Trend story singles out Airbus plant

A CNBC report on a global manufacturing trend pointed to the decision by Airbus to expand production into the United States as a prime example. The report focused on the Boston Consulting Group's recent report indicating the United States is rapidly becoming a low-cost leader for manufacturing. Part of the reason is that exports have been growing more than seven times faster than GDP since 2005. It used the Airbus A320 final assembly line being built at Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Ala., as an example of the trend. (Source: CNBC, 08/28/13, al.com, 08/30/13)

Marines like F-35 progress

ABOARD USS WASP -- Two F-35B fighter jets completed dozens of test flights from the deck of this amphibious assault ship over the past three weeks. But several flights were scrapped Wednesday for maintenance issues. Marine Corps officials said the jets had made more than 90 successful vertical landings on the USS Wasp this month, including many at night. The officials said groundings were rare during the recent 19-day test period. Marines plan to use their version – one of three variants – in mid-2015. (Source: Reuters, 08/29/13) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center. Previous: Night vertical lands? Check; F-35 marks 500th vertical landing; F-35 makes at-sea landing; Wasp concludes JSF testing

Training at Tate's Hell discussed

APALACHICOLA, Fla. -- Air Force officials held a meeting in Apalachicola to discuss making Tate's Hell State Forest a site for some Eglin Air Force Base training. Dozens of residents showed up Thursday to express concern about the land north of the coast in Franklin County. Ron Harper, a local resident who attended the meeting, said the land is "one of the most ecologically sensitive areas in the state of Florida." But Mike Penland, chief of operational basing for the Air Force, said Eglin has a good track record with the environment. He said the land has unique features, including abandoned logging roads that make good runways for small aircraft. (Source: WCTV-TV, 08/29/13) Previous

Contract: Lockheed, $7M

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Orlando, Fla., has been awarded a $7,013,937 modification on contract for upgrade of the Visual and Joint Precision Airdrop systems on the C-130J maintenance and aircrew training system devices. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $289,492,046. Work will be performed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., and Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2014. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/WNSK Simulators Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 08/29/13)

Fairhope firm chosen for project

MOBILE, Ala. -- An architectural firm in Baldwin County's Fairhope has been chosen by Hoar Program Management to work on portions of the Airbus A320 final assembly line campus being built at Brookley Aeroplex. Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects will be lead architectural firm for design of the transshipment hangar, main entry gate building and renovation of Brookley's existing warehouse and receiving facility. Eleven construction and design consultant packages for the project have been awarded so far, and all have included Alabama-based firms. (Source: al.com, WPMI-TV, 08/29/13)

Most plant pilings now in place

MOBILE, Ala. -- Airbus Americas' project update shows 85 percent of the more than 2,100 pilings for the final assembly line hangar and service building have been driven at the Brookley site. Once the remaining pilings are in place at the Mobile site, steelwork is slated to being in September, meaning the buildings' frames, skins and roofs will be constructed. The $600 million plant is scheduled to come online in 2015, and the first A320 will be assembled in 2016. It will have about 1,000 workers when it reaches full annual production in 2018. (Source: al.com, 08/28/13, Airbus, 08/27/13)

Delta IV Heavy launched

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office lifted off from Space Launch Complex-6 at 11:03 a.m. PDT today. The Delta IV Heavy configuration Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle features a center common booster core along with two strap-on common booster cores. The common booster cores are powered by RS-68 engines, and RL10 engines power the second stage. Both engines are built by Aerojet Rocketdyne. ULA constructed the Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala. (Source: United Launch Alliance via PRNewswire, 08/28/13) Gulf Coast note: RS-68 engines are assembled and tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

F-35 weapons load verification done

Weapons load verification done. Air Force photo

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- After months of preparation, the weapons troop Standardization Load Crew from the 33rd Maintenance Group performed the first munitions load verification Tuesday on the F-35A. It involves loading and unloading laser-guided and GPS-guided bombs, and air-to-air missiles into the weapons bays of the aircraft. The Standardization Load Crew has been practicing load verification using a series of tabletop exercises for several months. This marked the first hands-on load verification for the crew. Ultimately, this is the work that is performed down range, and Eglin is laying the foundation. (Source: 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 08/28/13)

Contract: InDyne, $250.3M

InDyne Inc., Reston, Va., has been awarded a $250,323,919, modification for a contract for Eglin Test & Training Complex (ETTC) range operations and maintenance services. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for ETTC test and training areas and technical facilities to include test and training mission support, engineering support for range system design/modification/range configuration, and range support services to accomplish authorized range activities. Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2016. Air Force Test Center/PZZB, Eglin AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 08/28/13)

Aviation center opening delayed

FAIRHOPE, Ala. -- Baldwin County school officials moved the opening of the $2.7 million aviation training facility at the H.L. “Sonny” Callahan Airport in Fairhope to the fall of 2014. The training center will be built as part of a partnership with Faulkner State Community College, Enterprise State Community College and the Fairhope Airport Authority. School officials had originally planned to start classes in January. The change is designed to ensure all parties are happy with the pace of the project. (Source: al.com, 08/27/13)

Blues at November show?

