BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. North Central West Virginias hub of aerospace and aviation is continuing to grow, thanks in great part to the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center.

Director Thomas Stose said that job opportunities are plentiful, not only in the Mountain State but nationwide.

The Boeing Company predicts a shortage of 650,000 employees in the industry, Stose said.

Following the trends that are posted by Boeing, aircraft sales are up, he said. Im getting calls because of these shortages from companies outside the state of West Virginia wanting to know if some of our technicians would be willing to relocate.

As the only FAA certified training center in the state, the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center has a 100 percent placement for its graduates.

We have the companies coming to the school before the students even complete, looking for future employees, Stose said. In fact were constantly in contact with the local employers. Bombardier hires many of our graduates, and many of our graduates have gone on, gained experience and moved into management positions.

KCI Aviation, Pratt & Whitney and Aurora Flight Services are also among those who hire the centers graduates.

The Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center offers two programs an eight-week Aircraft Structures Training Program (ASTP) and a two-year associates degree program in Aviation Maintenance Technology.

The 25 to 30 students that graduate from the program each year are a diverse group. Students range from recent high school graduates to displaced coal miners and even adults simply looking for a career change.

Guys and gals, Stose said. Were always looking for more ladies in this career field because they have a great deal of talent working on high performance and high technology aircraft.

Stose said the industry is most appealing to individuals who enjoy hands-on work and a challenge.

This isnt just wrench twisting, this is high technology, he said. Were dealing with digital electronics were dealing with computers. This is a career where youre going to use your mind and your hands.

Not only are the jobs well-paying, they are stable, as is the industry, Stose said.

Students that I had 20 years ago in front of me in the classroom are still working here in North Central West Virginia, so were offering lifelong careers and the opportunity for growth, he said.

Read the rest here:

Sky is Not the Limit for Mountain State's Aerospace Industry | 1440 ... - wajr

"Obtaining the exclusive, global license to manufacture this patented technology has enabled Metro Aerospace to rapidly bring the Microvanes to market, providing Operators with significant fuel savings and increased time on mission," says Leslie Peters, President and CEO of Metro Aerospace.

Priced at only $125,000 per shipset, Microvanes are proven to be one of the most cost effective fuel reduction improvements for large cargo aircraft due to their rapid return-on-investment, ease of installation, minimal aircraft downtime, and lack of adverse impact on airdrop operations.

About Metro AerospaceBased in Dallas, Texas, Metro Aerospace is a Small Minority-owned Business, developing and bringing to market ground breaking and state-of-the-art technologies that will shape the future of making aerospace travel more efficient. See http://metroaerospace.com.

Metro Aerospace was established in 2016 by the founders of Catalyze Dallas, a venture development company specializing in creating value through the spin out of intellectual property sourced from some of the world's most respected defense and industrial companies. See http://catalyzedallas.com.

Contact:Stephanie Stahl +1-469-730-6966

PRLog ID: http://www.prlog.org/12651877

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/metro-aerospace-brings-proven-drag-reducing-microvanes-technology-to-the-c-130-hercules-fleet-300487384.html

SOURCE Metro Aerospace

Home

See original here:

Metro Aerospace Brings Proven Drag-reducing Microvanes ... - PR Newswire (press release)

From the outsideSummit Aviation, in the small town of Somerset, Kentucky, looks like any other nondescript, white warehouse. But inside workers craft parts for drones, weapons casings, wing stabilizers and other high-flying products.

Summit is one of many small manufacturers making up the growing aerospace industry in the Ohio Valley. Highly specialized companies are landing in Kentucky and Ohio for the proximity to important raw materials and the promise of some political sway.

Aerospace and aviation have a long history in the region Ohio gave us the Wright Brothers, after all. A lot has changed since the two decided theyd find a way to fly. Now aerospace products are among the regions top-dollar exports.

Aircraft and their parts are now Ohios second-highest value exports. In Kentucky, aerospace products are at the top of the export value list, exceeding other manufactured goods and traditional commodities such as coal and agricultural exports.

Scott Roush, director of manufacturing at Summit, said there are a couple of reasons for locating in a rural part of Kentucky. One is that its inCongressman Hal Rogers district.

Were here and there are a number of other defense contractors here because of the congressmen, said Roush.

Rogers represents eastern Kentuckys 5th district and serves on powerfuldefense and spending committees. Roush said the congressman approached Sikorsky a decade ago and asked the company to put work in Somerset. He said that connection has helped Summit get its foot in the door.

So when we go and say, Were Summit Aviation with 50 employees, and youre going in to meet with a billion-dollar corporation, they may not take you seriously unless you have that extra push to say, Hey, at least let these people in and let them show you what they can do, Roush said.

In an emailed statement Rogers said, bringing new industry to southern and eastern Kentucky has been a top priority.

Supply and Defense

Summit is whats known as a build-to-print facility. Clients send blueprints and the company builds according to those plans. Many of Summits products, such as wing stabilizers, are sent to legendary helicopter makersSikorsky, and could later become part of one of the Armys Black Hawk helicopters. About 70 percent of the work at Summit is for defense contracts and Roush said that makes the supply chain important.

Especially on the defense side there are specific limitations to where you can get, what countries you can get raw materials from, Roush said.

Defense contractors must comply withlawsspecifying that material formilitary contractsbe sourced domestically.

That highlights another one of the regions strong selling points: Century Aluminum in Hawesville, Kentucky. Century is just 166 miles northwest of Somerset and is home to the countryslast smelterproducing high-purity aluminum, which is used for many aerospace products.

It makes sense for the smelting operation to be reasonably close to one of their major customers, said Dan Stohr, communications director for the Aerospace Industries Association.

Stohr said about 90 percent of exports in the aerospace industry are for commercial aircraft. Most parts for defense contracts stay in the country. He said once a part is made, the same company will often also provide most maintenance, generating more revenue for the manufacturer.

Its cheaper and easier for a major company to buy those finished products as opposed to finishing them, themselves. And so from an economic standpoint these small shops provide an invaluable service, Stohr said.

The Jobs Picture

Stohr said this industry also provides a lot of high-skill, quality jobsabout 2.4 million nationwide.

