, Fla., Wednesday morning after the pilot reported the smell of smoke in the cockpit. Flight 3260, a 50-passenger Embraer ERJ 145, left Pensacola International Airport at 6:10 a.m., and 20 minutes into the flight landed at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Passengers were taken to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport by bus for a replacement flight. (Sources: WEAR, WJHG, 07/20/16)

Contract: Lockheed, $7.3M

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, King of Prussia, Pa., has been awarded a $7,342,492, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) Enterprise Management System 5.0. This contract provides for enhancements to the software package known as the JASSM Enterprise Management System. Work will be performed at King of Prussia and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2017. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin, Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-16-C-0091). (Source: DoD, 07/20/16)

Contract: Lockheed, $241.8M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $241,765,645 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-13-C-0008) for procurement of diminishing manufacturing sources electronic components. The modification will support aircraft production through Lot 15 for U.S. and international facilities for the F-35. Work will be performed in Burlington, Vt. (98 percent); and Fort Worth (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (49.17 percent); Marine Corps (17.91 percent); Navy (12.45 percent); foreign military sales customers (10.93 percent); and the international partners (9.54 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting authority. (Source: DoD, 07/19/16)

RS-68A successfully tested

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- Aerojet Rocketdyne on Friday successfully completed its latest acceptance test on a liquid-fueled RS-68A booster engine, used to power United Launch Alliance's Delta IV launch vehicle. The routine three-minute hot-fire test was conducted by the company's Center of Excellence for Large Liquid Rocket Engine Assembly and Test at SSC. This is Aerojet Rocketdyne's 119th hot-fire test on the production model of the RS-68 engine family. The RS-68A is the world's most powerful liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen booster engine and provides 702,000 pounds of lift-off thrust, some 17 million horsepower. The test of the RS-68A, certified for use in 2011, is part of acceptance testing done to validate engine performance before delivery to the customer in Decatur, Ala. (Source: Aerojet Rocketdyne, 07/15/16)

Flight Medic course launched

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute on July 11 launched a new Flight Medic course at Navy Medicine Operational Training Center for seven search and rescue hospital corpsmen. The course is for search and rescue corpsmen to receive required flight medical training. In the past this was done at the sailor’s command. No formal course existed for standardized training until the Navy joined with the Air Force and Army in 2004 to provide a more structured education. The three services went their separate ways April 1, and the Navy moved its course from Fort Rucker, Ala., to Pensacola. The logistics included everything from ordering textbooks to placing a full-size simulation helicopter. NAMI set up simulated H-60 and V-22 aircraft, the current operational standard in the fleet. (Source: Military.com 07/13/16)

RS-25 has early shutdown

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- A minor issue with the test stand triggered an early shutdown in the latest test of an RS-25 engine, officials said. The test of developmental engine No. 0528 was Thursday on the A-1 test stand. The RS-25 engines will provide core stage power for NASA's Space Launch System. Initiated at 5:57 p.m. (CST), the test stand issue triggered an early shutdown 193 seconds into the test, scheduled for 650 seconds. No issues were reported with the engine, and the next test is planned for August. Even with the early shutdown, the test will provide valuable performance data on the new engine controller and operating parameters needed for launch of the SLS. Officials will determine missed development points can be added to one of the four future tests in the series. The test was conducted by a team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services engineers and operators. Aerojet Rocketdyne is the prime contractor for the RS-25 engines. Syncom Space Services is the prime contractor for Stennis facilities and operations. (Source: NASA/SSC, 07/15/16)

SSC restricted airspace expanded

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- The Federal Aviation Administration expanded the restricted air space over NASA's Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi. The expansion supports ongoing rocket engine testing at SSC and allows tenants to test unmanned aerial vehicles for research and development. The air space also is used for training by the Department of Defense and commercial companies. The restricted air space was initially defined over SSC in the 1960s to test Apollo Saturn V rockets. The expansion, which went into effect on May 26, covers five areas of about 100 square miles between Stennis International Airport in Kiln and the Picayune, Miss., airport. Of the five areas under the expansion, three are for use by the Department of Defense, whose training includes firing lasers from the air to the ground. The other two areas are designated for NASA's missions. (Sources: Mississippi Business Journal, Sun Herald, 07/14/16) Previous

BluesMobile to attend AirVenture

The first Airbus jetliner built in the United States – the JetBlue A321 BluesMobile – will participate in this month's EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016. The 64th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc. The A321, built at the new Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Ala., was delivered to JetBlue in April. It will be in Oshkosh July 26 and on display along the AirVenture flightline. (Source: EAA Airventure Oshkosh, 06/30/16) The assembly line in Mobile so far has delivered five jetliners to customers.

