Airbus cutting 15,000 jobs

Airbus plans to cut 15,000 jobs, more than 10 percent of its workforce, over the next year. Cuts will be mostly in Europe, as Airbus struggles with the financial hit of the coronavirus pandemic. “With air traffic not expected to recover to pre-COVID levels before 2023 and potentially as late as 2025, Airbus now needs to take additional measures,” the company said in a statement. Airbus, with 134,000 workers worldwide, plans to trim 5,000 workers in France, 5,100 in Germany, 1,700 in Britain, 900 in Spain and 1,300 others at Airbus facilities elsewhere. The company said it would try to reduce the number of layoffs through voluntary departures, early retirement and long-term partial employment programs. (Sources: multiple, including Airbus, Economic Times, CNN Business, 06/30/20) The company's worldwide operations include China, where it builds A320s, and Mobile, Ala., where it builds A320 and A220 jetliners at the Mobile Aeroplex. Airbus Military has a maintenance, repair and overhaul operation and component repair facility at Mobile Regional Airport. Airbus also builds helicopters in Columbus, Miss. It is unclear what impact might be felt in Airbus operations in this region, but they are among the "other worldwide sites" mentioned in the press release.

Contract: Lockheed, $360.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $360,800,000 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract modification (P00038) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification provides for the procurement of four F-35C Carrier Variant Lot 14 aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (63%); El Segundo, Calif. (14%); Warton, United Kingdom (9%); Orlando, Fla. (4%); Nashua, N.H. (3%); Baltimore, Md. (3%); San Diego, Calif. (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (1.3%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.7%). Work is expected to be completed by May 2023. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds for $170,000,000 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, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/29/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $67.7M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $67,690,000 not-to-exceed modification (P00004) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target advance acquisition contract N00019-20-C-0009. This modification procures long lead materials, parts, components and support necessary to maintain on-time production and delivery of nine lot 16 F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the government of The Netherlands, as well as seven F-35A semiconductors and two F-35B Lightning II aircraft for the government of Italy. Work will be performed in Cameri, Italy (24%); Fort Worth (22%); El Segundo, Calif. (11%); Warton, United Kingdom (7%); Baltimore, Md. (4%); Nashua, N.H. (3%); San Diego, Calif. (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (21%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (6%). Work is expected to be completed by May 2025. Non-Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $67,690,000 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, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/29/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

Contract: Applied Systems, $48.6M

Applied Systems Engineering, Niceville, Fla., is awarded a $48,640,357 indefinite- delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price delivery orders contract with a five-year ordering period to provide Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) Advanced Tactical Navigator (ATACNAV) units, SAASM ATACNAV-High Accuracy (HA) units, SAASM ATACNAV-HA-Single Enclosure. ATACNAV mini purchases, ATACNAV units, reconfigurable avionics test sets and global positioning system military code receivers. In addition to procurement of ATACNAV units, system upgrades and repairs from Applied Systems Engineering will be required throughout the life of the contract. The program is in support of the Weapons Control and Integration Department (H) of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division and Battle Management Systems Program. This contract does not include options. Work will be performed in Niceville and is expected to be completed by June 2025. Fiscal 2018 procurement defense agencies funding in the amount of $692,493 will be obligated on the first delivery order at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured sole-source in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304c1, with one responsible source. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., is the contracting activity (N00178-20-D-4400). (Source: DoD, 06/29/20)

Contract: Lockheed, $11.6M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $11,610,581 firm-fixed-price order (N00019-20-F-0022) against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This order procures intel diminishing manufacturing sources parts that have reached end of life in support of the F-35 Lightning II Program future aircraft deliveries for the Air Force, Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed by October 2020. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $2,356,880; fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,056,717; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $1,619,315; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $631,782; non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $3,982,886; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $963,001, will be obligated at time of award, $4,413,597 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, 06/29/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

Airport leadership changes

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Pensacola International Airport has a new director today. Matt Coughlin, who had been deputy director, took over as director Monday with the retirement of Dan Flynn. Coughlin was the commanding officer of Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton from 2011 to 2014. He became assistant director of Pensacola's airport from 2014 until 2017, when left to become interim Escambia County administrator. He resigned from that post and returned to the airport in September 2019. He becomes director at a time when airports are still coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.(Source: GCAC, 06/29/20)

