Airbus: Supply chain an issue

Airbus is facing a backlog of 4,400 aircraft, but may be limited in ramping up production because of the supply chain. Airbus, which will be building an assembly line in Mobile, Ala., produces 42 single-aisle planes every month. It would like to push that to 44 a month, but it's worried about overstretching the supply chain, said John Leahy, chief operating officer of customers at Airbus. (Source: Air Transport World, 09/10/12)

Land near Airbus available

MOBILE, Ala. – More than 300 acres near the planned $600 million Airbus assembly line is being put on the market. Local contractor Jerry Lathan has partnered with the National Auction Group for the sale. Calling the site a "rare opportunity to acquire substantial acreage" near Airbus, the National Auction Group's website lauds Lathan's property for its "unlimited potential for industrial, commercial and residential endeavors." (Source: Mobile Press Register, 09/10/12)

Empty buildings concern officials

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- The number of empty buildings in the Commerce and Technology Park concerns some city officials. Councilman Dennis Reeves said he was driving through the industrial park recently and was surprised. But Kay Rasmussen of the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council said the EDC is aware and continually marketing the park. One councilman wondered why an indoor unmanned systems test center wasn't being placed in an empty building at the park. Rasmussen said none of the park buildings meets the requirements for the UAV center. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 09/09/12) Previous

Pensacola air fares among highest

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Pensacola's average air fare is 11th highest among the 100 largest airports in the nation, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The Pensacola News Journal reports that the average ticket price out of Pensacola as of April 1 was nearly $447, up 15 percent from a year ago. Driving it are fuel prices and reduced seating capacity. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 09/08/12)

Wing commander leaving

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force announced Friday that Brig. Gen. John K. McMullen will be leaving after serving a year as commander of the Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing. McMullen will be reassigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as the deputy chief of staff operations for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters Allied Air Command. The News Herald reports that no timetable has been set. (Source: Panama City News Herald, 09/07/12)

Report: Airbus close to major deal

Reuters is reporting that sources tell it AirAsia is close to a deal to buy up to 100 Airbus jets. That puts Asia's largest budget carrier on course for expansion. The deal for A320 family jets is potentially worth $9 billion. Demand from Asian low-cost carriers is helping to drive production at Airbus and Boeing to record levels. (Source: Reuters, 09/08/12) Gulf Coast note: Airbus said in July that it's building a $600 million A320 assembly line in Mobile, Ala., to help meet demand.

Endeavour's final ferry flight set

Space Shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop NASA's modified 747, will make its final ferry flight when it leaves Sept. 17 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., for a flight to Los Angeles International Airport. Plans are for low-level fly-overs at multiple locations, including Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. SSC is where all the shuttle main engines were tested and Michoud is where all the external tanks were built. The 747 will fly at about 1,500 feet at each location, depending upon conditions. Stops are also scheduled in Houston, El Paso and Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., before it's final touchdown at Los Angeles. (Source: NASA, 09/07/12)

F-35A reaches milestone

F-35 at Eglin. Air Force photo

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force officials begin the F-35A Operational Utility Evaluation Sept. 10, a step that moves the service closer to beginning F-35 pilot and maintener training. The review is expected to last about 65 days. Since February 11 pilots checked out in basic F-35A operations. In the evaluation data will be collected from all facets of F-35 training, including maintenance, classroom, simulator and flights. It will be a precursor for the Air Force to train other services and allies. Initially, 59 aircraft and three flying squadrons, one for each service/aircraft variant, will be established at Eglin. (Source: Team Eglin Public Affairs, 09/07/12)

Foundation ponders property

MOBILE, Ala. -- The decision of Airbus to build an A320 assembly line at Brookley Aeroplex is likely to play a role in how the University of South Alabama Foundation develops its 300 acres at the complex. Director Maxey Roberts said the foundation wants to talk with stakeholders, the city of Mobile and Mobile Airport Authority for input on how to develop the property. She said the foundation wants the property to contribute to the economic development for the region. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 09/06/12)

Contract: Composite Eng., $7.3M

Composite Engineering Inc., Sacramento, Calif., is being awarded a $7,317,122 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, firm fixed price contract to procure 54 peculiar reparable spares for the Air Force Subscale Aerial Target BQM-167. Location of performance is Sacramento. Work is to be completed by Nov. 9, 2015. The contracting activity is AFLCMC/EBYK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Source: DoD, 09/06/12)

ACS to stay under AETC

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 325th Air Control Squadron is scheduled to be the only squadron within Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing to remain under Air Education and Training Command after the wing transitions to Air Combat Command. "We are staying with the current command because we are an initial skills training course and that falls under the mission of AETC," said Lt. Col. Gary Smith, 325th ACS commander. The squadron graduates around 150 students a year, with a course length of nine months. The squadron will change its name to the 337th Air Control Squadron two days after the 325th FW transitions to the ACC. (Source: 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 09/05/12)

