Amos sure F-35B can be fixed

Marine Corps Gen. James Amos said he's confident Lockheed Martin will solve problems with the service's version of the F-35 and save it from cancellation. The short takeoff, vertical landing model of the F-35 has been put on probation for two years to fix significant problems, with cancelation possible. "I completely support that," Amos told the annual conference of the Surface Navy Association. Amos said he intends to keep a close eye on the F-35B because of its importance to the Marine Corps. (Source: Reuters, 01/13/11)

JSF training center gets F-16s

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Four F-16s on loan from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., arrive at Eglin today to support the F-35 training mission. The planes, from the 56th Fighter Wing, will be used by the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Training Center. Col. David Hlatky, commander of the 33rd at Eglin, said the aircraft are needed for training before the arrival of F-35s. Eglin has 17 F-16 Falcons, 10 assigned to the 46th Test Wing and seven to the 53rd. (Sources: Eglin Air Force Base media advisory, 01/10/11, Destin Log, 01/12/11)

Tanker award date unclear

When will the aerial tanker award be announced? Depends who you ask. EADS North America Chief Executive Officer Sean O'Keefe expects it next month, but Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh said he's not expecting the decision soon. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley declined to give a firm date for the contract award, saying only that the source selection is moving toward completion. Boeing and EADS are competing for the $35 billion deal to build jets for the U.S. Air Force. Boeing would build them in Washington and Kansas, and EADS would assemble them in Mobile, Ala. (Source: Air Force Times, SeattlePI, Reuters, 01/12/11)

Blade Dynamics begins hiring

NEW ORLEANS - Blade Dynamics, the wind turbine manufacturer at the Michoud Assembly Facility, plans to hire 40 salaried, technical operator positions. The positions require a minimum of one-year manufacturing or production experience, performance of industrial math and the ability to work rotating shifts. By 2015 Blade Dynamics plans to have some 600 employees on its payroll with an annual salary of about $48,000. (Source: The Advocate, 01/12/11)

Hunter unmanned system hits milestone

Northrop Grumman's Hunter unmanned aircraft, in use with the Army since 1996, recently surpassed 100,000 flight hours in service, with more than 72,000 hours in combat. The MQ-5B Hunter is currently deployed supporting contingency operations across the globe, provides warfighters with reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, communications relay and weapons delivery. The RQ-5A Hunter was the Army's first fielded UAS. The new generation MQ-5B is outfitted with updated equipment. (Source: Northrop Grumman via Globe Newswire, 01/12/11) Gulf Coast note: The Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems Center, Moss Point, Miss., has done refurbishing work on Hunter aircraft.

NASA names deputy chief technologist

WASHINGTON - NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun announced the appointment of Michael J. Gazarik as the agency's deputy chief technologist. Gazarik, who was deputy director for programs in the Engineering Directorate at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., will be a member of the office responsible for coordination, integration and tracking of all technology investments across the agency, as well as management of NASA's Space Technology programs. (Source: NASA, 01/12/11) Gulf Coast note: NASA has facilities at Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

Web site highlights naval aviation

Florida's Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Naval Air Station Pensacola have launched a new Web site highlighting the history of naval aviation in Pensacola. It features a list of local events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of naval aviation. Visitors can log on and share stories and photographs. Centennial events include a Blue Angles demonstration and visit by the USS Iwo Jima. (Sources: WEAR-TV, Pensacola News Journal, the site, 01/11/10)

Airline's first month better than expected

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Nearly a month after Vision Airlines started offering service at Northwest Florida Regional Airport, sales have exceeded expectations. The marketing and business development director for the airline said occupancy rates for the flights are good. Vision Airlines offers service to Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Miami, and plans to announce new destinations later this month. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 01/10/11) Previous story

Week in review column

When it comes to defense spending, the Gulf Coast region is all ears. That's not surprising, given that the region between South Louisiana and Northwest Florida has a wealth of military bases and activities, large and small contractors and businesses that rely on the military. It's a safe bet a lot of folks were paying attention when Defense Secretary Robert Gates during the week announced some additional spending cuts. (Source: Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor, 01/08/11)

PW engine powers biofuels test

A Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-220 engine recently powered its first biofuel test flight of an Air Force F-15 Eagle at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This flight test, powered by alternative jet fuel, comes on the heels of engine ground testing earlier this year at Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee. The Air Force's goal is to acquire half of its domestic jet fuel requirements from alternate sources by 2016. This is Pratt and Whitney's second military engine to successfully complete ground and flight tests using biofuels. A C-17 Globemaster III powered by four Pratt and Whitney F117 engines completed testing in August. Similar tests are planned for the F119. Pratt and Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. (Source: Pratt and Whitney via PRNewswire, 01/06/11)

