WTO ruling won't play role in tanker RFP

WASHINGTON – The Air Force sees no need to add language about the World Trade Organization ruling over subsidies to the request for proposal in the multibillion-dollar tanker project. In a case brought by the U.S., the WTO ruled subsidies from European governments to EADS’ Airbus were illegal, andBoeing supporters want that considered when awarding the tanker project. Reuters reports that Air Force Secretary Michael Donley called the WTO ruling preliminary, and noted that another case brought by the European Union is pending. Boeing and the EADS/Northrop Grumman team are competing to build tankers. (Source: Reuters, 09/14/09) Gulf Coast note: EADS wants to assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala.

Boeing talks tanker at AF expo

WASHINGTON - Boeing unveiled additional details of the company's potential offering in the Air Force aerial tanker competition. In a briefing Monday at the Air Force Association's 2009 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition, Rick Lemaster, Boeing KC-X director and program manager, said Boeing is prepared to offer either the 767 or larger 777. The company also launched a new Web site for information on the KC-7A7. (Source: Boeing, 09/14/09) Gulf Coast note: Boeing is competing against the Northrop Grumman/EADS team to build the tankers. EADS wants to assemble them in Mobile, Ala.

Eglin gets plaque as historic site

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A bronze plaque was mounted on a granite pedestal and placed in front of the Air Armament Museum last week to commemorate Eglin Air Force Base as a historic aerospace site. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics named Eglin as one of four sites to receive the honor for 2009. The other sites: NASA Ames Research Center; North American/Rockwell Downey Industrial site; Igor Sikorsky Airport and Vought-Sikorsky plant; and Honeysuckle Creek/Tidbinbilla/Orroral Valley Tracking Station in Australia. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base, 09/14/09)

Alabama gov rides Airbus tanker

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley flew over Spain for an hour Friday in an aerial tanker built by EADS company Airbus. Riley also toured EADS aircraft-assembly bays in Madrid. Riley, Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office, and a security officer spent Wednesday and Thursday in Germany before going to Spain. They return home Sunday. EADS plans to build a tanker assembly plant in Mobile, Ala., if it wins the competition against Boeing to build Air Force tankers. (Source: Birmingham News, 09/12/09)

Contract: BAE Systems, $7.4M

BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is being awarded a $7,382,503 modification under previously awarded contract to exercise option two for operation and maintenance support for facilities operating under Naval Computer & Telecommunications Area Master Station Hawaii. Work will be performed in Hawaii, and work is to be completed by September 2011. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/11/09)

Ares I first stage motor tested

PROMONTORY, Utah – NASA and ATK conducted the first test of the Ares I first stage five-segment development solid rocket motor Thursday. The solid rocket booster is planned for NASA's Ares I and Ares V rockets. The Ares I is a crew launch vehicle in development for NASA's Constellation Program. ATK is the prime contractor for the Ares I first stage. (Source: NASA, 09/10/09) Gulf Coast note: Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, and Stennis Space Center, Miss., are key NASA facilities on the Gulf Coast.

2nd AF gets new commander

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog has assumed command of the 2nd Air Force from Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers. The 2nd Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base is the Air Education and Training Command organization that oversees technical and combat training for 250,000 students annually. The change of command ceremony was Wednesday. (Source: Keesler, 09/09/09)

Contract: Defense Support Svc., $86.4M

Defense Support Services LLC of Mount Laurel, N.J., was awarded an $86.4 million contract for acquisition of aircraft maintenance support services for Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. At this time, $16.9 million has been obligated. AETC CONS/LGCK, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/09/09)

EADS suggests settling with Boeing

PARIS – EADS chief Louis Gallois says Airbus did nothing wrong in a trade dispute with the U.S. over subsidies, and called for a negotiated settlement with Boeing. In an interview published Wednesday in La Tribune, a French business daily, Gallois defended government launch aid as more transparent than "opaque subsidies" he said Boeing gets. The World Trade Organization ruled last week that Airbus, owned by EADS, received illegal subsidies. (Source: The Associated Press, 09/09/09) Gulf Coast note: Boeing is competing against the Northrop Grumman/EADS team to build Air Force tankers. EADS wants to assemble them in Mobile, Ala.