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team is offering a bit of hope that the team may make an appearance at a November air show before the hometown crowd. But how much of an appearance is unclear. It may be to sign autographs, it may be a fly-over or perhaps a partial demonstration. The show, Wings Over Pensacola, is being planned for Nov. 8-11. The Navy has restricted the flight demonstration team's practice time this summer in the wake of federal budget cuts. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 08/28/13)

Contract: A&D, $9M

A&D GC, Inc., Santee, Calif., is being awarded $9,077,608 for firm-fixed-price task order under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract for Triton Maintenance Training Facility PM50 renovation at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif. The work to be performed provides for renovation of the west wing of PM50 into a maintenance training facility for the Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The facility will provide training device classrooms, high bay aircraft trainers, instructors work area, and administrative spaces to support the training efforts. The task order also contains one planned modification, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $9,909,608. Work will be performed in Point Mugu, and is expected to be completed by November 2014. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 08/27/13) Gulf Coast note: Triton UAVs are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: Pratt & Whitney, $69.6M

Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded an advance acquisition contract with an estimated value of $69,604,842 for long-lead components, parts and materials associated with the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot VIII of 19 F135 Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) propulsion systems for the Air Force; six Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) propulsion systems for the Marine Corps; and four Carrier Variant propulsion systems for the Navy. In addition, this contract provides for long lead components, parts and materials associated with LRIP Lot VII of four F135 CTOL propulsion systems for Italy; four STOVL propulsion systems for the United Kingdom; and two CTOL propulsions systems for Norway. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Conn. (67 percent); Bristol, United Kingdom (16.5 percent); and Indianapolis, Ind. (16.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2016. This contract combines purchases for the Air Force (56 percent); the Navy/Marine Corps (11 percent); and the governments of United Kingdom; (14 percent); Italy (12 percent); and Norway (7 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 08/27/13) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center. Previous

Pelli joins airport design team

NEW ORLEANS -- Cesar Pelli, an international architecture star, has joined the team redesigning the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The $826 million project will result in a new 30-gate terminal, complete with hotel, parking garage, highway access and other amenities. The ambitious airport rebuild is supposed to be finished by New Orleans’ 300th anniversary on May 5, 2018. Pelli joins New Orleans' William Raymond Manning of Manning Architects and Lionelle Hewitt of Hewitt Washington Architects in the Armstrong airport redesign. (Sources: Times Picayune, 08/26/13, New Orleans International Airport, 08/22/13)

Council addressing worker shortage

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- A big challenge facing manufacturers in Northwest Florida has been finding qualified local workers. To address the issue, manufacturers across 12 counties formed the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council. It estimates that 3,400 new skilled workers will be needed in the next five years, but regional education and workforce development programs forecast producing only 860 in that time. Greg Britton, CEO of Fort Walton Machining and chairman of the new council's board of directors, said manufacturing isn't like it was 20 years ago. Higher skills are needed today to run today's complex equipment. The council is working with school districts, technical centers and state colleges to help develop curricula focused on providing students the skills they need to work at a high-tech manufacturer. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 08/26/13, Florida's Great Northwest, 08/27/13)

NASA holding Mobile forum

MOBILE, Ala. -- Doing business with NASA will be the topic of a Sept. 4 business-to-business forum at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. NASA and an entourage of its agencies and prime contractors will give presentation and participate in a trade show to meet with small- and medium-sized companies interested in doing business with NASA. In addition to Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., NASA also operates Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Participants in the Mobile event include representatives from 25 prime contractors looking to partner with local small businesses on federal contracts. These include: Northrop Grumman, ATK Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Boeing and others. The agenda includes Fairhope native Todd May, manager of NASA's Space Launch System program. The event, hosted by the Mobile Area Chamber, is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and open to area and regional businesses. The cost is $75. For more information, call 251-431-8607. (Source: Mobile Area Chamber, 08/26/13)

Deal reached on F-35 engines

The Pentagon and Pratt and Whitney reportedly have researched an agreement in principle on a contract to build 39 engines for the sixth batch of F-35 fighters, sources told Reuters. The sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, placed the value at more than $1 billion. Separate discussions are planned for a seventh batch of the F135 engines that power all variants of the F-35. In July, DoD had agreed on a contract with Lockheed Martin for a sixth and seventh order of the F-35s. DoD buys the jet engines directly with Pratt and Whitney. (Source: Reuters, 08/26/13) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center. Previous

Spacecraft has captive carry test

Sierra Nevada of Louisville, Colo., completed a captive-carry test of the Dream Chaser spacecraft Aug. 22 at Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. During the two-hour test, an Erickson Air-Crane helicopter picked up a test version of the Dream Chaser flight vehicle and flew it three miles over a dry lake bed at Edwards at a maximum altitude of about 12,400 feet. The spacecraft followed the projected path it will fly during future approach and landing tests at Dryden. Dream Chaser's flight computer, along with its guidance, navigation and control systems were tested. The landing gear and nose skid also were deployed during flight. (Source: NASA, 08/22/13) Gulf Coast note: Lockheed Martin is assembling the composite structure for the first space-bound Dream Chaser at Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. Previous

F-35C has first KC-135 refuel

F-35C refueling. Lockheed Martin photo

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- A Lockheed Martin F-35 carrier variant refueled from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 for the first time Aug. 20. With the completion of this test, the F-35C joins the A and B models in proving that all three variants of the F-35 can be refueled from a common tanker platform, despite different methods. CF-1 was piloted by Lt. Col. Patrick Moran. Earlier this month, the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, the Navy's first F-35C carrier variant aircraft squadron, completed its first flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Source: Lockheed Martin, 08/23/13)

Higby takes command at Keesler

BILOXI, Miss. -- Keesler Air Force Base had a change of command ceremony Friday to transfer command of the 81st Training Wing to Brig. Gen. Patrick C. Higby. He replaced Brig. Gen. Brad Spacy, who has been reassigned as director, logistics and mission support at Headquarters United States Air Forces at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. (Source: Sun Herald, 08/23/13)