Date set for Orbital's COTS mission

NASA has set Dec. 14 as the target launch date for Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Commercial Orbital Transportation System cargo demonstration mission. The company says it continues to make progress toward attaining safety clearance for the mission, in which its Cygnus spacecraft will dock with the International Space Station. Tests of the Aerojet AJ26 engine that will power the first stage also continue at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., where engineers are preparing for a third hot-fire test of the engine following earlier runs in November and December. "Every month we'll be bringing another AJ26 through Stennis," said Carl Walz, Orbital's vice president of human spaceflight operations. (Source: Aviation Week, 01/06/11)

DoD "efficiencies" announced

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates today announced a series of moves designed to save the Department of Defense more than $150 billion over the next five years by reducing overhead and cutting excess and troubled programs. The bulk of the savings will be used in areas such as shipbuilding, long-range strike, missile defense, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance and more. Among other things, the Air Force will buy more simulators for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter air crew training. But the Marine Corps short take-off and vertical landing variant of the F-35 is being placed on a two-year probation because of testing problems, putting the Marine variant to the back of the overall JSF production sequence. In addition, the Navy will develop a new generation of sea-borne unmanned strike and surveillance aircraft. (Source: DoD, 01/06/11) Gulf Coast note: The Gulf Coast is a major military shipbuilding center; Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the JSF training center; Moss Point, Miss., builds portions of unmanned aircraft.

Marine F-35 put on probation

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is putting the Marine Corps version of the F-35 on a two-year probation to give Lockheed Martin more time to demonstrate its reliability, according to two defense officials and a lawmaker. It's part of Gates' plan to save $102 billion in military spending through 2016. There are three variants of the F-35, but the short take-off and vertical landing version is the most complex and has had more problems. (Source: Bloomberg, eCanadaNow, 01/06/11) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the site of the F-35 training center.

Blue Angels in El Centro for winter

The Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team arrived early this week at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., the team's winter training facility. The team is based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., but does its winter training in California. That training wraps up in mid-March. The team will perform in more than 37 shows this year, with the season ending in Pensacola Nov. 12. (Source: KXO radio, 01/04/11)

Pensacola marks aviation centennial

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Pensacola is celebrating a century of naval aviation, with a kickoff and party slated for Jan. 20 at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Other activities during the year include Aviation Week in May with the arrival of the USS Iwo Jima and a special performance by the Blue Angels flight demonstration team. The Blue Angels will also perform at Pensacola Beach in July. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 01/05/11)

Flight academy gets grant

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The National Flight Academy received a $1.7 million grant to buy 42 flight simulators. The grant is from the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust. The $26.5 million flight academy is being built next to the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The academy is designed to interest young people in science, technology, engineering and math careers, including aerospace. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 01/05/11) Previous story

Contract: EADS, $52.9M

EADS North American Defense, Arlington, Va., was awarded a $52,509,992 firm-fixed-price contract to provide for 12 UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters, 12 Airborne Radio Communication systems and two Engine Inlet Barrier Filters. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2012. The U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 01/04/11)

F-35 STOVL engine hits milestone

Pratt and Whitney's F135 engine used in the vertical take-off and landing version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter passed a testing milestone known as initial service release. That means the engine is now certified as the production configuration. The company received initial service release for the conventional take off and landing/carrier variant (CTOL/CV) in February 2010. The Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) version of the F-35 will be used by the Marine Corps. Pratt and Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. (Source: Pratt and Whitney, 01/03/11) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the JSF training center.

Moret sees new tenants at Michoud

Louisiana's chief economic development official told the Press Club in Baton Rouge that several entities are interested in locating at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. But Stephen Moret declined to name names. Michoud is NASA's huge manufacturing facility that built the external tanks for the Space Shuttle. At its height it had 5,000 workers, but now has 1,000 as Lockheed Martin ends its shuttle work. "We will attract thousands of private-sector jobs," said Moret, secretary of the Department of Economic Development. Turbine-maker Blade Dynamics announced last year it would set up shop at Michoud. (Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune, 01/04/11)

Week in review column

Aerospace is the focus on this column, but it's hard not to pay attention to the major Navy contract that was awarded during the week to Austal USA of Mobile, Ala. The contract to build littoral combat ships underscores the importance of shipbuilding to the Gulf Coast region. But beyond that, it shows contracts can be split between competitors and highlights the crucial role companies with foreign roots play in the U.S. defense industry. (Source: Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor, 01/01/11)