Tyndall F-22s reach milestone

F-22 gets ready for sortie. Air Force photo

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 95th Fighter Squadron achieved a major milestone June 26 by flying its 10,000 F-22 Raptor sortie. Since its first Raptor flight Jan. 21, 2014, the 95th FS has seen its fair share of action, including the jets’ first deployment to Europe in August 2015, and later in its first combat action over the skies of Iraq and Syria. The “Boneheads” completed their 10,000 mission sortie under squadron commander, Lt. Col. Joshua Biedermann. The 95th FS was inactivated in 2010 then re-activated in October 2013, marking the beginning of a new era. Today, Tyndall AFB has the largest contingent of F-22 Raptors in the world. (Source: 325th Fighter Wing, 06/30/17)

Contract: Sauer, $10.9M

Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $10,937,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a Joint Reserve Intelligence Center (JRIC) at Naval Air Station New Orleans. The work to be performed provides for a design bid build project to construct a single-story addition to existing Building 558. The JRIC includes a service-owned and managed sensitive compartmented information facility and surrounding collateral and unclassified areas. The facility includes emergency/redundant power and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, including remote monitoring system. The contract also contains one planned modification, which if awarded would increase cumulative contract value to $11,557,897. Work will be performed in New Orleans and is expected to be completed by February 2019. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, is the contracting activity (N69450-17-C-1613). (Source: DoD, 06/29/17)

Air boss visits T-45C wings

Instructor pilots will resume flying the T-45C with the on-board oxygen generator system in early July, with students resuming flight training later in the month. That’s the word from Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, Commander, Naval Air Forces, who visited bases in Kingsville, Texas, Meridian Miss., and Pensacola, Fla., Wednesday and Thursday with the news and to introduce the new Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), Rear Adm. James Bynum. Bynum assumed command of CNATRA June 23, his third flag assignment. Regarding the T-45C, instructor pilots will conduct warm-up flights, after which they will brief the remaining pilots and students in their squadrons on use of the new configuration. Students will also require additional warm-up flights prior to the resumption of syllabus training. Flights were suspended then allowed with limitations after some pilots complained about hypoxia-like symptoms. (Source: NNS, 06/29/17) Previous

Contract: Lockheed, $22.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $22,806,587 for modification P00019 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-16-C-0004) for interim contractor support for the Navy and Marine Corps in support of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Support to be provided includes capabilities and services associated with Autonomic Logistics Information System maintenance, system administration, database administration, networks administration and operational mission software administration. Additional support includes the establishment or expansion of on-site support equipment operations. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station, Lemoore, Calif. (55 percent); and Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan (45 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2017. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/29/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $257.8M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $257,780,849 firm-fixed-price modification to the previously awarded low-rate initial production lot 10 F-35 Lightning II advance acquisition contract (N00019-15-C-0003). This modification provides the procurement of 129 alternate mission equipment for the Air Force (54); Navy and Marine Corps (11); foreign military sales (FMS); and international partners (39); 468 pilot flight equipment for the Air Force (203); Navy and Marine Corps (131); and FMS and international partners (134); and 94 red gear for the Air Force (44); Navy and Marine Corps (11); FMS; and international partners (39), to support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. Work will be performed in Inglewood, Calif. (60 percent); White Plains, N.Y. (25 percent); St. Petersburg, Fla. (5 percent); Orlando, Fla. (5 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps); international partner; and FMS funds in the amount of $257,780,849 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Air Force (47.7 percent); Marine Corps (15.6 percent); Navy (4.0 percent); international partners (23.4 percent); and FMS customers (9.3 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/28/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Boeing, $10.2M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded a $10,217,915 firm-fixed-price delivery order for joint direct attack munition (JDAM) high compact telemetry modules. Contractor will provide flight test instrumentation hardware, which is used to gather real-time JDAM weapon data during testing. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be complete by April 2019. This contract involves foreign military sales to Japan, Republic of Korea, Israel, and Singapore. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2015, 2016 and 2017 procurement funds; fiscal 2016 research and development funds; fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance funds; and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $10,217,915 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8681-14-D-0028 0017). (Source: DoD, 06/27/17)