But the regions dependence on smaller companies could also have some downsides. Mike Shields is a workforce researcher atPolicy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, labor-leaning research institute. He said hes skeptical about the quality of the jobs in the regions aerospace sector.

People who are in the same type of job are oftentimes not earning as high of wages and are not experiencing the same job quality in some of these smaller firms than they do in a comparable role in a well-recognized firm, Shields said.

Shields said traditionally manufacturing jobs are stable high-paying jobs, but that isnt necessarily a given anymore. Hes also concerned about how successful the aerospace industry can be in the long run if its made up of small businesses.

Its harder for them to be profitable, Shields said. He explained that smaller companies making interchangeable component parts are easily undercut by competitors. He said a companys products must be unique in order to stand out in the supply network.

On the manufacturing floor of Summit Aviation, workers check off on each step of their work on the various projects going on. These days theres another element in the industrys political picture: a new President who wants to beef up defense and domestic aluminum production.

The perception is that a Republican-led government will lead to more defense spending. But I dont think weve seen the effect of that, Roush said.

Roush said its too early to tell if his industry will hit new heights, but talk of increased spending, proximity to materials, and being in a political players back yard doesnt hurt their chances.

View original post here:

Taking Flight: Ohio Valley's Aerospace Exports Take Top Dollars - WEKU

Honeywell plans to invest more than $10 million and create at least 30 jobs at its aerospace facility in Greer over the next five years.

On Tuesday, the company announced its plans to add up to 5,000 square feet of manufacturing space to the facility, which is located on South Buncombe Road.

The newly announced expansion, which begins later this year, has an estimated completion date of 2019. It will create about 30 skilled high-tech jobs.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has also committed additional tax incentives over the next 20 years to help the company develop, maintain, and expand the facility, according to a press release.

The aerospace industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world, and South Carolina in particular hosts nearly 200 aerospace-related companies. Our facility expansion means that we not only increase our capabilities, but Honeywell continues to contribute to South Carolinas burgeoning aerospace economy, said Jason Lewandowski, senior director for the Honeywell Aerospace Greer site.

This investment positions our manufacturing network for future growth to help us maintain leadership and drive innovation. We will benefit greatly from South Carolinas wealth of engineering and manufacturing talent to strengthen our technical capabilities and provide production support from Greer,Lewandowski added.

Honeywell first established manufacturing operations in Greer in 1982.The facility is a major center for the companys machining, special processes, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for both commercial and military aircraft. The company employs more than 1,000 people in South Carolina.

To provide advanced manufacturing capabilities and enhance capacity, an Anderson appliance company will invest an

With seven existing sites around the Midwest and Southern United States, Plastics Products Inc. (PPC)

Waste and recycling collection company Sutera USA LLC is investing $2 million and creating 20

Ranger Aerospace plans to invest in Easley-based ACL Airshop to spur the companys growth with

Follow this link:

Honeywell to invest $10M in Greer's aerospace facility - Upstate Business Journal

Birmingham Business Journal

Southern Research taps engineering veteran for aerospace role Birmingham Business Journal Mark Patterson has joined Southern Research's engineering division and will lead business development efforts focused on the aerospace industry. Patterson, who has been in the industry for 30 years, has made technical contributions to climate change ...

See the rest here:

Southern Research taps engineering veteran for aerospace role - Birmingham Business Journal

Hyderabad: An aerospace engineer was one among two people arrested, along with 16 units of LSD seized, following a police crackdown against drug abuse in the city.

Dundu Anish, a 29-year-old aerospace engineer from United States, had worked with NASA earlier.

Mahender Reddy, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, said, "Youngsters are found smoking in these hookah centres and then getting addicted to other bad habits. To ensure our children remain healthy, we aim to make Hyderabad a hookah-free city. We have asked all zonal police officers to crackdown on illegal hookah centres which are operating in the city.

The arrests by the Excise Department recently exposed the harsh reality about school and college going students being addicted to high-end narcotics like LSD.

Taking a serious note, the police, schools and the government are taking all steps to curb the menace.

Vasireddy Amarnath, Educationist & Director of Slate school chains in Hyderabad, said, Teenagers going to pubs, hookah centres and even consuming drugs has been going on for last five years. Its very easy for young minds to get induced into wrong acts. These days drinking and smoking has become acceptable and if you are not part of the group, you are considered outdated. This is a very dangerous trend."

Couple of years back, an incident was reported in an international school where students were getting vodka to school, mixing with water and drinking during breaks. Last year, even we got to know an instance where our student was visiting hookah parlour. We immediately took corrective measures and counselled our students. We reported the problem of Hookah centres to city police also," he added.

Experts say it's peer pressure that drives youngsters into smoking or drinking activities. It starts with one person and then multiplies. The drug rackets have been operating on the principle of multi-level marketing. When one person gets addicted, they are asked to bring more people by offering discounts or commission.

Concerned over the issue, the schools have issued advisories to parents to watch out for erratic behaviour in children. Schools are also appealing parents to track the expenditures of their children and their social media activities. Many schools have taken up counselling sessions to sensitise students, parents and teachers about the issue.

Stressing on the need of sustained campaign and action against drug abuse, Amarnath said, "Schools should not just promote elitism but also impart good education and moral values. Regular counselling must be conducted in schools to ensure our kids dont fall prey. The prime responsibility lies with the schools but equal support of parents is also needed. Parents should behave like friends and share every emotion of their child. Parents have to be alert about their kids' activity."

Notices have been sent to various people in the Telugu film industry, after names from the industry came forward during investigation. Leading Telugu film producer, Suresh Babu, said, "We do not want negative image for our industry. We will create awareness and do whatever is needed. Because of few people, industry is getting a bad name. Its our responsibility to save the future generation."

Read more:

Aerospace Engineer Arrested in Hyderabad for Peddling Drugs - News18

Aircraft manufacturing has a long history in the Ohio Valley region stretching back to the Wright Brothers first shop. Today aerospace products are among the areas top-dollar exports -- the second biggest export for Ohio, and number one for Kentucky. Becca Schimmel visited one aerospace facility in rural Kentucky to learn how the industry has developed, and where it might be heading.

