The Air Force is purchasing A-29 Super Tucano LAS (light air support) planes for the Afghan army. According to Aviation Week, the “LAS contract will supply up to 20 light-attack, advanced-trainer aircraft to the Afghan Air Force for delivery beginning in 2013.”

As it’s now mid-December, I’m postulating the USAF’s delay in announcing the contract to Embraer may be caused by a request pending at the General Accounting Office (GAO). According to industry publication Defense Tech on Nov. 22nd:

 AT-6 Is Out of the Light Air Support Contest, Award Imminent.

Wichita-based Hawker Beecher Corp (HBC) is the manufacturer of AT-6B, which then sent two requests to USAF asking why its A-6B was excluded, which USAF twice denied to answer.

“HBC’s exclusion from competing for this important contract appears at this point to have been made without basis in process or fact. We are very interested in learning more about the decision and look forward to the results of the GAO’s review,” said the company in a statement on Nov. 22nd.

What to say?

Brothers-in-Arms update

Ajmal Omer at Camp LeJeune, N.C.

As long as were on the subject of U.S. Armed Forces presence in Afghanistan, this is an opportune time to revisit Afghani translator, Ajmal Omer. The last time we spoke in March for Enduring Bonds, he was at Camp Lejeune, N.C. teaching basic Pashto and Dari languages, and Afghan culture, to Marines headed to Afghanistan.

Operation Odyssey Dawn had just begun. On Mar. 19th the USS Florida launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libyan air defenses to begin implementing a “no-fly zone” over Libya. Three days later, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based at Camp Lejeune, conducted a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission to rescue the U.S. Air Force pilot downed somewhere in northeast Libya.

Yesterday, Ajmal said he’s still at Camp Lejeune but now working for L-3 Communications teaching advanced, and basic, Pashto and Dari.  L-3 Communications is a diversified (to put it mildly) military and government contractor. Electronic systems comprises L-3′s broadest and deepest segment of products and services. By combining the capabilities of more than 25 business units, L-3 has also become a fully-integrated platform provider for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs. Drones.

I’m not sure if L-3 Communications works with Embraer, but they might as Embraer in September formalized the creation of a new company, Harpia Sistemas SA, to develop UAS systems.

Ajmal said L-3 treats him well and he’s very happy. He’s still in contact with all of his Armed Forces brethren and gives a special shout-out to Arnold Strong. As we’ll recall, he and Jon Singleton were primarily staff officers together on their Afghani tour. At the time (June 2009) of Brothers-in-Arms: Notes from the West Coast, he was in the field in the high deserts of New Mexico, training a National Guard battalion from Connecticut before they deployed to Iraq.

Major Arnold Strong

Ajmal said of Afghan culture, “It’s very important for Marines to win the hearts and minds of Afghans.” And on that note, Ajmal just got engaged to be married to an Afghan woman studying law in Berlin. He’s flying there today and she’ll be moving to the United States within the year.

Congratulations to you both!

♥

Farnborough International Airshow 2010… A world of opportunities

Today  the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) is a global aerospace event.  A trade show of the airways, so to speak, for the commercial and defense  aeronautical industries  - from aircraft and avionics sales and leasing to logistical, manufacturing and maintenance services.

Of course major aircraft manufacturers showcase new products at an international airshow of this magnitude — the Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its inaugural non-stop flight from Seattle to Farnborough for the show.

Site consultants for Boeing had considered Cecil Field and Cecil Commerce Center as an assembly location for the Dreamliner according to John Haley, Senior Vice President of Business Development for the [non-profit] Cornerstone division of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Landing a major contract such as this is the reason a  Northeast Florida (all seven counties!) delegation attended the  July 19 – 25, 2010 Farnborough  International Airshow.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to FIA

The team included Nick Sacia, Executive Director of  St. Johns County Economic Development  [representing  St. Augustine Airport Authority], Jacksonville Aviation Authority and Cornerstone. Its mission:  extol the benefits of doing business in Jacksonville, America’s Logistics Center! Haley said teams spread out to cover fourteen appointments with aerospace corporations over a four-day period.

The team meets Monday, August 16th to organize  strategic marketing plans moving forward.

The Northeast delegation was just one  from the State of Florida. The state’s economic development organization, Enterprise Florida, was lead coordinator for Florida’s eight designated industry regions.

Florida’s aviation & aerospace industry counts nearly 2,000 aviation and aerospace companies that employ some 87,000 workers. NASA and the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, as well as Florida’s many U.S. military and air force bases are also key industry assets. The state’s excellent education, infrastructure and business development in Space and Aeronautics and its optimal geographic location and climate conditions also contribute to its leading role in the aerospace & aviation industry.

The U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Louis Susman, held a reception at Winfield House in Regents Park, London for all states attending FIA. As one would imagine, competition between states is fierce.

Scoring a contract such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner assembly plant (which was awarded to Charleston, South Carolina!) is  the target destination. Last year, shortly after the 2009 Paris Airshow, French company Saft International announced plans to build a high-tech battery plant at Cecil Commerce Center.

NOTE:  Updates as updates arrive from the upcoming secret strategy meeting on Monday.

Homepage feature photo:

The Red Devils Parachute Regiment Freefall Team AP/Sang Tan

The Parachute Regiment Freefall Team ‘The Red Devils’ is the official parachute display team of both the Parachute Regiment (The Paras) and the British Army.

Airports Council International – North America is holding its May 31 -  June 3 Marketing and Communications conference in the heart of downtown Montreal.

Casino de Montreal

Barbara Halverstadt, Jacksonville Airport Authority’s  airtrade and marketing manager, is attending the conference for developments impacting the aviation industry.

Beyond meetings, Halverstadt’s priority  is “pitching” Jacksonville International Airport for non-stop routes  to  five high-volume desinations airports  through JIA – Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Phoenix (JAA statistics).

Air Tran, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, JetBlue Airways,  Southwest,  United Airlines and US Airways are among airlines holding one-on-one  presentation meetings with national airport marketing representatives.  Route system compatibility and passenger volume are primary considerations for non-stop service.

Good luck, Barbara!

Next stop, Puerto Rico …

- k.a. gardner