Training squadron wins award

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. -- Training Squadron THREE recently earned recognition as the top primary training squadron in the Navy for fiscal year 2016. The Chief of Naval Air Training announced the winners of the Cdr. Theodore G. Ellyson Aviator Production Excellence Awards, honoring the top training squadrons. The award recognizes a unit’s ability to produce the right number of pilots, on schedule, and within Chief of Naval Operations approved syllabus time. VT-3, which uses the Hawker Beechcraft T-6B Texan II, trains aviators and pilots for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and several allied nations. Current instruction includes day and night piloting, precision aerobatics, basic and radio instruments, and formation flying skills. VT-3's current commission at NAS Whiting Field dates back to May 1, 1960. (Source: NAS Whiting Field, 06/26/17)

Changes at Eglin

The Air Force announced Friday that Brig. Gen. Shaun Q. Morris, selected to the grade of major general, who is the Air Force program executive officer for weapons and the director of the Armament Directorate for the AF Life Cycle Management Center at Eglin AFB, Fla., will be going to command the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico. Also, Col. Anthony W. Genatempo, selected to the grade of brigadier general and currently the senior materiel leader and F-22 systems program manager for the Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, will be reassigned to Morris’ post at Eglin Air Force Base. (Source: DoD, 06/23/17)

Airbus, Safran to market eTaxi

An electric taxiing solution called "eTaxi" has received "authorization to market" approval by Airbus and Safran, for the A320 series of jetliners. Depending on the airline feedback, the actual program could subsequently be launched in the near future. eTaxi’s electric motors in the main landing gear, powered by electricity from the APU (auxiliary power unit), would allow an aircraft fitted with it to taxi without using its jet engines or requiring airport tractors or tugs. eTaxi would provide airlines with a sustainable solution which combines savings on operating costs (including a reduction of around four percent in fuel costs, equal to several hundred thousand dollars per aircraft annually), independent movement on the ground (saving around two minutes of time on pushback), as well as ecological advantages such reduced carbon and NOx emissions, and less noise during taxiing. (Source: Airbus, 06/21/17) Gulf Coast note: Airbus has an A320 series assembly line in Mobile, Ala. Safran also has an operation in Mobile. Previous

53rd Wing gets new leader

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The 53rd Wing received a new commander during a ceremony Tuesday. Col. David Abba replaced Col. Adrian Spain. The change-of-command presiding officer was Maj. Gen. Glen VanHerck, U.S. Air Warfare Center commander. This marks a return to Eglin for Abba, who served in the 58th Fighter Squadron from January 2004 to June 2006. The 53rd Wing, the sole operational test wing for the U.S. Air Force, develops, tests, evaluates and delivers weapons systems. (Source: Eglin Public Affairs, 06/20/17)

Contract: Speegle, $13.6M

Speegle Construction Inc., Niceville, Fla., was awarded a $13,600,940 firm-fixed-price contract for facility additions at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Bids were solicited via the Internet with six received. Work will be performed in Hurlburt Field, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 13, 2018. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-17-C-0019). (Source: DoD, 06/21/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $7.2M

Lockheed Martin Corp. Rotary and Mission Systems, King of Prussia, Pa., has been awarded a $7,176,406 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) Enterprise Management System (JEMS) 6.0. Contractor will provide enhancements to the software package known as the JASSM JEMS. Work will be performed in King of Prussia, and is expected to be complete by July 31, 2018. Fiscal 2017 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,176,406 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-17-C-0003) (Source: DoD, 06/20/17)

Allegiant returning to Gulfport

GULFPORT, Miss. -- ​Allegiant airline said Tuesday it's returning to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport with twice-weekly, nonstop flights to Orlando beginning Aug. 30. Allegiant served the Gulfport-Biloxi market in 2007 but left a year and a half later, primarily due to fuel costs. The state lured back the airline with a revenue guarantee administered by the Mississippi Development Authority. The agreement sets out Allegiant’s anticipated revenue per flight. If those goals are not met, the state will reimburse Allegiant up to $1.1 million over one year. MDA CFO James T. "Jay" McCarthy said the one-year agreement can be extended for one year. (Source: Sun Herald, 06/20/17) In the Gulf Coast I-10 region, Allegiant also serves New Orleans (MSY) and Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS), Fla.