From the outsideSummit Aviation, in the small town of Somerset, Kentucky, looks like any other nondescript, white warehouse. But inside workers craft parts for drones, weapons casings, wing stabilizers and other high-flying products.

Summit is one of many small manufacturers making up the growing aerospace industry in the Ohio Valley. Highly specialized companies are landing in Kentucky and Ohio for the proximity to important raw materials and the promise of some political sway.

Aerospace and aviation have a long history in the region Ohio gave us the Wright Brothers, after all. A lot has changed since the two decided theyd find a way to fly. Now aerospace products are among the regions top-dollar exports.

Aircraft and their parts are now Ohios second-highest value exports. In Kentucky, aerospace products are at the top of the export value list, exceeding other manufactured goods and traditional commodities such as coal and agricultural exports.

Scott Roush, director of manufacturing at Summit, said there are a couple of reasons for locating in a rural part of Kentucky. One is that its inCongressman Hal Rogers district.

Were here and there are a number of other defense contractors here because of the congressmen, said Roush.

Rogers represents eastern Kentuckys 5th district and serves on powerfuldefense and spending committees. Roush said the congressman approached Sikorsky a decade ago and asked the company to put work in Somerset. He said that connection has helped Summit get its foot in the door.

So when we go and say, Were Summit Aviation with 50 employees, and youre going in to meet with a billion-dollar corporation, they may not take you seriously unless you have that extra push to say, Hey, at least let these people in and let them show you what they can do, Roush said.

In an emailed statement Rogers said, bringing new industry to southern and eastern Kentucky has been a top priority.

Supply and Defense

Summit is whats known as a build-to-print facility. Clients send blueprints and the company builds according to those plans. Many of Summits products, such as wing stabilizers, are sent to legendary helicopter makersSikorsky, and could later become part of one of the Armys Black Hawk helicopters. About 70 percent of the work at Summit is for defense contracts and Roush said that makes the supply chain important.

Especially on the defense side there are specific limitations to where you can get, what countries you can get raw materials from, Roush said.

Defense contractors must comply withlawsspecifying that material formilitary contractsbe sourced domestically.

That highlights another one of the regions strong selling points: Century Aluminum in Hawesville, Kentucky. Century is just 166 miles northwest of Somerset and is home to the countryslast smelterproducing high-purity aluminum, which is used for many aerospace products.

It makes sense for the smelting operation to be reasonably close to one of their major customers, said Dan Stohr, communications director for the Aerospace Industries Association.

Stohr said about 90 percent of exports in the aerospace industry are for commercial aircraft. Most parts for defense contracts stay in the country. He said once a part is made, the same company will often also provide most maintenance, generating more revenue for the manufacturer.

Its cheaper and easier for a major company to buy those finished products as opposed to finishing them, themselves. And so from an economic standpoint these small shops provide an invaluable service, Stohr said.

The Jobs Picture

Stohr said this industry also provides a lot of high-skill, quality jobsabout 2.4 million nationwide.

But the regions dependence on smaller companies could also have some downsides. Mike Shields is a workforce researcher atPolicy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, labor-leaning research institute. He said hes skeptical about the quality of the jobs in the regions aerospace sector.

People who are in the same type of job are oftentimes not earning as high of wages and are not experiencing the same job quality in some of these smaller firms than they do in a comparable role in a well-recognized firm, Shields said.

Shields said traditionally manufacturing jobs are stable high-paying jobs, but that isnt necessarily a given anymore. Hes also concerned about how successful the aerospace industry can be in the long run if its made up of small businesses.

Its harder for them to be profitable, Shields said. He explained that smaller companies making interchangeable component parts are easily undercut by competitors. He said a companys products must be unique in order to stand out in the supply network.

The Trump Factor

On the manufacturing floor of Summit Aviation, workers check off on each step of their work on the various projects going on. These days theres another element in the industrys political picture: a new President who wants to beef up defense and domestic aluminum production.

The perception is that a Republican-led government will lead to more defense spending. But I dont think weve seen the effect of that, Roush said.

Roush said its too early to tell if his industry will hit new heights, but talk of increased spending, proximity to materials, and being in a political players back yard doesnt hurt their chances.

Here is the original post:

Taking Flight: Ohio Valley's Aerospace Exports Take Top Dollars ... - WKMS

MUMBAI: Reliance Infrastructure of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group has received government approvals for its planned $1-billion greenfield aerospace park near Nagpur.

We can now start working on the first unit by August and hope to complete it by first quarter of 2018, said Rajesh Dhingra, chief executive officer at Reliance Defence, an arm of Reliance Infra.

All our aerospace-related units will be based in this one location. We will invest around $1 billion (about Rs 6,500 crore) on developing the entire part, he told ET.

The board of approval for special economic zones (SEZs) in the ministry of commerce has given its approval to the proposed aerospace park spread across 289 acres at Mihan near Nagpur.

The park aims to carry out business worth over Rs 200,000 crore over the next 30 years, the company said.

In the first phase, the project will build manufacturing unit for production of aircraft, electronic warfare systems, radars, unmanned aerial vehicles, maintenance repair and overhaul for commercial aircraft, and complete eco system, including ancillary units and suppliers, to support these large projects. This development will be spread over 104 acres and the second phase will cover an additional area of 185 acres.

Dhingra, who is a former Indian Air Force officer, has been at the helm for the companys aerospace business even before it acquired Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering in 2015 to make a foray into the sector.

Since the acquisition, Reliance Defence has signed collaboration deals with international defence manufacturers and joined the race to grab a slice of the countrys defence spend along with other private players like Larsen & Toubro, Tata Group, and Mahindra Group.

Reliance Group last year entered into separate joint ventures with French defence majors Dassault Aviation and Thales. In both the ventures, the Indian partner will hold majority 51% stake. The company has already incorporated the Dassault JV and it will be the first project it undertakes in the aerospace park, officials said.

Both the JVs will be based out of Mihan SEZ and will work towards the execution of offset obligation worth up to Rs 30,000 crore for the 36 Rafale fighter jets being bought by India for Rs 60,000 crore, the company said.

