RR marks decade at SSC

Rolls-Royce on Friday celebrated 10 years at Stennis Space Center, Miss., where it operates an outdoor jet engine test facility. The facility that tests jetliner engines was the first of its kind for Rolls-Royce outside the United Kingdom. Rolls-Royce General Manager Hamish Guthrie said the company employs 46 people locally, and expects that number to rise in the future due to the demand of the company’s aircraft engines. According to Guthrie, employees have logged more than 7,000 hours testing engines. (Sources: Picayune Item, 10/28/17, WLOX-TV, 10/27/17) Rolls-Royce, which opened its first stand in 2007, added a second test stand in 2013.

Cyber test group to stand up

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The Air Force recently approved a new group standup as part of the 96th Test Wing. The 96th Cyberspace Test Group will be formed from the existing 46th Test Squadron, located here, and other test units at six separate geographic locations throughout the U.S. The new group will include three subordinate squadrons: the 45th Test Squadron, 46th Test Squadron and the 47th Cyberspace Test Squadron. Approximately 19 of 50 new positions are projected to be added to the group here over the next five years. In addition, a business and logistics division will be established here to provide program management, budget and finance, as well as logistics, security and information technology functions. The change brings current AFTC cyberspace test capabilities under a single command structure of the newly formed group, but leaves all the current jobs, missions and assets in place at their current operating locations. The group's formal activation ceremony is scheduled for December. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 10/26/17)

GAO: F-35 hurt by parts issue

The Pentagon is accelerating production of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet even though the planes already delivered are facing “significantly longer repair times” than planned because maintenance facilities are six years behind schedule, according to a draft audit. The Government Accountability Office, Congress’s watchdog agency, found the time to repair a part has averaged 172 days, twice the program’s objective. The shortages are “degrading readiness” because the fighter jets “were unable to fly about 22 percent of the time” from January through August for lack of needed parts. (Source: Bloomberg, 10/23/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Aviation museum in top 20

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola was named one of the Top 25 museums across the globe by TripAdvisor as part of its 2017 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The NNAM ranked No. 16 on the list that included such well-known museums as the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The rankings are based on quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for museums worldwide gathered by TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. (Source: EW Bullock, 10/12/17) The 350,000-square-foot museum on 37 acres has a variety of attractions and more than 150 military aircraft representing the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

NASA gives awards for construction

NASA has awarded 24 Multiple Award Construction Contract Two (MACC-II) contracts to 20 small businesses and four large firms for general construction services at NASA's Stennis Space Center and several other agency locations. It has an anticipated value not to exceed $3 billion during an eight-year ordering period. MACC-II project work includes, but is not limited to, alteration, modification, maintenance and repair, demolition, design-build and new construction of buildings, facilities and real property at Stennis; NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, including White Sands Test Facility near Las Cruces, N.M.; NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Fla.; and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., including Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Businesses in the Gulf Coast region awarded contracts are Healtheon and Pontchartrain Partners, both of New Orleans; ESA South Inc., Cantonment, Fla.; Orocon Construction and WG Yates & Sons Construction Co., both of Biloxi, Miss.; Drace Construction Corp., Ocean Springs, Miss.; CCI Energy and Construction Services, Shalimar, Fla.; and MOWA Barlovento JV-2, Gautier, Miss. (Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire, 10/24/17)

Contract: Aermor, $93.5M

Aermor LLC, Virginia Beach, Va.; American Systems Corp., Chantilly, Va.; and Qualis Corp., Huntsville, Ala., have been awarded a $93,500,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center test services. The contractors will provide advisory and assistance services in support of operational test and evaluation that include a broad range of engineering, technical, and analytical services. Work will be performed at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.; Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Everett, Wash.; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; and Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and is expected to be complete by Oct. 19, 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with three offers received. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation; and operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $30,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA7046-18-D-0001, FA7046-18-D-0002, FA7046-18-D-0003). (Source: DoD, 10/20/17)

Contract: SpaceX, $40.8M

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, Calif., has been awarded a $40,766,512 modification (P00007) for the development of the Raptor rocket propulsion system prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. Work will be performed at NASA Stennis Space Center, Miss.; Hawthorne, Calif.; McGregor, Texas; and Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.; and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2018. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $40,766,512 are being obligated at the time of award. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8811-16-9-0001). (Source: DoD, 10/19/17)