Blue Angels announce solo pilot

The Navy’s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron announced the selection of a prior Blue Angels pilot to serve as the new Blue Angel No. 6 opposing solo pilot. Navy Cmdr. Frank Weisser will return to the team for the remainder of the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Weisser previously served on the Blue Angels from 2008-2010. (Source: NNS, 07/11/16) Weisser replaces Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, who died in a crash during a practice session in Tennessee June 2. Previous

Raytheon to demo EW upgrade

The Air Force awarded Raytheon a potential $34.8 million contract to demonstrate an updated electronic warfare technology for the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer. Raytheon said it is scheduled to complete development of MALD-X, successor of the current MALD-J model, within a 24-month period and will conduct two flight demonstrations to showcase the aerial decoy’s EW upgrades. MALD-X will feature an EW payload, a low-altitude flight mode and a datalink, the company noted. MALD-X is a collaborative effort of the Air Force, Navy, Special Capabilities Office at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base’s MALD Program Office. Raytheon designed MALD to duplicate friendly aircraft flight profiles and radar signatures to confuse adversaries. (Source: Executive Biz, 07/11/16)

SSC to assemble AR1 engine

Aerojet Rocketdyne announced that assembly and testing of its AR1 advanced liquid rocket engine will be done at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., a move that will expand the company's Center of Excellence for Large Liquid Rocket Engine Assembly and Test at SSC from a workforce of 130 to more than 200. The announcement was made at the Farnborough International Air Show. The AR1 is being developed to support the country's mandate to eliminate U.S. reliance on the Russian RD-180 engine for national security space launches by 2019. Aerojet Rocketdyne’s facility at SSC is already home for assembly and testing of the RS-68 engine that powers the Delta IV family of launch vehicles, and the RS-25 engine that will power NASA's Space Launch System. As a part of the buildup for RS-25 assembly and testing, Aerojet Rocketdyne is locating its RS‑25 low pressure turbopump assembly to the company’s facility at SSC. (Source: Aerojet Rocketdyne, 07/11/16)

AF releases candidate bases

The Air Force announced eight installations as candidate locations where it will potentially consolidate its Battlefield Airman training. The installations are Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and Patrick AFB, all in Florida; Keesler AFB, Miss.; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Shaw AFB, S.C.; and Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Last year, the Air Force reviewed its Battlefield Airman training, airmen who are part of the nation’s special ops forces. The review determined grouping training at consolidated locations may lead to improvements and synergies in the current training processes. As a result, the Air Force is investigating potential locations to consolidate training. (Source: AFNS, 07/07/16)

Contract: Lockheed, $559.5M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $559,500,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-firm contract for non-air vehicle spares, support equipment, autonomic logistics information system hardware and software upgrades, supply chain management, full mission simulators and non-recurring engineering services in support of low rate initial production lot 10 F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Non Department of Defense (DoD) Participants, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla. (79 percent); Redondo Beach, Calif. (10 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (9 percent); and Samlesbury, United Kingdom (2 percent), and is expected to be completed July 2022. This contract combines purchases for the non DoD participants (46 percent); Air Force (23 percent); foreign military sales customers (19 percent); Navy (6 percent); and Marine Corps (6 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-16-C-0004). (Source: DoD, 07/07/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: UTC, $1.5B

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded $1,509,856,423 for firm-fixed-price, incentive-firm target modification P00005 to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-15-C-0004). This modification provides components, parts, and materials for the production of Low Rate Initial Production Lot 10 F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the Air Force (44); Navy (4); and (9) F-135-PW-600 propulsion systems for the Marine Corps. In addition, this modification provides components, parts and materials for (36) F135 –PW-100 propulsion systems for the international partners and Foreign Military Sales customers; (4) F135-PW-600 propulsion systems for the international partners; and (2) F135-PW-100 propulsion systems for the global spares pool. Work will be performed in East Hartford (89 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (8 percent); and Bristol, United Kingdom (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in Sept. 2019. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force (37 percent); Navy/Marine Corps (24 percent); International Partners (23 percent); and Foreign Military Sales customers (16 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/07/16) Gulf Coast note: F135 engines are used in the F-35 fighter. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the integrated training center.

Enlisted to fly Global Hawk

The Air Force recently selected the first 10 enlisted Airmen to attend RQ-4 Global Hawk pilot training, marking the first time since World War II enlisted Airmen will be behind the stick. The first combined enlisted and officer training course will begin October 2016, with the first enlisted Airmen expected to graduate in 2017. The initiative to incorporate enlisted pilots is the first step to developing future operating concepts within the multi-domain intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance enterprise. The Global Hawk is the most stable remotely piloted aircraft community and presents an opportunity now to integrate enlisted Airmen in RPAs to posture the force for dynamic future operating environments. (Source: AFNS, 07/07/16) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.; pilot training is a major military activity in the region.

Contract: Sierra Nevada, $23.2M

Sierra Nevada Corp., Mary Esther, Fla., has been awarded a not-to-exceed $23,232,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract for forward operating location contractor logistic support. Contractor will perform 30-45 day excursions at forward operating locations in Afghanistan. Work will be performed at forward operating locations, Afghanistan, and is expected to be complete by May 30, 2017. This contract involves foreign military sales. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8637-16-C-6006). (Source: DoD, 07/01/16)

Contract: Raytheon, $28.3M

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $28,291,573 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-5406) for hardware kits in support of the Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System program. Kits are intended to upgrade the Phalanx weapons system to the latest approved configuration. Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (50 percent); Dallas, Texas (28 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (13 percent), and Andover, Mass. (9 percent), and is expected to be completed by February 2018. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/01/16)

Contract: Lockheed, $93.9M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $93,862,479 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-13-C-0008) for procurement of diminishing manufacturing sources electronic components. The modification will support aircraft production through Lot 14 for U.S. facilities, and Lot 15 for international facilities for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Work will be performed in Richardson, Texas (98 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2017. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (45.04 percent); Navy (13.61 percent); Marine Corps (6.12 percent); foreign military sales customers (16.47 percent); and the international partners (31.79 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting authority. (Source: DoD, 07/06/16) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.