Read the original:

Reliance Group: Reliance Infrastructure gets go-ahead for $1-billion ... - Economic Times

SpaceXs reusable rocket technology has been hailed as the future of space travel, and even the Russians have admitted that the company seems to be on to something, but when it comes to return on investment, one of SpaceXs founding team members says that launching the same first stages multiple times isnt actually where the company sees the boost to its bottom line.

Jim Cantrell is the CEO of Vector Space Systems. Hes worked for NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab and was a founding member of both SpaceX and the Google Lunar X Prize-winning Moon Express. When it comes to the space industry, hes the kind of guy who you should listen to, and in a recent response to a Quora question about exactly how much money SpaceX is saving by reusing its Falcon rocket, Cantrell revealed the real reason (he believes) the company has pursued reusable hardware so vigorously isnt actually to save money, but to increase the number of launches the company is able to perform.

Reusability allows a marked increase in flight rates, Cantrell explained. Reverse engineered financial models of SpaceX show that to reach a good strong positive cash flow, they need more than the traditional 1012 launches per year that sized rocket has demonstrated. Reusability should easily double the amount of flights possible from a mere production and logistics standpoint.

As far as the discounts being offered to clients whose devices and cargo is being launch on flight-proven rockets, I am thinking that very few, if any, of the SpaceX Falcon 9 first stages are going to be re-used for more than 3 or so flights, Cantrell said. SpaceX will therefore not break even on the reusability portion of the equation.

Originally posted here:

Aerospace guru explains why SpaceX reuses rockets and it's not to save money - BGR

At Infor's customer event, Inforum 2017 at the Javits Center, Norman Hussey, Director of Business Analytics at Zodiac Aerospace, and Pedro Arellano, Vice President of Product Strategy at Birst, will present "Birst BI & Analytics The newest addition to Infor" [TECH-104 session], at 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 12, in Room 1E17.

Zodiac Aerospace, headquartered in Plaisir (Paris), France, has about 35,000 employees at more than 100 sites around the globe. With annual revenues of more than 5 billion Euros, the company has grown significantly, through a number of acquisitions, in recent years. These acquisitions have enabled Zodiac Aerospace to strengthen its position as a major participant in the aircraft cabin industry and to become the worldwide leader in commercial aircraft seats.

Zodiac Aerospace is utilizing several Infor Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms, which are designed to meet the unique business requirements of manufacturers in the aerospace industry, which helps the company manage the core and supporting processes in its business.

As a result of the company's organic growth and acquisition activity, it formed several business units operating over multiple ERP systems. Several legacy BI systems were in place, including a central BI platform and enterprise data warehouse. However, this system requires Zodiac Aerospace's Central IT team to manage this complex process, serving as the central clearinghouse for reporting requests from the business units.

Zodiac Aerospace needed responsiveness to its capability in BI and Analytics that would provide self-service analytics to business units across the enterprise thus reducing the business units' reliance on central reporting and enable a faster, more efficient order-fulfilment process. It also wanted a cloud-based solution, which would support development and usage anywhere (regardless of geography) and provide easy sharing of insights.

The company explored using desktop discovery solutions, but those solutions were not able to prepare data for analysis, in an integrated fashion, nor connect/analyze data on an enterprise scale. Consequently, they sometimes produced inconsistent reporting that undermined trust in the decision-making process.

Enter Birst's networked business analytics platform. With the platform's patented, Automated Data Refinement (ADR) technology and self-service capabilities, Zodiac Aerospace's business units are able to prepare and analyze data quickly, reducing their reliance on Central IT and identifying issues in the customer order process. For example, the Birst solution helped identify customer orders, which, at times, were not synchronized with their customer's system. This capability reduces the risk of missed shipments, improving on-time delivery.

Birst's networked business analytics platform provided quick-to-market, added-value content. Business users could generate reports in minutes instead of weeks and boost efficiencies across the entire supply chain. By networking analytic instances (spaces) together, the Birst platform enables Zodiac Aerospace to quickly deliver specific content and shorten its time-to-market and avoid the administrative hassle of people and business units working with data in isolation.

Further, the Birst platform offered a fully integrated, automated analytics data store and integrated data preparation capabilities along with rapid and reliable connectivity to the Infor M3 platform and other systems.

According to Norman Hussey, Director of Business Analytics at Zodiac Aerospace, "Birst's fully contained data store and data warehouse is a great value. Data connectivity is also very powerful and simple, which gives us faster time-to-market."

Hussey also noted that the desktop discovery systems, which Zodiac Aerospace evaluated, "needed back-end data preparation done before they could start. Birst has that full process integrated. Most importantly, Birst's fully integrated stack in the cloud enables you to focus on delivering what your organization needs, without worries about memory, disks, support, and backups."

Brad Peters, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Birst, said, "With Birst's networked business analytics platform, we believe Zodiac Aerospace can continue to achieve greater levels of operational excellence, reduce risks and maintain strong service-level agreements with its customers. Birst creates a network of analytics that connects every part of the organization through trusted insights."

Birst & Zodiac Aerospace to present at Inforum, July 12, in New York

Tweet This:

.@ZodiacAerospace taps @BirstBI networked business #analytics to strengthen #supplychain and scale self-service http://bit.ly/2sFChaB

About Birst, an Infor Company

Birst is an advanced networked business analytics platform. Organizations can achieve a new level of trusted insight and decision making by connecting their data and people via a network of analytics services. Birst scales from individuals to the enterprise in a manner that is smart, connected, and scalable. Learn more at http://www.birst.com.

About Infor

Infor builds business software for specific industries in the cloud. With 16,000 employees and more than 90,000 customers in over 170 countries, Infor software is designed for progress. To learn more, please visitwww.infor.com.

Media contact: Steve Bauer Birst, an Infor company (628) 444-5101 (650) 670-7135 (mobile) sbauer@birst.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zodiac-aerospace-taps-birsts-cloud-based-networked-business-analytics-platform-300485967.html

SOURCE Infor

https://www.birst.com

Read the original post:

Zodiac Aerospace Taps Birst's Cloud-Based Networked Business Analytics Platform - PR Newswire (press release)

Enlarge photo

Honeywell

Honeywell will invest $10 million, create about 30 skilled high-tech jobs and expand its Greer aerospace facility5,000 square feet.