Contract: Dynetics, $10.9M

Dynetics Inc., Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $10,923,909 requirements contract for Small Glide Munition (SGM) all-up-rounds (AURs). Contractor will provide 13 months of SGM AURs, with associated travel. Work will be performed in Huntsville and is expected to be complete by June 29, 2018. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8656-17-C-0010). (Source: DoD, 06/19/17)

Contract: Coastal Helicopter, $12.5M

Coastal Helicopters Inc., Panama City, Fla., is being awarded a $12,483,379 five-year firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for depot level repair, maintenance, modifications, and engineering services for the air services support for flight test preparation and flight testing. The work to be performed is for aircraft platforms and the support services required integrating sensor systems onto suitable airborne platforms and executing testing. Work will be performed in Yuma, Ariz. (18 percent); China Lakes, Calif. (17 percent); Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (15 percent); Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (15 percent); Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. (15 percent); Gulf of Mexico (15 percent); and the Dominican Republic (5 percent). Work is expected to be completed August 2022. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, is the contracting activity (N61331-17-D-0007).

Contract: UTC, $41.8M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded $41,843,781 for modification P00012 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price-incentive-fee contract (N00019-15-C-0004). This modification provides for the procurement of one F-135-PW-100 and one F-135-PW-600 propulsion systems in support of the F-35 Lightning III low-rate initial production Lot X aircraft in support of international partners. Work will be performed in East Hartford (67 percent); Indianapolis, Ind. (26.5 percent); and Bristol, UK (6.5 percent), and is expected to be complete in September 2019. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/15/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Luke F-35s still grounded

The F-35A fighters that were grounded at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., last week will remain on stand-down indefinitely. The Air Force is continuing to look into what caused five pilots to experience hypoxia in incidents going back to May 2. The planes were grounded June 9. The base has 55 of the 220 F-35s that are flying worldwide. The Navy also had oxygen issues with T-45 training jets, and back in 2011 there were similar issues with F-22 fighters. (Sources: Stars and Stripes, Reuters via U.S. News and World Report, 06/12/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center. Previous

Airports getting grants

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport will receive $2.1 million and Pensacola International Airport will receive $43,796 in grant money from the Department of Transportation, according to a release from the office of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport will use the money to rehabilitate 2,000 feet of taxiway, and Pensacola International will use its grant to remove obstructions on land acquired for further airport development. The money is expected to be disbursed before September. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 06/09/17)

Reservist joins astronauts

Air Force Reservist Lt. Col. Robert “Farmer” Hines Jr., a test pilot at the 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., was among 12 selectees named to the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. Hines serves as an F-15E Strike Eagle program test director and test pilot at the F-15 Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force for the 84th TES. In civilian life, Hines is a full-time NASA research pilot. Hines, who has flown 76 combat missions, will report for duty in August for two years of astronaut training. (Source: AF Reserve Command, 06/08/17)

Luke F-35s grounded

The Air Force has temporarily grounded a squadron of F-35s at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., after five pilots reported symptoms consistent with oxygen deprivation, the service said Friday. The 56th Fighter Wing canceled local flying operations for its F-35A fighters after five incidents since May 2 where pilots experienced symptoms similar to hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation. Each time the F-35's back-up oxygen system kicked in and pilots were able to land the plane. Flight operations are scheduled to return Monday. F-35 operations at five other bases are not affected. (Sources: multiple, including The Hill, AP via U.S.News and World Report, Business Insider, 06/09/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Embry-Riddle graduates 109

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- One hundred and nine graduates received degrees this past weekend as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide held its Pensacola commencement exercises June 3 in the Blue Angels Atrium of the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The Pensacola campus, located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as undergraduate certification. (Source: Embry-Riddle, 06/07/17)