Mobile again fights tariffs

MOBILE, Ala. - Mobile’s Airbus plant is again faced with the prospect of tariffs, so once again city and county officials are writing letters and forwarding them to the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in opposition. Keeping imported airplane parts from Europe off the list of items being assessed for higher tariffs is a routine that crops up every 180 days as the government revises its list of goods that will receive higher tariffs. Jobs are at stake if the cost of manufacturing in airplanes soars in Alabama from tariffs on fuselages, wings, and other components that are assembled into a commercial airplane by the Mobile workforce. “Our hope is that the USTR will continue to listen to the people and communities that would be negatively and directly impacted by the implementation of additional tariffs,” said Kristi Tucker, spokeswoman with Airbus. The European-based aerospace giant has its largest North American manufacturing presence in Mobile, where over 1,100 employees work at the company’s assembly plant for the A320 and A220-series aircrafts at the Mobile Aeroplex. The World Trade Organization last year ruled Airbus was provided unfair government subsidies, allowing the U.S. to place higher tariffs on EU goods. The new round of tariff talks are expected to conclude at the same time the WTO is expected to rule on a parallel case that Boeing benefitted from illegal U.S. subsidies. The WTO case, once concluded, will allow European countries to respond with tariffs of their own. (Source: al.com, 06/27/20)

Contract: Northrop, $333.4M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is awarded a $333,401,760 modification (P00007) to previously-awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract N00019-19-C-0008. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of three low-rate initial production MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, two main operating bases and one forward operating base in an integrated functional capability-four and multiple-intelligence configuration, with associated export compliance support for the government of Australia. Work will be performed in San Diego (23.3%); Red Oak, Texas (13%); Palmdale, Calif. (11.5%); Linthicum, Md. (9.4%); Salt Lake City, Utah (9.3%); Bridgeport, W.V. (5.2%); McClellan, Calif. (4.7%); Indianapolis, Ind. (4.5%); Moss Point, Miss. (3.3%); Waco, Texas (2.1%); San Clemente, Calif. (1.5%); Newton, N.D. (1%); various locations within the continental U.S. (9.8%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (1.4%). Work is expected to be completed by April 2025. Foreign cooperative project funds for $27,601,190 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, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/25/20)

Contract: Boeing, $16.5M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is awarded a $16,543,143 firm-fixed-price order (N00019-20-F-0870) against previously-issued basic ordering agreement N00019-16-G-0001. This order procures retrofit modification upgrades to the series aircrafts’ F/A-18 Block II Super Hornet and Growler display suites within the Block III Super Hornet and Growler Advanced Cockpit Systems. Work will be performed in St. Louis (65%); Mesa, Ariz. (15%); China Lake, Calif. (10%); and Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (10%), and is expected to be completed by February 2025. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,075,223; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $1,467,920 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, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/25/20)

Contract: ASIRTek, $78M

ASIRTek Federal Services LLC, San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $78,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for information security support services. This contract provides for proactive support of the foundational pillars of this requirement, which are cybersecurity improvement initiatives and cybersecurity support. Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Additional on-site support locations may include Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Randolph AFB, Texas; and Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Work is expected to be completed June 28, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with 24 offers received. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA7037-20-D-0001). (Source: DoD, 06/24/20)

Contract: Compunetix, $9.6M

Compunetix Inc., Monroeville, Pa., has been awarded a $9,600,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for equipment to upgrade mission control rooms (MCR) at the Ridley Mission Control Center, the Birk Flight Test Facility and MCRs at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Work will be performed at Edwards AFB, Calif; and Eglin AFB, and is expected to be completed June 30, 2025. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $50,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, is the contracting activity (FA9302-20-D-0010). (Source: DoD, 06/23/20)

Contract: General Dynamics, $27.7M

General Dynamics Information Technology, Westwood, Mass., has been awarded a $27,686,482 firm-fixed-price modification (P00012) to task order FA8051-18-F-0045 to support the Air Force Civil Engineering Center (AFCEC) in procurement of professional information technology services for AFCEC's Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative. This modification provides for the full funding of Option Year One. Work will be performed in Panama City Beach, Fla., as well as various locations worldwide, and is expected to be completed Aug. 19, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of this contract to $78,113,693. The 772d Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/19/20)

Contracts: multiple, $500M

NORTHCON Inc., Hayden, Ind. (FA4814-20-D-0005); Pro-Mark Services Inc., West Fargo, N.D. (FA4814-20-D-0006); Danner Construction Co. Inc., Tampa, Fla. (FA4814-20-D-0007); ABBA Construction Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. (FA4814-20-D-0008); Bay Area Building Solutions, Tampa, Fla. (FA4814-20-D-0009); HCR Construction Inc., Norcross, Ga. (FA4814-20-D-0010); OAC Action Construction Corp., Miami, Fla. (FA4814-20-D-0011); Frazier Engineering, Melbourne, Fla. (FA4814-20-D-0012); Benaka Inc., New Brunswick, N.J. (FA4814-20-D-0013); RELYANT Global LLC, Maryville, Tenn. (FA4814-20-D-0014); Polu Kai Services LLC, Falls Church, Va. (FA4814-20-D-0015); Nisou LGC JV LLC, Detroit, Mich. (FA4814-20-D-0016); KMK Construction Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. (FA4814-20-D-0017); Burgos Group LLC, Medford, N.J. (FA4814-20-D-0018); A&H-Ambica JV LLC, Livonia, Mich. (FA4814-20-D-0019); P&S Construction Inc., Chelmsfor, Mass. (FA4814-20-D-0020); Northstar Contracting Inc., Cleveland, Ohio (FA4814-20-D-0021); ESA South Inc., Cantonment, Fla. (FA4814-D-20-0022); and RUSH Construction Inc., Titusville, Fla. (FA4814-D-20-0023), have been awarded a $500,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for execution of a broad range of maintenance, repair and minor construction projects affecting real property at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; and Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla.. Work is expected to be completed June 16, 2027. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $9,500 will be obligated at the time of award. The 6th Contracting Squadron, Tampa, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/17/20)