Storage facility nears completion

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A project to build a new addition and repair the F-22 Raptor parts storage facility will be finished March 2013. GCC Enterprises Inc., of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded the $1 million contract in September 2011 and began work in April 2012. The 3,000-square-foot vault is designated to secure F-22 parts, and for a 800-square-foot weapons vault expansion. The new vault construction has been completed and the expansion on the weapons vault is scheduled to begin within the week. Tyndall will undergo a transition from Air Education and Training Command to Air Combat Command Oct. 1. The change requires adding additional support facilities, aircraft and personnel to the installation. (Source: 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 09/05/12)

Forecast bodes well for region

With Airbus revising its forecast upward about the growth of the global airline and freighter market, what could it mean for Mobile, Ala., which will become home of the newest Airbus assembly line? The Mobile Press-Register spoke to some local and regional economic development leaders to get their read on what may be in store for Mobile and the surrounding region. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 09/05/12) Previous

Summit slated for next month

NEW ORLEANS -- The four-state Aerospace Alliance is holding its second annual summit Oct. 25-26 in New Orleans at the Marriott Convention Center. The alliance was formed more than three years ago by Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to encourage growth of aerospace activities in the four states. This year's summit will include sessions on opportunities in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles and commercial space. To register, click here. The inaugural fall summit last year was held at Sandestin Beach Resort, Fla., and was attended by a variety of aerospace companies, economic development officials and business leaders from the four states. (Source: GCAC, 09/05/12) Previous

F-35B completes air start testing

The F-35B short take-off and vertical landing variant of the fighter completed engine air start tests that involved shutting down and restarting the Pratt & Whitney F135 in flight. BF-2 completed 27 air starts at various altitudes using various methods on Aug. 15 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Air start testing is required for the F-35B to undertake high angle-of-attack trials next year. The Air Force's F-35A variant had earlier completed its air start testing at Edwards. (Source: Naval Air Systems Command, Flightglobal, 09/04/12) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center

Airbus ups estimate of aircraft need

Airbus has increased its 20-year production forecast by 5 percent. The company's latest Global Market Forecast cites a need for some 28,200 passenger and freighter aircraft of 100 seats or more between 2012 and 2031, worth nearly $4 trillion. Of those, more than 27,350 will be passenger aircraft valued at $ 3.7 trillion. Passenger traffic will grow at an average annual rate of 4.7 percent in the next 20 years and 10,350 aircraft will be replaced by new efficient models. By 2031 the world's passenger fleet will have expanded by 110 percent from slightly over 15,550 today to over 32,550. (Source: Airbus, Reuters, 09/04/12) Gulf Coast note: Airbus in July said it would build a $600 million A320 assembly line in Mobile, Ala., at Brookley Aeroplex. Previous Boeing prediction

Blanket to shield SLS engines

The heat shield around the Space Launch System RS-25 engines will not be the same as the Space Shuttle Program. The decision was made to move to a lighter, more flexible blanket, similar to the ones used on other vehicles and on the aft skirt of the Solid Rocket Boosters. The new blanket design will save about 700 pounds and will be easier to produce, assemble and install. The design change will debut during the test firings at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. (Source: NASA Spaceflight, 09/03/12)

Australia eyes Triton

Radio Australia reports that the country is resurrecting plans to buy seven Northrop Grumman maritime surveillance spy drones. The country first considered buying 12 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft in 2004, but in 2009 the plan was canceled. The next year three were considered, and the latest plan calls for seven of the Triton models. (Source: Radio Australia, 09/04/12) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks in all variants are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. Previous on Triton

Reserve unit joining Tyndall

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 325th Fighter Wing marks the transition to Air Combat Command from Air Education and Training Command Oct. 1, a move that adds additional personnel and aircraft. The 44th Fighter Group, Detachment 2 from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., is one unit to be added to Team Tyndall. It's a Reserve unit and schedule to operate as a support function to the new combat-coded F-22 Raptor squadron standing up in early 2013. The 44th FG is descended from the historic 44th FG, and the 301st Fighter Squadron derives its lineage directly from the Tuskegee Airmen. They are now merged into one unit. About 250 members will comprise the 44th FG and reside in and around Tyndall. Reserve personnel assigned to the 44th FG specifically, are nearly 25 percent full-time. (Source: 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 08/31/12)

100th A320 comes off China line

The 100th A320 came off the line Friday at the final assembly plant in Tianjin, China. Dignitaries from China and Europe were there for the event. The assembly line is the third one for the A320, built after lines in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany. In July this year Airbus has announced its decision to establish an A320 assembly line in the United States in Mobile, Ala. (Source: Avionics Intelligence, ETN Global Travel Industry News, 08/31/12)