Page 6 - Aerotech 6-5-15

TransWorld Aero opens shop in Antelope Valley

CZ-JOEB,$3FZOPMET ÀLJKWHTXLSPHQWFUDIWVPDQLQWKH86 While working as a parachute rig-
staff writer Air Force, Morgan has been working ger in Portland, Ore., Morgan’s Shop
to support the Para-rescue community Chief, Edward Peters, encouraged him
Michael Morgan was leaping from since 2002. pursue his FAA license in rigging.
trees, roof tops and whatever else he
could climb onto since the age of nine After he watched the Twin Tow- “The random license symbol issued
so when his mom fashioned a bedsheet ers collapse on 9-11, he went back to me was “TWA” which gave me the
with a few handles and told him to use to a recruiter and asked if there was idea to open a business playing off of
it the next time he jumps from a roof- anything he could do to help. “The re- that symbol and TransWorld Aero was
top, he was ecstatic. cruiter said they didn’t need any more born,” said Morgan.
avionics technicians, but they did need
It wasn’t until he hit the ground parachute riggers.” He reenlisted that The company provides sales and
DIWHUPDNLQJKLV¿UVW³UHDOSDUDFKXWH day. service of aerodynamic decelerators
jump” on his 30th birthday, that he (parachutes) for personnel, equipment
was truly hooked. “It is one of the most important and supplies.
jobs I know of,” explains Morgan. “If
“When I landed I wondered how someone needs to use an emergency Equipment systems include recov-
could I build a career around para- chute, they are in a life or death situa- ery systems for Light Sport Aircraft,
chutes?” tion—the chute is their last chance for unmanned aerial vehicles, Radio Con-
survival, it has to be rigged perfectly.” trolled gear and hang gliders. Also,
Serving 10 years as an aircrew humanitarian resupply cargo bundles
can be built to order, maintained and
FRQ¿JXUHGIRUDOOW\SHVRIDLUFUDIWLQ- Photograph by Linda KC Reynolds
sertion platforms.
Mike Morgan and Steve Prather of TransWorld Aero also sew patches on
Morgan has had a parachute rigger uniforms for veterans and make custom bags for pilots and jumpers.
business in Oregon and Arizona and
Photograph by Linda KC Reynolds moved to the Antelope Valley in 2012, With a mobile packing unit ready to one at the Skypark has been very en-
when Lockheed Martin recruited him go, his team can cover special events couraging and welcoming. They bring
TransWorld Aero founder Mike Morgan (right) and Steve Prather, a team to work as a flight equipment and such as parasailing, soaring or any- their personal packs for us to work on
member with an extensive background as an Army parachute rigger in the survival equipment technician at the thing that uses an emergency chute. and refer their friends and family,”
Special Operations community, work in ‘The Loft’ at Rosamond Skypark, Skunk Works. He couldn’t think of Morgan pauses. “That is probably the
packing a chute. a better place to bring his company. “Opening ‘The Loft’ in Rosamond best endorsement we can have.”
³7KLVLVWKHPHFFDRIÀ\LQJLI,FDQ¶W has been a great experience. Every-
do a good business here, I’d better
pack it up.”

Working with some of the best mas-
ter riggers in the industry, he and his
team have more than 100 years of ex-
perience between them and thousands
of hours in training. Morgan is also
mentoring other riggers. “We usually
KDYHWKHEDUEHFXH¿UHGXSRQDZHHN-
end and enjoy people coming to see
what we are up to.”

Clients include major and small
aerospace companies, private indi-
viduals and companies throughout the
Western United States.