Contract: Lockheed, $16M

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $16,026,098 modification (P00001) to cost-plus-fixed-fee order N00019-20-F-0817 against previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-19-G-0008. This order procures support to manage diminishing manufacturing sources in support of the F-35 Program for the Air Force, Navy and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be complete by June 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $6,586,406; fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,586,406; and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $2,853,286 will be obligated at time of award, of which $6,586,406 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/17/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center and reprogramming labs.

Contract: CH2M Hill, $33M

CH2M Hill Constructors Inc., Englewood, Colo., is awarded a $33,097,127 modification on firm-fixed-price task order N69450-20-F-0077 under a multiple award construction contract for design build repairs of Building 633 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Work will be performed in Pensacola and provides for the design build construction, alteration and repair of Building 633 in order to return the building to full operation. Building 633 is approximately 117,000 square feet and is a historic federal facility with administrative spaces, classrooms and an auditorium. Work is expected to be complete by September 2021. After the award of this modification, the total task order value will be $34,095,501. The task order also contains seven unexercised options, which will increase cumulative task order value to $38,407,860 if exercised. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $33,097,127 are 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 (N62470-19-D-8024). (Source: DoD, 06/16/20)

Contract: Boeing, $24.6M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded a $24,570,275 definitized, fixed-price-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (PZ0011) to contract FA2103-18-C-0061 for the B61-12 Life Extension Program. The contract modification is to definitize contract action for Lot One and Lot Two. Work will be performed in Saint Charles, Mo., and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 ammunition procurement funds in the amount of $72,091,114; and 2020 ammunition procurement funds in the amount of $19,545,218 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $148,572,879. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/12/20)

Contract: Scientific Systems, $9.6M

Scientific Systems Co. Inc., Woburn, Mass., is awarded a $9,575,556 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N68335-20-F-0006) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N68335-15-G-0030). This order provides for continuing improvement of the software development processes to enhance cybersecurity and software safety for the Image Based Navigation for Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Shipboard Landing program in support of the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned air vehicle. This is a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III for research and development performed under the SBIR topic numbers N112-127, N03-025 and AF06-149. Work will be performed in Woburn (95%); and Bedford, N.H. (5%), and is expected to be complete by June 2023. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds for $50,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/12/20) Gulf Coast note: MQ-8 Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: Lockheed, $183.8M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $183,815,073 modification (P00096) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-15-C-0003). This modification incorporates additional operation, security and technical services in support of the F-35 Lightning II program for the Republic of Korea. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be complete by January 2021. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $183,815,073 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, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/12/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

Contract: Boeing, $13M

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., has been awarded a $13,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the research and development for adaptive and robust control for hypersonic engagement research effort. The five-year contract will support research and development to comprehend and address impacts of complex flight environments on advanced weapon systems. Work will be performed in St. Louis, and is expected to be completed March 2025 for the initial task order. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $760,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8651-20-D-0036). (Source: DoD, 06/15/20)

Contract: Lockheed, $7.3M

Lockheed Martin Corp., King of Prussia, Pa., has been awarded a $7,329,960 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) Operational Realtime Combat Analysis (ORCA) Increment Two. This contract provides for enhancements to the software package known as the JASSM ORCA Increment Two. Work will be performed in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be complete by June 14, 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,299,806 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin, Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8682-20-C-0007). (Source: DoD, 06/15/20)

Blue Angels show now four days

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The usual two-day Blue Angels air show at Pensacola Beach will be expanded to four days because of social distancing guidelines caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The shows will be July 8 to July 11, according to Santa Rosa Island Authority spokeswoman Katie King. Usually tens of thousands of locals and tourists swarm Pensacola Beach for a Friday dress rehearsal performance followed by a Saturday official show, but this year's stretched out format will be done in the name of social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan is to have similar flight maneuvers each day from both the Blue Angels and civilian aircraft to give the public additional chances to see the performances. Other changes include expanding the show's footprint on the beach to allow for viewers to spread out, and there will be no center focal point for the show. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 06/12/20)