The expansion includes 5,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

The first phase of expansion will begin in the third quarter with an estimated completion date in 2019.

The Greer facility is a major center for the companys machining, special processes, and maintenance, repair and overhaul services for both commercial and military aircraft.

Honeywell just completed a $25 million expansion that created 30 jobs between 2011-2106.

The aerospace industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world, and South Carolina in particular hosts nearly 200 aerospace-related companies, Jason Lewandowski, senior director for the Greer Site, Honeywell Aerospace, stated.

Our facility expansion means that we not only increase our capabilities, but Honeywell continues to contribute to South Carolinas burgeoning aerospace economy, Lewandowski said.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has also committed additional tax incentives over the next 20 years to support the continued progress of the facility, according to Honeywell officials.

This investment positions our manufacturing network for future growth to help us maintain leadership and drive innovation, Lewandowski said. We will benefit greatly from South Carolinas wealth of engineering and manufacturing talent to strengthen our technical capabilities and provide production support from Greer.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has also committed additional tax incentives over the next 20 years to support the continued progress of the facility, according to Honeywell officials.

Honeywell first established manufacturing operations at its Greer facility in 1982. The site has grown into a dedicated hub for aerospace manufacturing where its engineers and technicians provide commercial, military and government customers with original equipment manufacturer production, maintenance, repair and overhaul support for Honeywells industry-leading family of engines.

More than 1,000 employees work in various Honeywell divisions within South Carolina.

The rest is here:

Honeywell investing $10 million, 30 jobs in Greer's aerospace facility - GreerToday

With a legacy in Alabama that spans more than half a century,Boeing Co. is looking toward the future with plans for new jobs, investment and breakthrough developments at its operations in the state.

The aerospace manufacturer, which has about 2,700 Alabama employees, expects to add 400 more by 2020, along with an additional capital investment of $70 million.

As the leading aerospace manufacturer in Alabama, Boeing supports a diverse portfolio of programs from missile defense programs such as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system which recentlysuccessfully intercepteda mock Intercontinental ballistic missile during a test to space exploration programs such as theSpace Launch Systemfamily of rockets that will take us to Mars, said Ken Tucker, director of State and Local Government Operations for Boeing in Alabama.

Boeing is investing in the future of Alabama as a center of innovation, continuing to bring highly skilled jobs and growth to the region.

The company is one of the key success stories touted by business recruiters as they seek to expand the states aviation and aerospace industry.Last week, the team was working at theParis Air Show,where leaders of the worlds top aerospace firms convened.

Boeings continued growth in Alabama is a testament to the companys strategic vision, as well as the skillful execution by its workforce in the state, said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Boeing innovation in Alabama is key to our nations defense and space programs, and we cant wait to see what they do next.

Alabama operations

Boeings Alabama operations are centered at two main facilities in Huntsville, in theJetplex Industrial Parkand atRedstone Gateway.

The company first established a presence in Huntsville in 1962 to support the new U.S. space programs, and today the local operations provide a wide variety of innovations and capabilities for both the commercial and defense sectors.

In addition to the successful performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, which happened at the end of May, another recent development for Boeing in Alabama is the expansion of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Seeker facility in Huntsville.

The 28,000-square-foot facility will include machinery and other capabilities to support the missile defense program for theU.S. Army.

The expansion is progressing well and is on track to provide enhanced production capabilities by the end of the year, said Jennifer Wollman, a Boeing spokeswoman.

Other Boeing operations in Alabama include the Huntsville Design Center, which supports 20 major programs such as the new 777X, 737 Max and 787, andBoeing Research & Technology, a research center that develops future aerospace solutions for defense and commercial businesses.

Huntsville also is home to NASAs Space Launch System program, where Boeing is responsible for the design, development, testing and manufacture of the core and upper stages, as well as the avionics for the nations next-generation rocket to transport people and cargo to deep space.

Moving forward

Arecent economic impact studyshowed the company contributes more than $2 billion annually to the states economy and sustains nearly 8,400 direct and indirect jobs.

The study also showed that Boeing:

When the study was released, Boeing also announced an additional 400 jobs and $70 million in capital investment by 2020.

While our employment in the state currently remains steady with approximately 2,700 employees, we expect to see that increase in the coming years, Wollman said. We also continue moving forward with our capital investment plans and expect to have more to share on that later this year.

Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.

Read this article:

Boeing ramping up Alabama aerospace employment, investment ... - Alabama Today

Contact Us

Aerospace Program Navigator,253.680.7203

Learn. Build. Soar.

Aircraft fascinate you. You want to learn how they work, how they function, and how they fly. Let our comprehensive, experience-driven aerospace programs teach you the skills you need to reach beyond the horizon and enter the high-demand, high-wage aerospace industry.

Manufacturing

Apprenticeship

Construction

Engineering

Information Technology

All facts are taken from the Washington Aerospace Partnership. http://www.washington-aerospace.com/pdf/Fact-sheet.pdf

Bates Technical College has long-offered comprehensive programs that supply the aerospace industry with qualified, well-skilled employees.

In 1940, the Tacoma School District opened the Tacoma Vocational School. In an effort to support the defense effort for World War II, a cluster of programs named industrial education were offered. This included auto body repair, auto mechanic, diesel and heavy equipment mechanic, electrical construction, machinist, sheet metal, and welding.

Within 18 months of opening, more than 3,000 people received training that led to jobs in the shipyards, mills and Boeing's airplane plant. Even after separating from the school district in 1991 and changing the name ultimately to Bates Technical College, these programs still remain strong and relevant, and they help fuel the region's important aerospace industry.

We invite you to be a part of our legacy.

Excerpt from:

Bates Technical College: Aerospace Programs

With a legacy in Alabama that spans more than half a century, Boeing Co. is looking toward the future with plans for new jobs, investment and breakthrough developments at its operations in the state.

The aerospace manufacturer, which has about 2,700 Alabama employees, expects to add 400 more by 2020, along with an additional capital investment of $70 million.

As the leading aerospace manufacturer in Alabama, Boeing supports a diverse portfolio of programs from missile defense programs such as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system which recently successfully intercepteda mock Intercontinental ballistic missile during a test to space exploration programs such as the Space Launch System family of rockets that will take us to Mars, said Ken Tucker, director of State and Local Government Operations for Boeing in Alabama.

