Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, October 15, 2021

Aerospace Valley positioned to rise from COVID economy

by Larry Grooms A break for military spouses tion League (LA-DEAL) to create a coalition of
special to Aerotech News Congressman Mike Garcia, R-25, reported a stakeholders to overcome barriers to universal
bill he wrote to have occupational licensing of digital access. Specific barriers were identified as
Those who track and chart economic winds and military spouses recognized across state lines. lack of infrastructure, internet affordability, digi-
trends of Southern California’s high desert and The bill passed the House with bi-partisan sup- tal illiteracy, lack of devices and public policy to
mountain Aerospace Valley told a semi-annual port, and Garcia believes it will soon pass in the achieve universal broadband access and adoption
conference that the region encompassing North- Senate, with Democrat support. In recent years, across LA County.
ern Los Angeles and Southeastern Kern counties Aerospace Valley organizations including the According to Allen, nearly 20 percent of LA
is well-positioned to recover from damaging CO- former Board of Trade have advocated for in-
VID-19 fallout and statewide drought. terstate career credential recognition to remove County residents are either unconnected (11 per-
The data-driven 2.5-hour virtual conference pre- economic hardship on military families assigned cent) or under-connected (8 percent), meaning
sented by regional non-profit economic develop- to new bases. they have slow or unreliable internet service.
ment organization AV/Edge, brought together lead- The LAEDC website (laedc.org) states, “This
ers from across the economic spectrum to report Defense work fully funded digital divide must be eliminated as a matter of
on quantified economic impact of pandemic since Garcia, a member of the House Appropriations equity in our modern economy because internet
2019 and trends through 2021 to date. Committee, said he supported the $750 billion is used to enable remote schooling, remote work,
In the role of moderator, veteran Los Ange- defense budget, and added that Aerospace Valley access to Telehealth and access to other opportuni-
les television news anchor/reporter Jeff Michael said “the mission is all about the people,” who can programs are fully funded with: $351 million for ties.” The organization’s Pathways for Economic
served to introduce widely diverse presentations choose to come here or not, based on the quality Tritons; $126 million for the U-2; $108 million for Resiliency report found “this digital divide is con-
into narrative links in the chain of actions and of schools, shopping, recreation, security, cultural the B-21; $30 million for B-2 upgrades; just un- centrated in economically disadvantaged commu-
events leading to recovery and prosperity in many and social life and even physical comfort in what der $1 billion for Super Hornets, and $82 million nities of Los Angeles County — mainly in Dis-
parts of community life. can be a challenging climate for some. to continue the NASA SOFIA research program trict 1, 2, and 5. LAEDC believes that addressing
The autumn edition of the Semi-annual Out- In “setting the conditions for success for all based at Plant 42. equitable access to internet will be a key factor
look Conference was seen by a pre-paid audience these people,” Smith said, “even a few consecu- Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot and Mideast in supporting an equitable and inclusive recovery
on YouTube on Oct. 6. For video access informa- tive days of temperatures over 100 degrees can be war veteran, pointed out that the present urgency effort for the region. The COVID-19 pandemic
tion visit avedge.org. enough to make people hot around the collar.” He for upgrading American defense capabilities was
Cutting to the chase on announcements, news suggested climate-controlled indoor recreation, a created by politically driven defense budget se- has highlighted how essential reliable internet is
and other highlights of the midday program: lead-in to modeling professional baseball’s farm questration cuts of 2012-2016. Garcia said the for everyday life.”
team system for developing home-grown talent, U.S. fell behind China during that period.
The great comeback beginning with the very young. Valley can’t ‘bank on water in drought
AV/Edge President Bret Banks and Executive With Edwards Air Force Base equating to a 21st century gold rush? Lithium found Officials representing the region’s water pur-
Director Rhonda Perez announced that on Feb. 23, major league team, “The Show,” top colleges in Boron veyors were eager to share news that thanks to
2022, the Business Outlook Conference expects would represent Triple-A teams; Community Col- State Assembly Member Tom Lackey (R-36) farsighted underground “banking of water” during
to return to its traditional in-person networking leges and Technical Education schools would be delivered news from Sacramento, reporting that wet years, supported by a distribution system, the
style event at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Double-A, and Single-A teams would be STEM Rio Tinto is extracting rare and strategically es- Antelope Valley — East Kern Water Agency is in
Lancaster. and STEAM, the already growing science, tech- sential lithium deposits from waste material left the unique position of providing a reliable supply
nology, engineering, math and arts curricula from over from the company’s open pit Borax mine in of water in periods of statewide drought. Although
Air Force Plant 42 growing elementary grades through high school. Boron. Lithium, a rare earth mineral, is in high AVEK customers may still be required to comply
David S. “Jester” Smith, PhD, civilian director On that note Smith pitched Starbase, an Edwards demand as a key component for production of with expected state-ordered reductions in water
of Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, announced the AFB-centered program in which 5th graders batteries required to replace carbon-based enrgy. use, the AVEK distribution system assures that
total number of persons working on the installa- are schooled at the base one day a week for five water will be available.
tion now exceeds 12,000, a number expected to weeks for a learning experience steeped in STEM Bridging the digital divide
grow among the facility’s major partners. in the home of aerospace legends. Los Angeles Economic Development Corpora- TV anchor going galactic
Smith said Southern California is doing the Underscoring the national value added to the tion CEO Bill Allen briefed the conference audi-
lion’s share of expanding aerospace defense work, missions of Aerospace Valley, Smith told his audi- ence on his countywide non-profit organization’s AV/Edge Outlook forum host and former vet-
and more can be expected IF the region does now ence, “We are providing the most advanced weap- programs to assist business, industry and commu- eran television news anchor Jeff Michael made
what is necessary to attract and retain the talented ons systems on the face of the planet,” adding, nities in dealing with setbacks from the pandemic news himself in announcing his new job with
human capital defense contractors and the military “The National Defense Strategy is shifting from but focused his presentation on what he termed Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic. Michael said
require. counter-insurgency to a near peer competition in LA County’s Digital Divide. he may now be seen around the hallways and run-
Referencing other speakers on the program which some states may choose to exercise their Earlier this year LAEDC and partner UNITE- ways of Mojave Air & Space Port where he cov-
who stressed the need for physical infrastructure powers over us to change our way of life.” That LA, along with more than 100 other regional ered the legendary launch of commercial space
and quality of life programs and facilities, Smith outcome, he termed unacceptable. organizations formed the LA Digital Equity Ac- travel, beginning with SpaceShipOne.
Plane Crazy Saturday to honor Wen Painter