RS-25 tested at open house

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – More than 1,500 people watched a verification test of an RS-25 rocket engine during an open house at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi Thursday. The engine that was tested, engine E2063, is one of the engines that will power the Space Launch System (SLS). The test was 500 seconds, the same duration the engine will power during an actual launch. Engine E2063 is scheduled for use on NASA’s second mission of SLS and Orion, known as Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2). The first integrated flight test of SLS and Orion, Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), will be an uncrewed final test of the rocket and its systems. The EM-2 flight will be the first to carry astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. (Source: NASA, 10/19/17) Previous

Contract: Textron, $332.9M

Textron Systems Marine and Land Systems, New Orleans, La., has been awarded a $332,900,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of up to 255 mobile strike force vehicles and related fielding hardware and field representative services for system de-processing. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 13, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-18-D-0014). (Source: DoD, 10/18/17)

Contract: Lockheed, $11.6M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $11,566,000 for cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized delivery order 0144 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This order provides support for the first of class flying trials and the release of the military permit to fly for F-35B aircraft to operate from Queen Elizabeth class carriers in support of the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (68 percent); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (26 percent); Orlando, Fla. (3 percent); and Patuxent River, Md. (3 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2018. International partner funds in the amount of $5,783,000 will be obligated at time of award, none 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, 10/17/17) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Airport gets new service

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Frontier Airlines today announced it will begin service from Pensacola International Airport (PNS) this spring with nonstop, low-cost flights to Denver International Airport (DEN) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) as part of its nationwide expansion. Service to Denver will begin April 22, 2018 while service to Chicago O’Hare is scheduled to begin May 12, 2018. “This is a huge win for Pensacola and I look forward to a long-term partnership and additional growth opportunities with Frontier Airlines,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. (Source: City of Pensacola, 10/17/17)

VTMAE plans info session

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- VT MAE will host an information session Oct. 27 at 9:00 a.m. regarding its current operations, upcoming hiring needs, employment application procedures, and available subcontracting opportunities at its new aircraft maintenance facility being built at Pensacola International Airport. The information session is at Pensacola State College's Hagler Auditorium, Building 2, 1000 College Blvd. in Pensacola. The event is for subcontractors and those seeking employment opportunities. (Source: VTMAE via City of Pensacola, 10/17/16)

Second assembly line for Mobile

Bombardier C Series jetliner. Courtesy photo

Airbus SE agreed to acquire a majority stake in Canada’s Bombardier Inc.’s C Series jetliner program, and will add another final assembly line for the C Series at its plant in Mobile, Ala. The move breathes new life into a slow-selling C Series, a single-aisle plane typically seating 108 to 160 passengers. Under the agreement, Airbus will provide procurement, sales and marketing, and customer support expertise to the C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP), the entity that manufactures and sells the C Series. At closing, Airbus will acquire a 50.01 percent interest in CSALP. Bombardier and Investissement Québec (IQ) will own approximately 31 percent and 19 percent respectively. CSALP’s headquarters and primary assembly line and related functions will remain in Québec, with the support of Airbus’ global reach and scale. Airbus’ global industrial footprint will expand with the Final Assembly Line in Canada and additional C Series production at Airbus’ manufacturing site in Alabama. Neither company will contribute cash to the venture at the closing, nor will the combination assume any debt. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of next year. The move comes within weeks of Bombardier being hit by a 300 percent import levy by the United States after a complaint by Boeing. “I have no doubt that our partnership with Bombardier will boost sales and the value of this program tremendously,” said Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders. “Not only will this partnership secure the C Series and its industrial operations in Canada, the U.K. and China, but we also bring new jobs to the U.S. Airbus will benefit from strengthening its product portfolio in the high-volume single-aisle market, offering superior value to our airline customers worldwide.” (Sources: Airbus, Bloomberg, The Guardian, 10/16/17)

Contract: Reliance, $27.3M

Reliance Test & Technology, Crestview, Fla., has been awarded a $27,255,000 modification (P00021) for Eglin operation and maintenance services. This contract modification increases the value of cost-type contract line item numbers. Work will be performed at Eglin Test and Training Complex, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2026. Fiscal 2018 research and development funds in the amount of $7,661,368 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-16-C-0002). (Source: DoD, 10/16/17