Boeing is investing in the future of Alabama as a center of innovation, continuing to bring highly skilled jobs and growth to the region.

The company is one of the key success stories touted by business recruiters as they seek to expand the states aviation and aerospace industry.Last week, the team was working at the Paris Air Show,where leaders of the worlds top aerospace firms convened.

Boeings continued growth in Alabama is a testament to the companys strategic vision, as well as the skillful execution by its workforce in the state, said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Boeing innovation in Alabama is key to our nations defense and space programs, and we cant wait to see what they do next.

Alabama operations

Boeings Alabama operations are centered at two main facilities in Huntsville, in the Jetplex Industrial Park and at Redstone Gateway.

The company first established a presence in Huntsville in 1962 to support the new U.S. space programs, and today the local operations provide a wide variety of innovations and capabilities for both the commercial and defense sectors.

In addition to the successful performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, which happened at the end of May, another recent development for Boeing in Alabama is the expansion of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Seeker facility in Huntsville.

The 28,000-square-foot facility will include machinery and other capabilities to support the missile defense program for the U.S. Army.

The expansion is progressing well and is on track to provide enhanced production capabilities by the end of the year, said Jennifer Wollman, a Boeing spokeswoman.

Other Boeing operations in Alabama include the Huntsville Design Center, which supports 20 major programs such as the new 777X, 737 Max and 787, and Boeing Research & Technology, a research center that develops future aerospace solutions for defense and commercial businesses.

Huntsville also is home to NASAs Space Launch System program, where Boeing is responsible for the design, development, testing and manufacture of the core and upper stages, as well as the avionics for the nations next-generation rocket to transport people and cargo to deep space.

Moving forward

A recent economic impact study showed the company contributes more than $2 billion annually to the states economy and sustains nearly 8,400 direct and indirect jobs.

The study also showed that Boeing:

When the study was released, Boeing also announced an additional 400 jobs and $70 million in capital investment by 2020.

While our employment in the state currently remains steady with approximately 2,700 employees, we expect to see that increase in the coming years, Wollman said. We also continue moving forward with our capital investment plans and expect to have more to share on that later this year.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerces Made in Alabama website.

See original here:

Boeing ramping up Alabama aerospace employment, investment - Alabama NewsCenter

Im writing to extend a big thank you to the town of Buena Vista, and to my dad, David Butler, a longtime resident of the area. My son, Nicholas, recently graduated with honors from Seneca Valley High School in Harmony, Pa. in May. He plans on studying Aerospace Engineering in college.

His love of all things aircraft, flying and space began in your town, 1,500 miles from where he lives. Sure, the incredible scenery and the friendly people of the area are what endeared Buena Vista to my son, but it was the time on the airstrip of the Flying Club with his grandfather, for as many hours as his grandfather could stand, that cemented his interested in aerospace. This time in Buena Vista has shaped his future.

Im extremely grateful to all who have supported the Flying Club, who have assisted with the upkeep and maintenance of it, and who have vocalized their joint interest and appreciation of this hobby.

My dad has been a long time club member and has spoken at your high school about it, and is the first to offer help to those on the field.

My hopes are that many other young people can be inspired by the opportunities made available and supported by the town of Buena Vista.

Again, thank you to the town for supporting this interest, and thanks to David Butler, the best grandfather my son could possibly have.

See the original post here:

Aerospace interest began at home in BV - Chaffee County Times

Taking Flight: Ohio Valleys Aerospace Exports Take Top Dollars

By: Becca Schimmel/ Ohio Valley ReSource Posted on: Friday, July 7, 2017

From the outside Summit Aviation, in the small town of Somerset, Kentucky, looks like any other nondescript, white warehouse. But inside workers craft parts for drones, weapons casings, wing stabilizers and other high-flying products.

Summit is one of many small manufacturers making up the growing aerospace industry in the Ohio Valley. Highly specialized companies are landing in Kentucky and Ohio for the proximity to important raw materials and the promise of some political sway.

Aerospace and aviation have a long history in the region Ohio gave us the Wright Brothers, after all. A lot has changed since the two decided theyd find a way to fly. Now aerospace products are among the regions top-dollar exports.

Aircraft and their parts are now Ohios second-highest value exports. In Kentucky, aerospace products are at the top of the export value list, exceeding other manufactured goods and traditional commodities such as coal and agricultural exports.

Scott Roush, director of manufacturing at Summit, said there are a couple of reasons for locating in a rural part of Kentucky. One is that its in Congressman Hal Rogers district.

Were here and there are a number of other defense contractors here because of the congressmen, said Roush.

Rogers represents eastern Kentuckys 5th district and serves on powerful defense and spending committees. Roush said the congressman approached Sikorsky a decade ago and asked the company to put work in Somerset. He said that connection has helped Summit get its foot in the door.

So when we go and say, Were Summit Aviation with 50 employees, and youre going in to meet with a billion-dollar corporation, they may not take you seriously unless you have that extra push to say, Hey, at least let these people in and let them show you what they can do, Roush said.

In an emailed statement Rogers said, bringing new industry to southern and eastern Kentucky has been a top priority.

Summit is whats known as a build-to-print facility. Clients send blueprints and the company builds according to those plans. Many of Summits products, such as wing stabilizers, are sent to legendary helicopter makers Sikorsky, and could later become part of one of the Armys Black Hawk helicopters. About 70 percent of the work at Summit is for defense contracts and Roush said that makes the supply chain important.

Especially on the defense side there are specific limitations to where you can get, what countries you can get raw materials from, Roush said.

Defense contractors must comply with laws specifying that material for military contracts be sourced domestically.

That highlights another one of the regions strong selling points: Century Aluminum in Hawesville, Kentucky. Century is just 166 miles northwest of Somerset and is home to the countrys last smelter producing high-purity aluminum, which is used for many aerospace products.

It makes sense for the smelting operation to be reasonably close to one of their major customers, said Dan Stohr, communications director for the Aerospace Industries Association.

Stohr said about 90 percent of exports in the aerospace industry are for commercial aircraft. Most parts for defense contracts stay in the country. He said once a part is made, the same company will often also provide most maintenance, generating more revenue for the manufacturer.