Contract: Lockheed, $31M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $31,065,000 for a not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract modification (P00006) to previously issued order 0097 against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification provides supplier non-recurring engineering, development of design documentation and the creation of modification instructions for the developmental test fleet in support of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif. (85%); and Fort Worth (15%). These efforts will support service life extensions and enable the developmental test fleet to maintain currency with delivered technology. Work is expected to be complete by February 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,698,820; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $3,698,820 and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $1,602,360 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, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/11/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

Contract: DRS, $120M

DRS Systems Inc., Melbourne, Fla., is awarded a $120,009,046 not-to-exceed, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost undefinitized contract to provide non-recurring engineering to design, develop, integrate and test engineering development models and production representative models of weapons replaceable assemblies for the AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure system. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (61%); San Diego, Calif. (31%); Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (7%); and Melbourne (1%), and is expected to be complete by June 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $23,497,884 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-20-C-0041). (Source: DoD, 06/11/20)

Contract: Lockheed, $368.2M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $368,194,942 not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract modification (P00036) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification provides for the procurement of five F-35A Lightning II lot 14 aircraft, one F-35B lot 14 combat aircrafts and associated red gear for the government of Italy. It also authorizes the common capability scope of work at the Final Assembly and Checkout Facility in Cameri, Italy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (35%); Cameri (28%); El Segundo, Calif. (15%); Warton, United Kingdom (8%); Orlando, Fla. (4%); Nashua, N.H. (3%); Baltimore, Md. (3%); San Diego, Calif. (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (1.3%) and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.7%). Work is expected to be complete by June 2023. Non-Department of Defense funds for $184,429,857 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, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/11/20) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

Navy pilots killed in plane crash

DALLAS COUNTY, Ala. -- Two active-duty Navy pilots were killed in a plane crash in Alabama Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say Navy Capt. Vincent Segars and Navy Cmdr. Joshua Fuller died in the crash that happened just before 5 p.m. two miles from Selma's Craig Field. Authorities say Segars and Fuller were flying from Jasper, Ala., to Pensacola, Fla., in a Piper PA-32. Segars was the Commanding Officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola. (Sources: WEAR-TV, Alabama News Network, WSFA, 06/11/20)

1st SOW gets female commander

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — A 25-year Air Force officer became the first woman to take command of the 1st Special Operations Wing in Monday ceremonies at Hurlburt Field, headquarters of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The 1st Special Operations Wing is the most-deployed wing in the Air Force, and as commander of the wing, Col. Jocelyn J. Schermerhorn will also serve as the installation commander at Hurlburt Field. Her selection as the 1st Special Operations Wing commander marks another milestone for women in Air Force Special Operations Command. Last year, Brig. Gen. Brenda Cartier became the first female within AFSOC to be promoted to general. She served as AFSOC’s director of operations until last month, when she became vice commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 06/08/20)

Contract: Lockheed, $18.7M

Lockheed Martin Corp., a Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $18,670,070 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-20-C-0052) for the procurement of maintenance and sustainment operations support for the Norway Italy Reprogramming Laboratory systems and consumables in support of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the governments of Norway and Italy. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be complete by December 2022. Non-Department of Defense participant funds in the amount of $13,648,950 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 41 U.S. Code 253(c)(4). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 06/03/20)

First U.S.-built A220 takes off

U.S.-built A220 has maiden flight June 2, 2020
Airbus photo

MOBILE, Ala. - The first Airbus A220 built in the United States completed its maiden flight Tuesday. Painted in the livery of Delta Air Lines, the news was posted on the Airbus Mobile Facebook page. Airbus began building this jetliner partly on the A320 line in Mobile, and partly at new facilities for the A220. Airbus began assembling A220s at the Mobile Aeroplex last year. The Airbus campus has been building A320 series jetliners since 2015. Airbus purchased majority ownership of the A220 programme, formerly known as CSeries, in 2018 from Bombardier, and opened a second assembly site in Mobile. Airbus also produces A220s in Quebec, Canada. Airbus also recently started producing the first A220 for JetBlue in the new A220 assembly line. (Sources: Facebook, FlightGlobal, 06/02/20) Previous

Contract: Wickr, $35M

Wickr Inc., San Francisco, Calif., has been awarded a ceiling $35,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Wickr-based recall, alert and messaging (Wickr RAM) services. Wickr RAM services require an Air Force Cloud One and Air Force Special Operations Command cloud certified fully managed service provider. This contract provides Wickr RAM is a Department of Defense (DOD)-approved/Federal Information Processing Standards certified application suite that provides end-to-end encrypted file, video, chat, text and voice services for end-users. The application suite includes servers that run in a DOD-approved cloud data center and client applications that run on government issued, personal and temporary computers and mobile devices. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility and is expected to be completed May 31, 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,700,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA0021-20-D-0001). (Source: DoD, 06/01/20)