Contract: Northrop, $15.2M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $15,246,550 for modification P00004 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-17-C-0036) for the integration of the original equipment manufacturer ZPY-8A/N radar into the MQ-8C Fire Scout. This modification includes the initial radar A-kit installations into the MQ-8C Fire Scout and additional non-recurring engineering. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (54.28 percent); Ozark, Ala. (36.64 percent); San Diego (7.48 percent); Edinburgh, United Kingdom (1.57 percent); and Santa Clarita, Calif. (.03 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2020. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,345,854 will be obligated at time of award, all 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, 10/16/17)

October newsletter available

The October issue of the bimonthly Gulf Coast Aerospace Newsletter is now available at the Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor website home page. The eight-page newsletter has a feature on the aerospace/aviation activities in Louisiana, an article about two nacelles operations in the Mobile area and more. (Source: GCAC, 10/10/17)

Open house includes engine test

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – The public will get an opportunity Oct. 19 to view a test firing of an RS-25 flight engine that will be used to power NASA’s new Space Launch System. This engine, No. 2063, will be one of four that will be used for SLS on Exploration Mission-2, the first flight of the rocket that will carry astronauts. The engine test is part of the Founder’s Day Open House at Stennis Space Center. The theme of the event is “SSC – 56 Years of Making Fire and Rain!” to commemorate the anniversary of the rocket engine test site. NASA announced plans on Oct. 25, 1961, to build a site in south Mississippi for testing the Apollo Program rocket stages that carried humans to the moon. Security gates will be open for access to the site from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Only U.S. citizens age 10 or older will be allowed to participate. Open house activities, including exhibits, demonstrations and speakers, will be hosted by participating Stennis agencies prior to an afternoon test of RS-25 flight engine on the A-1 Test Stand. Each participant must obtain a ticket to gain entry to the site. (Source: GCAC, 10/04/17) Previous

Contract: DCS, $207.6M

DCS Corp., Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $207,596,336 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide system engineering, analysis, research, development, logistics, and configuration and data management services to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division’s aircraft integrated pProduct teams, which are critical in the development, integration, test, evaluation, and fielding of new and upgraded capabilities to Naval aircraft, such as the F/A-18, EA-18G, F-35, AV-8B, AH-1/UH-1, and unmanned aerial systems. Work will be performed in China Lake, Calif. (86.5 percent); Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (7 percent); Ridgecrest, Calif. (5 percent); Point Mugu, Calif. (1 percent); Cherry Point, N.C. (0.2 percent); Yuma, Ariz. (0.2 percent); and Patuxent River, Md. (0.1 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2022. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $200,000 will be obligated at time of award; all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic proposal as a 100 percent small business set-aside; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, is the contracting activity (N68936-18-D-0006). (Source: DoD, 10/04/17)

Contract: COLSA, $56.2M

COLSA Corp., Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $56,190,669 modification (P00023) for technical and management advisory services command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and cyber support. The contractor will provide additional research, development, test and evaluation, and acquisition support services. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.; Gunter Annex, Ala.; Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; Beale Air Force Base, Calif.; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; and San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30 2018. This modification includes foreign military sales support. Fiscal 2018 research, development, production, operations, and maintenance funds in the amount of $14,141,221 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-16-F-0031). (Source: DoD, 10/02/17)

Contract: QuantiTech, $39.6M

QuantiTech, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $39,557,675 modification (P00045) for technical and management advisory services range support. The contractor will provide additional diverse research, development, test, evaluation, and acquisition support services. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn.; Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2018. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 research, development, production, operations, and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,416,813 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-16-F-0034). (Source: DoD, 10/02/17)

Contract: Torch, $34.6M

Torch Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $34,628,375 modification (P00037) for technical and management advisory services armament support. The contractor will provide additional diverse research, development, test and evaluation, and acquisition support services. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Kirkland Air Force Base, N.M.; and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2018. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 research, development, production, operations, and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,165,187 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-16-F-0030). (Source: DoD, 10/02/17)

Contract: Bevilacqua, $31.2M

Bevilacqua Research Corp., Huntsville, Ala.. has been awarded a $31,176,259 modification (P00034) for technical and management advisory services platforms support. The contractor will provide additional diverse research, development, test and evaluation, and acquisition support services. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Duke Field, Fla.; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30 2018. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 research, development, procurement, operations, and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,682,995 are being obligated at time of award. Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA2486-16-F-0033). (Source: DoD, 10/02/17)