Its cheaper and easier for a major company to buy those finished products as opposed to finishing them, themselves. And so from an economic standpoint these small shops provide an invaluable service, Stohr said.

Stohr said this industry also provides a lot of high-skill, quality jobsabout 2.4 million nationwide.

But the regions dependence on smaller companies could also have some downsides. Mike Shields is a workforce researcher at Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, labor-leaning research institute. He said hes skeptical about the quality of the jobs in the regions aerospace sector.

People who are in the same type of job are oftentimes not earning as high of wages and are not experiencing the same job quality in some of these smaller firms than they do in a comparable role in a well-recognized firm, Shields said.

Shields said traditionally manufacturing jobs are stable high-paying jobs, but that isnt necessarily a given anymore. Hes also concerned about how successful the aerospace industry can be in the long run if its made up of small businesses.

Its harder for them to be profitable, Shields said. He explained that smaller companies making interchangeable component parts are easily undercut by competitors. He said a companys products must be unique in order to stand out in the supply network.

On the manufacturing floor of Summit Aviation, workers check off on each step of their work on the various projects going on. These days theres another element in the industrys political picture: a new President who wants to beef up defense and domestic aluminum production.

The perception is that a Republican-led government will lead to more defense spending. But I dont think weve seen the effect of that, Roush said.

Roush said its too early to tell if his industry will hit new heights, but talk of increased spending, proximity to materials, and being in a political players back yard doesnt hurt their chances.

Read this article:

Taking Flight: Ohio Valley's Aerospace Exports Take Top Dollars ... - WOUB

Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News

Doug Carlberg, president and CEO of M2 Global, says while defense contracts have helped save his company sequestration cutbacks during the Obama administration threatened his business.

Doug Carlberg, president and CEO of M2 Global, says while defense contracts have helped save his company sequestration cutbacks during the Obama administration threatened his business.

M2 Global Technologies employees Jerry Perez (left) and Rodney Taylor (right) work on a helicopter part. The company employs 49 people and produces many parts for the Department of Defense.

M2 Global Technologies employees Jerry Perez (left) and Rodney Taylor (right) work on a helicopter part. The company employs 49 people and produces many parts for the Department of Defense.

Some of the parts that M2 Global produces are displayed. The company makes hundreds of precision parts for the state-of-the-art F-35, the F-16, the F-22, the C-130 and other aircraft.

Some of the parts that M2 Global produces are displayed. The company makes hundreds of precision parts for the state-of-the-art F-35, the F-16, the F-22, the C-130 and other aircraft.

StandardAero employees Rick Timchuk (left) and Ernie Valdez (right) inspect a C-130 engine at the companys San Antonio maintenance facility.

StandardAero employees Rick Timchuk (left) and Ernie Valdez (right) inspect a C-130 engine at the companys San Antonio maintenance facility.

StandardAeros San Antonio location is one of dozens of aerospace companies that the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation estimates employ more than 13,000 people in and around the city.

StandardAeros San Antonio location is one of dozens of aerospace companies that the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation estimates employ more than 13,000 people in and around the city.

Scott Gray, president of Elevate Systems, uses 3-D analysis and printing to recreate and improve military parts that are no longer manufactured.

Scott Gray, president of Elevate Systems, uses 3-D analysis and printing to recreate and improve military parts that are no longer manufactured.

Elevate Systems has reversed engineered an impeller, part of the B-52s radar motor, for a replacement at a lower cost. The original is at the bottom.

Elevate Systems has reversed engineered an impeller, part of the B-52s radar motor, for a replacement at a lower cost. The original is at the bottom.

3-D printers at Elevate Systems work building parts. The company contracts out much of its manufacturing, focusing on reverse engineering, designing and testing.

3-D printers at Elevate Systems work building parts. The company contracts out much of its manufacturing, focusing on reverse engineering, designing and testing.

San Antonios aerospace industry bullish on Trump

San Antonios deep military roots and Doug Carlbergs service in the Army made defense contracting a natural transition for the local engineer when his company, which made specialty electronic parts for commercial aircraft, started losing business to China more than a dozen years ago.

M2 Global Technology started making a simple flat, slim wing shim, which makes up the leading edge of an F-16 fighter jets wing. It now makes hundreds of precision parts for the state-of-the-art F-35, along with parts for the F-16, F-22, C-130 and other aircraft.

Carlberg runs one of dozens of aerospace companies that the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation estimates employ more than 13,000 people in and around San Antonio. M2 Global has a 30,000-square-foot office and manufacturing facility, and a staff of 49. Its just one of the 1,300 aerospace and aviation companies that employs more than 135,000 people across Texas, one of the industrys largest workforces in the U.S., according to a 2017 report from Gov. Greg Abbotts office.

San Antonio recently trademarked the moniker Military City, USA and for good reason. Its home to the Armys Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis, and the Air Forces JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph.

Since the closing of Kelly AFB under the base realignment and closure process that was completed in 1998, San Antonio has tried to find ways to create new opportunities for the thousands of local residents who had been employed at the sprawling miliary installation.

While some of the facility is still under military control, 1,900 acres were converted into Port San Antonio, which is home to one of Boeing Corp.s largest maintenance facilities responsible for servicing Air Force One. Rene Dominguez, the director of economic development for San Antonio, said that military work is still extremely important for the port while it also tries to expand its commercial workload.

I know that weve been working pretty aggressively, because (aerospace) is one of our target industries, on growing that industry, and weve built a lot of infrastructure around that growth, like workforce training, enhancements to the port, Dominguez said.

President Donald Trumps emphasis on bolstering military spending could help San Antonio because were well positioned to absorb more DOD and military work, Dominguez said.

The companies that stand to benefit include StandardAero, Lockheed Martin and other major defense contractors that maintain large operations at the port providing a draw and ready market for smaller manufacturers such as M2 Global and Elevate Systems.

Keeping Air Force planes in the air is Scott and Maricela Grays job at their four-person company, Elevate Systems. Based on the North Side, the Grays use 3-D design technology to reverse engineer old military airplane parts whose designs and drawings have been lost to time. One of their first pieces was an impeller fan that cools radar equipment on the massive B-52 bomber.

