Newsroom - Westwind Corp

Newsroom

Read the latest news from WestWind below. For downloadable Fact Sheets, Releases and more ... please click here

WestWind to add hangar near Airport

The Huntsville Times

Tuesday, August 13, 2008

by Marian Accardi, Times Business Writer; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; http://www.al.com/huntsvilletimes/

WestWind Technologies in Huntsville plans to add a hangar for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.

The 300-person company, which provides aviation-related services to the defense industry, already has more than 200,000 square feet of manufacturing and support facilities in Huntsville. Its corporate offices are on Wall Triana Highway in the Jetplex Industrial Park next to Huntsville International Airport.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority directed Rick Tucker, the airport's executive director, to enter into a ground lease with Hangar Properties for an industrial site on the east side of the airfield. Hangar Properties will develop the 64,000-square-foot hangar and lease it to a WestWind partnership.

Hangar Properties plans to rent 4.7 acres, with an option on another 4.9 acres, for 30 years with two additional five-year renewal options.

Hangar Properties' members are Carlton O'Neal III and Peter Lowe. O'Neal estimates the project's total investment at $12.5 million. "We'd love to start (construction) in October," he said.

The Airport Authority hopes to obtain federal money to pay for a ramp extension to the WestWind facility for runway access. If not, it will amend its fiscal 2009 budget to use $775,000 in passenger facility charges to pay for the construction, according to a resolution the authority adopted Tuesday.

Commercial airports controlled by public agencies are allowed to collect up to $4.50 for each passenger that flies out of the airport, and airports can use the money to pay for certain projects approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Riley Praises WestWind as a Model for Recruiting

The Huntsville Times

Defense contractor builds simulators for Army Choppers

Thursday, August 7, 2008

by Marian Accardi, Times Business Writer; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; http://www.al.com/huntsvilletimes/

Gov. Bob Riley held up WestWind Technologies in Huntsville on Wednesday as a model for the state's business recruiting efforts and increasingly diversified economy.

WestWind, in the Jetplex Industrial Park near the airport, builds flight proficiency simulators for the Army's F-model Chinook helicopter. WestWind, which has 292 employees, does only aviation-related work, said Roger Messick, Chief Operating Officer.

The defense contractor's business, Riley said during a plant tour, "is typical of what we're trying to do." He noted that Alabama has three times as many aviation and aerospace companies as it did 20 years ago.

Such success is winning accolades.

A Birmingham-based trade magazine that covers economic development in 17 states has named Alabama "State of the Year" for its economic performance in 2007 and ranked Huntsville No.2 in medium-sized markets, behind Mobile.

Southern Business & Development also selected Huntsville as the No.1 midmarket in the South to locate a company; Decatur was No. 6. "Once again, Alabama led the South in economic development, and the South led the nation," said Riley, adding that the state reported more than 24,000 announced new jobs last year.

It's the fifth time in six years Southern Business & Development has recognized Alabama as the South's top economic development state.

Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade, who accompanied Riley on his tour Wenesday, stressed the importance of a diversified economy.

"We want to focus on automotive, aerospace and life sciences" as part of the state's economic development strategy", Wade said, "and make sure our economy is insulated from what's happening on the national and global stage."

The companies that Riley and Wade visited Wednesday- WestWind, Brookwood Pharmaceuticals in Birmingham and Hyundai near Montgomery - are among those that announced expansions and new jobs last year.

The magazine uses a point system based on announcements of 200 jobs or more and/or capital investments of $30 million or more to rank the states.

WestWind Technologies Wins AMCOM Air Warrior Contract

July 30, 2008

Huntsville, AL –WestWind Technologies, Inc. (WestWind) recently announced a major contract award from the Air Warrior Program Executive Office at the Army Missile Command (AMCOM) on Redstone Arsenal. The 5-year, $38 million program will support the Air Warrior program in its mission of developing and fielding integrated Soldier systems for Army helicopter crew members.

Air Warrior leverages several joint-service technology efforts to create a total, modular system that increases freedom of movement at flight controls and increases mobility to operate aircraft systems safely. WestWind will incorporate production and airframe modification kits for the OH58D Kiowa, CH47D Chinook, UH-60A/L Blackhawk, and AH-64D Apache model aircraft with both airframe “A-Kits” and “B-Kits” as well as push package spares.

WestWind Chief Operating Officer Roger Messick said, “WestWind is pleased to continue utilizing our extensive manufacturing, integration, warehousing, and distribution capabilities in support of the Air Warrior program – maintaining our commitment to provide the highest-quality products and services in unwavering support of the Warfighter.”

WestWind Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of aviation and land system applications and is located in Huntsville, Alabama. With more than 227,000 square feet of manufacturing and support facilities, the SBA certified Small Business employs over 300 and is ISO9001/AS9100 Registered and FAA Part 145 Repair Station Certified. Corporate offices are located at 2901 Wall Triana Hwy, Ste. 200, Huntsville, Alabama 35824.

WestWind Awarded $37M Helicopter Contract

June 12, 2008

WestWind Technologies Awarded $37M Contract for Helicopter Program -- Extends Production of CH-47F Transportable Flight Proficiency Simulators

Huntsville, Ala. – WestWind Technologies has been awarded a $37+ million contract to build additional CH-47F Transportable Flight Proficiency Simulators for Redstone Arsenal’s Cargo Helicopter Project Management Office, which is responsible for the Army’s CH-47F fleet worldwide. The program will include production of five build-to-print units and associated spares.

In January, WestWind Technologies delivered its first two CH-47F Transportable Flight Proficiency Simulator units ahead of schedule and marked the first time CH-47F simulators have been built in Huntsville. Four prototype units were produced at Patuxent River, Md., by Manned Flight Systems, and WestWind began full-rate production in the fall of 2007. This new contract will continue that production program for the five new simulators.

The flight simulators contain the most current cockpit configuration and provide soldiers with a dynamic training environment for the newest heavy-lift cargo helicopters. The simulators are easily transported and include a cost-saving combination of commercial off-the-shelf and aircraft components as well as state-of-the-art graphics. These features combine to save considerable flight training costs while providing a realistic flight training environment for the soldiers. As a small business in close proximity to the Aviation Program Executive Office at Redstone Arsenal, WestWind Technologies provides substantial program flexibility for more cost-effective and timely simulator manufacturing. The company’s ability to meet and even accelerate production schedules contributes significantly to operational readiness and ensures that the pilots are fully prepared to fly the actual aircraft in a variety of environments and situations. Cargo Helicopter Office Project Manager COL Newman Shufflebarger said, “WestWind Technologies has delivered a product within cost, schedule, and performance that will allow us to train soldiers much better in the future.” Delivery of the additional units will begin in January 2009 with final delivery the following October.

WestWind Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of aviation and land system applications located in Huntsville, Alabama. With more than 227,000 square feet of manufacturing and support facilities, the SBA certified Small Business employs over 325 and is ISO9001/AS9100 Registered and FAA Part 145 Repair Station Certified. Corporate offices are located at 2901 Wall Triana Hwy, Ste. 200, Huntsville, Alabama 35824. Call 256-774-8444 for more information.

###

Westwind Corp

Read the latest news from WestWind below. For downloadable Fact Sheets, Releases and more ... please click here

More ...