Aerospace book available

The sixth edition of the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor book is now available for download. The 100-page book, free to readers, details the aerospace and aviation activities in the region between Southeast Louisiana and Northwest Florida. There are chapters on the region’s space activities, aerospace products, military aviation, innovation, education and more. To access the book, visit the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor website. (Source: GCRL, 06/07/17)

Command change at 81st TRW

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – Col. Debra Lovette took command of the 81st Training Wing during a June 2 ceremony. The outgoing commander, Col. Michele Edmondson, will be the new executive officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The 81st TRW provides technical training for officers, enlisted and civilians of the Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserves and other Defense Department agencies. Training includes electronic, computer, weather, medical, personnel, comptroller and information management career fields. (Source: 81st TRW, 06/02/17)

Contract: Multiple, $40M

Woolpert Inc., Dayton, Ohio (FA0021-17-D-0004); Stanley-UC-Cardo JV, Muscatine, Iowa (FA0021-17-D-0005); and HDR Engineering Inc., Omaha, Neb. (FA0021-17-D-0006), have been awarded a combined, not-to-exceed $40,000,000 firm-fixed-price, multiple award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for architectural-engineering (A-E) services. Contractors will provide in-house environmental planning, programming and A-E services. Work will be performed at various U.S. and international locations including Hurlburt Field, Fla., and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with three offers received. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The 765th Specialized Contracting Flight, Hurlburt Field, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/05/17)

Squadron moving to Duke

The 524th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., is relocating to Duke Field near Crestview. Once here, it will become part of the 492nd Special Operations Wing. Cannon celebrated the heritage of the 524th SOS and the C-146 Wolfhound at an end-of-mission ceremony Wednesday, where the squadron guidon was turned over the 492nd SOW. The move to Duke Field has been under discussion for more than four years, according to Lt. Col. Derick Steed, 524th SOS commander. (Source: 27th Special Operations Wing, 05/31/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $413.9M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Fla., has been awarded a $413,854,079 firm-fixed-price and fixed-price-incentive-firm contract for Lot 15 Joint Air-to -Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) production. Contractor will provide 360 JASSM-ER missiles and tooling and test equipment. Work will be performed at Orlando and is expected to be complete by Aug. 31, 2020. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-17-C-0037). (Source: DoD, 06/01/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $244.3M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $244,322,400 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded delivery order 0132 issued against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification provides for the procurement of initial air vehicle spares in support of the F-35 Lightning II for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants, and foreign military sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (24.4 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (9 percent); Owego, N.Y. (8.6 percent); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (7.2 percent); Cheltenham, United Kingdom (6.2 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5.8 percent); Torrance, Calif. (5.5 percent); Orlando, Fla. (4.9 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (3.7 percent); San Diego, Calif. (3.6 percent); Phoenix, Ariz. (3.1 percent); Melbourne, Fla. (3 percent); Irvine, Calif. (2.5 percent); North Amityville, N.Y. (2.4 percent); Windsor Locks, Conn. (2.2 percent); Papendrect, The Netherlands (1.9 percent); Rolling Meadows, Ill. (1.8 percent); and Alpharetta, Ga. (1.8 percent). Work is expected to be completed in June 2021. This order combines purchases for the Air Force (40 percent), Marine Corps (4.6 percent), Navy (3.4 percent),, non-U.S. DoD participants (46 percent), and the FMS customers (6 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/01/17). Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Geocent, $15.6M

Geocent LLC, Metairie, La., is being awarded a $15,650,745 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee multiple award contract for platform integration and systems engineering support to provide design, engineering, integration, and advanced concept development for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the Department of Defense. This is one of three multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This two-year contract includes one three-year option which, if exercised, would bring the potential value of this contract to an estimated $46,539,956. All work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed May 31, 2019. The predominant type of funding is anticipated to be operations and maintenance (Navy). The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-17-D-0157). (Source: DoD, 06/01/17)