They (the Air Force) have no drawings, they have no data, they have no way to get any of this stuff, Scott Gray said of the fans, which date back to the 1950s.

Elevate Systems was asked to reverse engineer the impeller so that then the Air Force from this point forward could support it organically, Gray said.

Using their designs, Gray said he was able to take a part that would cost $10,000 from the original manufacturer to a $300 3-D-printed impeller that was more efficient.

Weve become known as the guys you go to when you cant buy parts, pieces, components, said Gray, who added that Elevate Systems work includes maintenance for military helicopters.

Their work, and survival, obviously relies heavily on DOD spending.

In June, Lockheed Martin announced it was cutting its San Antonio workforce by half and transferring space, workers and jobs over to StandardAero, including work on F-16 and U-2 spy plane engines. Lockheed cut the work after a smaller contractor protested its contract for engine maintenance work on the KC-10 air refueler.

Years of uncertainty and defense budget cuts under the Obama administration made the business a risky one that contractors hope will change under Trump. Carlberg said his business was at risk of closing. Now under the Trump administration, he and his industry feel the wind at their back.

Were pretty bullish, said Carlberg, a Vietnam-era Army veteran who used to be a maintenance officer and helicopter pilot. If it wasnt for the election, we were very concerned that they would continue to really squeeze the defense budget.

rdruzin@express-news.net

@druz_journo

Read more:

San Antonio's aerospace industry 'bullish' on Trump - San Antonio ... - mySanAntonio.com

Dayton Business Journal

Exclusive: Aerospace center led by prominent leader under new management Dayton Business Journal ... Aerospace Professional Development Center and Enlarge. The Southwest Ohio Council for Higher Education has taken over the Aerospace Professional more. An aerospace center with a prominent Dayton leader at the help is under new management. and more »

Follow this link:

Exclusive: Aerospace center led by prominent leader under new management - Dayton Business Journal

XCOR Aerospace had to put work on the Lynx suborbital space plane on hold. (XCOR Illustration)

After more than a years worth of workforce shrinkage, XCOR Aerospace has laid off the remainder of its employees putting projects ranging from its Lynx suborbital space plane to its work on rocket propulsion systems into deep limbo.

Word of the layoffs came viaParabolic Arcs Douglas Messier on Wednesday, and was confirmed by the Midland Reporter-Telegram in Texas.

XCOR is based in Midland, although it also had employees at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

The job cuts began last year when XCOR let go of 25 employees, about 50 percent of its workforce, and decided to focus on propulsion system development rather than the Lynx rocket plane. XCOR extended the layoffs last week.

Due to adverse financial conditions XCOR had to terminate all employees as of 30 June 2017, the company said in a statement provided to Parabolic Arc as well as Space News.

XCOR said some employees would be brought back on as contractors to maintain the companys intellectual property and explore other options to get the company up and running again.

The company set up operations in Texas starting in 2012 to capitalize on $10 million in potential incentives from the Midland Development Corp. The Reporter-Telegram quoted Brent Hilliard, board chairman for the development group, as saying the layoffs and its impact on the incentive deal would be the subject of discussions with XCORs executives.

Three of XCORs co-founders left the company in 2015 to found a new space venture called Agile Aero. The executive who took over as XCORs president and CEO, Jay Gibson, left the company last month when the White House nominated him for the post of deputy chief management officer at the Defense Department.

XCORs two-seat Lynx rocket planewas once seen as a competitor for Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo and Blue Origins New Shepard in the suborbital spaceflight market.

The company suspended work on the Lynxfollowing last years round of job cuts, and concentrated instead on its rocket propulsion work for United Launch Alliance.

XCORs hydrogen-fueled 8H21 engine was competing with Blue Origins BE-3 engine and Aerojet Rocketdynes enhanced RL-10 engine for use on United Launch Alliances ACES upper stage, which is destined to be added to ULAs next-generation Vulcan rocket in the 2020s.

Here is the original post:

XCOR Aerospace to lay off the rest of its workforce GeekWire - GeekWire

Russia has turboprops, regional jets, narrowbodies and alone and in partnership with China widebodies in production or development. It also is working on new high-bypass turbofan engines for single- and twin-aisle aircraft. And the government is encouraging a newly consolidated cadre of systems integrators to displace Western suppliers on Russian-built aircraft.

Russias commercial revival recalls the closing days of the Cold War, when the mighty Soviet Union still tried to match European and US offerings from regional turboprops to intercontinental supersonic transports.

But this time it prompts a fundamental question: why? Airbus and Boeing are powerful global competitors, as Bombardier has discovered by daring to attack even a thin slice of the single-aisle segment. Russia and China are taking an even bolder approach, attacking the duopoly head-on with the MC-21 and C919, respectively.

It is no mystery which aspiring usurper has the advantage. China is expected to be the fastest-growing market for single-aisle aircraft in the world over the next two decades, so its investment in the C919 can be repaid with domestic orders placed by state-owned carriers. To recoup its spending on the MC-21, Russia will likely need an order backlog populated mainly by export customers, but once-reliable Soviet-era clients have long since converted to Airbus and Boeing.

Irkut

The logic of capitalism is clearly not driving Russias commercial aviation revival, but that does not mean it is fundamentally illogical. Moscow perhaps inevitably appears to be playing a different game.

If short-term profits are not the priority, Russia has other advantages to gain by rebuilding a domestic civil transport enterprise. Its government, not least, may enjoy more options in foreign policy matters if the threat of being cut off from Western technology is removed as a negotiating ploy. In the long term, the advanced technologies pioneered by the MC-21, like its state-of-the-art fly-by-wire controls and structural manufacturing processes, may pay off if transferred to the Sino-Russian widebody project, which shows great promise of competing aggressively with the West.

But there is a catch. In one of the most global industries, extricating existing or new types fully from Western supply chains is tricky, if not impossible. Its widebody project will require engines made by GE Aviation or Rolls-Royce to compete with Airbus and Boeing for exports. Best-in-class systems suppliers remain exclusively based in Europe or the USA.

Go here to read the rest:

OPINION: Will Russia's gamble on aerospace exports backfire? - Flightglobal