Tuesday, February 17, 2015

New all-time high for DCNewsroom blog

The DCNewsroom blog hit a new all-time high for pageviews in January covering the ditching of a Cirrus SR-22 aircraft in the Pacific Ocean, 253 miles northeast of Maui, Hawaii.

January 2015 data provided by Blogger.com shows a 16 percent increase in pageviews from the blog's previous all-time high in July 2013 when the DCNewsroom covered the delivery of the first production Cessna TTx aircraft units. Visitors posted over 30 comments in reaction to the Cirrus story in January.

The six-year-old DCNewsroom blog has published over 400 stories covering aviation, government, industry, space and stock market news. In addition to current news, the DCNewsroom has its own Zazzle store and YouTube channel.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Special Operations Command airlift services in Africa

The Special Operations Command Africa is conducting market research to identify companies having an interest in, and the resources to support, an emerging requirement for mobile fixed wing air transport services to move personnel and cargo within the northern regions of Africa and surrounding countries.

The specific requirement for this effort is found below.

1. Fixed-wing aircraft capable of: 
  • Transporting a minimum of 1,000 pounds and maximum of 4,500 lbs to include a mix of a maximum of 12 passengers and/or cargo.
  • Taking off/land on improved and unimproved dirt airfields of a minimum of 1,800 feet in length to support supply and personnel transportation requirements.
2. Contractor to provide mobile airlift services to the locations provided from the Primary Operation Area (POA). Countries within the POA where the air transportation support could be provided include , but are not be limited to, Libya, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, and Morocco. Other locations within northern Africa may be dictated by operational requirements and timely coordination will ensure contractor support.

3. The contractor will perform routine flights. Services include aircraft, flight planning, aircraft maintenance, and transporting hazardous cargo as required.

4. The contractor shall have an alternate, fully capable aircraft available in the event scheduled or unscheduled maintenance and/or repairs are required when one aircraft is not capable of flying.

5. Contractor to furnish all personnel, equipment, supplies, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, insurance, security, life support (e.g., housing, meals etc., for contractor personnel) and other items and services necessary to operate fixed-wing aircraft within the POA.

Interested companies who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to the Special Operations Command Africa by Feb. 23.