The monthly Plane Crazy Saturday at the Mojave Air and Space Port is slated for
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 16.
This month, the event will be remembering Wen Painter, a founding member of the Mojave
Transportation Museum Board. Wen passed away April 21, 2020, at the age of 84.
There will be an unveiling of a memorial plaque at 11 a.m. in Legacy Park, and a presenta-
tion of Wen’s life in photographs in the MASP Board Room. There will also be a missing man
formation flight at 1 p.m.
There will also be historic aircraft on display, and the Voyager Restaurant opens at 8 a.m.
Make sure you wear a hat and sunscreen. This event is kid friendly.
Historic aircraft forms will be signed during the event. Attendees are reminded that the only
animals allowed on the flight line are service animals, and the flight line is a no-smoking area.
The Museum would like to thank the sponsors of this event: the Mojave Air and Space Port,
Aerotech News and Review, The Loop Community Newspaper, Scaled Composites, Comfort
Inn & Suites, Golden Queen Mining Company, The Rosamond News, Mission Bank, Karl’s
Hardware — Mojave, Rosamond and Boron, Thom Lapworth — CivMil support, and Voyager
Restaurant.
For more information, visit www.mojavemuseum.org, or visit the Facebook page.

For more on the life of Painter, visit https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2020/05/15/former-
nasa-flight-test-engineer-general-aviation-icon-has-flown-west/

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