Jacobs gets $98M Eglin option

PASADENA, Calif. - Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. received the third of four one-year options on a contract for the U.S. Air Force Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and other locations. The option year, which begins October 1, has a potential value of $98.1 million. Jacobs provides technical and engineering acquisition support for weapons systems development and testing for the AAC. (Source: PRNewswire, 09/08/09)

Panel wants NASA to reset goals

A panel recommends NASA shelve the idea of rapidly returning to the moon and instead focus on nurturing a robust commercial space industry that can handle short-term objectives. The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee was convened by the Obama administration to assess NASA’s goals. The White House received the findings Tuesday, which stop short of explicitly rejecting the goal of launching a mission back to the moon. (Source: Wall Street Journal, 09/09/09) Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, are key NASA centers on the Gulf Coast.

F-15s depart from Eglin

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The 33rd Fighter Wing ended a 30-year history at Eglin Air Force Base when the wing’s last three F-15s left the base Tuesday for Arizona. The wing that was once the home of 54 F-15s soon will host the Joint Strike Fighter Training School. The official transition is Oct. 1. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 09/08/09)

Ares I motor test scheduled

NASA and Alliant Techsystems Inc. have rescheduled the test of the new first-stage solid rocket motor for the Ares I rocket. The static firing of the five-segment solid motor, designated development motor -1, is scheduled for Thursday at the ATK test facility in Promontory, Utah. The first firing attempt on Aug. 27 was scrubbed because of an anomaly with the ground test controller. (Source: NASA, 09/04/09)

QinetiQ subsidiary honored

FAIRFAX, Va. - A QinetiQ North America subsidiary, Analex Corp., has been honored as large business prime contractor of 2009 by NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The award recognizes outstanding engineering and technical management services to NASA on the Expendable Launch Vehicle Integrated Support contract to the NASA Launch Services Program. (Source: PRNewswire, 09/08/09) Gulf Coast note: QinetiQ has an operation in Long Beach, Miss.

Sides reviewing WTO ruling

The World Trade Organization today issued a confidential ruling about Airbus subsidies, and both sides are now reviewing the 1,000-page document. One news organization, the Wall Street Journal, is reporting that the panel ruled the subsidies by European governments were illegal. The U.S. filed a complaint in 2004, citing the aid as unfair to U.S.-based Boeing. A parallel complaint alleging illegal government subsidies have been given to Boeing is also before the WTO. (Source: Dow Jones, 09/04/09) Gulf Coast note: Boeing is competing against Airbus parent, EADS, to build tankers for the U.S. Air Force. EADS and partner Northrop Grumman want to assemble the planes in Mobile, Ala.

UAV sense-and-avoid system planned

Northrop Grumman is developing a common autonomous airborne sense-and-avoid system for both the Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk and the Navy RQ-4N Broad Area Maritime Surveillance derivative. The services were pursuing separate solutions for operating the aircraft in national airspace, but the Navy announced its intention to award Northrop Grumman a sole-source contract to develop a common system. (Source: Aviation Week, 09/03/09) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

Orion passes design milestone

HOUSTON - NASA has taken another step toward building the next crew exploration vehicle by completing the Orion Project's preliminary design review. Orion is being designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station and other destinations as part of the Constellation Program. The preliminary design review is one of a series of checkpoints that occurs in the design life cycle before hardware manufacturing can begin. (Source: NASA, 09/01/09) Gulf Coast note: Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and Stennis Space Center, Miss., are both involved in the Constellation Program.

Stennis holds industry day

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Industry Day will be held Wednesday at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center to inform contractors and small businesses about upcoming contracting opportunities. The event is hosted by the Office of Procurement. (Source: NASA, 09/01/09)

Gates gives strong F-35 endorsement

FORT WORTH, Texas – Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited the Lockheed Martin F-35 factory Monday, saying the importance of the aircraft can’t be overstated. He held up the Joint Strike Fighter as an example of new, innovative and more cost-effective ways to meet the country's current and future defense needs. It will be used by the Air Force, Navy and Marines. The $300 billion program is a partnership of the U.S. and allied nations. Gates said he’s particularly excited that the F-35 appears to be on schedule to equip the first training squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., by 2011. (Source: American Forces Press Service, 09/01/09)

Augustine panel report delayed

The independent Augustine Commission will release its report on the future of U.S. manned spaceflight in mid-September. It had been expected to release the report Monday. The 10-member panel plans to send a draft of its executive summary to NASA and the White House this week. The panel is headed by retired Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine. (Sources: Huntsville Times, Orlando Sentinel, 09/01/09)