Marine Corps to base MV-22 Osprey at Kaneohe Bay
The Marine Corps will bring two squadrons of its latest transport aircraft, the Osprey, and one light attack helicopter squadron to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The Department of the Navy Aug. 15 said it made the decision after conducting an environmental impact statement. The MV-22 Osprey can fly like an airplane and has tilting rotors that allow it to take off and land like a helicopter. The Marine base will have 24 Osprey aircraft in total. The light attack helicopter squadron will have 15 AH-1 Cobra attack and 12 UH-1 Huey utility helicopters.
Marines won’t use Ospreys to train at Kalaupapa as earlier proposed because of concern the aircraft could affect archaeological resources next to the airport.
H-1 helicopter training will be limited so activity at Kalaupapa doesn’t increase from current levels. AP
Austal USA to add 1,000 jobs at Alabama shipyard
Alabama’s governor announced Aug. 14 that the state will provide $5 million and job training to Austal USA to help the shipbuilder add up to 1,000 jobs in Mobile.
Gov. Robert Bentley said the agreement calls for the state to provide $1 million a year for five years, which will help with the expansion of the Mobile complex. In addition, the company will receive employee training through the Alabama Industrial Development Training program.
State officials said Austal is already planning to expand its workforce from 3,000 to 3,600. The agreement announced Aug. 14 should boost it to 4,600.
The announcement came two months after Airbus announced plans for an aircraft assembly plant in Mobile that is supposed to employ 1,000 when it reaches full production in 2017.
Alabama’s agreement with Austal calls for it to construct an assembly bay, expand its outfitting yard and add other facilities. ”With this new project agreement, we are creating new jobs and new opportunities for the people of Alabama,” Bentley said.
Austal uses its Mobile shipyard to build ships for the U.S. Navy. The company opened its Mobile operation in 1999 with about 100 employees and has grown rapidly since then. Last month, Austal completed a $200 million project that added more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space. AP