Arkansas legislators endorse $87 million incentive package

CZ"OESFX%F.JMMP facility. help businesses grow. time Arkansas has issued bonds under a 2004 con-
Associated Press “This bill will allow Arkansas to bring an au- “I think we’re much better suited as a state to stitutional amendment aimed at helping the state
land large economic projects. Lawmakers two
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—An $87 million in- tomobile manufacturing facility to the state of spend our time and resources on creating a level \HDUVDJRDSSURYHGPLOOLRQLQ¿QDQFLQJIRUD
centive package intended to bring a military ve- Arkansas,” Republican Rep. Matthew Shepherd SOD\LQJ¿HOGDQGHQYLURQPHQWIRUDOOEXVLQHVVHVLQ steel mill under construction in eastern Arkansas.
hicle assembly plant to south Arkansas easily won of El Dorado said. “Not a conventional one, but Arkansas,” Republican Sen. Bart Hester, of Cave
initial approval from lawmakers May 27, with a I would suggest that this is even better than the Springs, told lawmakers before the vote. He was Arkansas officials say they expect the state
handful of Republicans opposing the move as the Volvos, the GMs or the Fords, or any other manu- among the three senators who voted against the to pay off the bonds in 15 to 20 years. The state
wrong way to attract business to the state. facturer you could talk about.” measure and the only lawmaker to speak against would pay between $109 million and $122 million
it. for the repayment and interest, depending on how
The Arkansas House voted 96-0 in favor of the Maryland-based Lockheed is competing with the bonds are structured.
plan to issue bonds if Lockheed Martin wins a de- two other companies for the contract—Indiana- A consultant hired by the Legislature to review
fense contract to assemble a new tactical vehicle based AM General and Wisconsin-based Oshkosh the project said it would provide a $16.3 million The bond proposal was the top agenda item on
that will replace the Humvee at its Camden facil- Defense. The bonds won’t be issued unless Lock- QHWEHQH¿WWRWKHVWDWHRYHUD\HDUSHULRGDI- a special session. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchin-
ity. The Senate voted 31-3 in favor of an identical heed wins the contract, which is expected to be ter the bonds and interest are paid off. But the son said he was pleased with the widespread sup-
bill. Final votes on the bond proposal are expected awarded later this summer. report by Colorado-based IHS said the benefit port for the project.
Thursday. would likely be higher, since its analysis wasn’t
The proposal has drawn little vocal opposi- factoring in the possibility of suppliers moving “It’s the best of the Legislature in action. They
6WDWHRI¿FLDOVKDYHVDLGLI/RFNKHHGZLQVWKH tion. Conservative interest group Americans for to the state or Lockheed selling the vehicles to acted quickly and strongly,” Hutchinson said. “I
contract, the project will create nearly 600 new Prosperity criticized the proposal as a “misguided other countries. think it sends a good message to the federal gov-
jobs and keep more than 500 existing jobs at the corporate handout,” and a GOP lawmaker said the ernment that the state of Arkansas is really a good
state should instead focus on policies that would If approved, the project would mark the second partner with Lockheed Martin.”

Northrop passes design review for B-2 weapons management upgrade

Northrop Grumman has successfully demonstrated to the “The Flexible Strike software upgrade lays the founda- the B-2 a simpler, more powerful way to manage commu-
U.S. Air Force that its plans to upgrade key weapons man- tion for future system enhancements, including the ability
agement software for the B-2 stealth bomber are on track and to carry multiple weapon types,” said Col. Robert Strasser, nications with its weapon systems,” said Dave Mazur, vice
ready to proceed to the next level of development. U.S. Air Force, B-2 system program manager and chief of
the B-2 division of the Air Force’s Fighters and Bombers president and B-2 program manager, Northrop Grumman
The company successfully completed the critical design Directorate. “This ‘mixed loads’ capability will ensure maxi-
review of the service’s Flexible Strike Phase 1 program on mum strategic nuclear and conventional strike capability.” Aerospace Systems. “It will also reduce B-2 maintenance
Feb 3. Air Force approval of the CDR authorizes Northrop FRVWVLQFUHDVHPLVVLRQÀH[LELOLW\DQGLQFUHDVHDLUFUDIWUHOL-
Grumman to begin development and integration of the new CDR is a key review point in a three-year, $102 million
software and hardware required for the upgrade. contract awarded to Northrop Grumman in Aug. 2014. The ability.”
contract covers the engineering and manufacturing develop-
Northrop Grumman is the Air Force’s prime contractor for ment portion of the Flexible Strike Phase 1 program. The B-2 currently uses software called an operational
the B-2, one of the most powerful and survivable long range À L J K W S U R J U D P W R P D Q D J H W K H F R P P X Q L F D W L R Q E H W Z H H Q W K H
strike systems in the world. “The Flexible Strike software upgrade program will give
jet and the hardware that holds and dispenses its weapons.

Under its EMD contract, Northrop Grumman is replacing
V H Y H U D O P L V V L R Q V S H F L ¿ F 2 ) 3 V Z L W K D V L Q J O H 2 ) 3 W K D W F D Q

manage all of the B-2’s weapons carriage devices.

6 Aerotech News and Review June 5, 2015

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