Prepare for Air Taxis in ’24
A new GIS-based program has been created for urban areas to begin planning for the arrival of air taxis as early as next year within their jurisdictions. The eVTOLs are already on tap for transportation needs during the summer of 2024 at the Paris Olympics.
Weapons Tests at Dahlgren Prompt Lawsuit by Environmental Groups
US Navy weapons testing at the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren, VA, has sparked a lawsuit by two environmental groups. Environmentalists allege the tests don’t abide by the Clean Water Act.
Flying Taxi Maker Joins Paris Airshow
While the world’s largest air show typically focused on military and commercial planes, flying taxi maker Volocopter showed up at the Paris Airshow to show it is on track to ferry customers around Paris Olympics next year. Other 2023 newcomers to the world’s largest air show included electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Global Aviation on Display This Week
The 2023 Paris Air Show opens today. Among the US military aircraft on display will be the F-25, F-15E, and F-16. Here, an Air Force F-15 and two F-35s in a training exercise May 17. (US Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Penny Snoozy) Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff. The Paris Air Show opens this week after a four-year hiatus. At this event, all things global aviation take…
Lawmakers: DoD Look to Private Sector in ’24
From cyber to communications, the US House committees preparing for next week’s start of hearings on the National Defense Authorization Act are directing the Pentagon to build a greater involvement with the commercial tech center, including selecting commercial satellite communication providers.
Birckhead New MD Adjutant General
MAJ GEN Janeen Birckhead has assumed her new role as the Maryland National Guard adjutant general. Birckhead succeeds outgoing MAJ GEN Timothy Gowen, who assumed command in 2019.
Debt Limit Set; DoD Budget Next
The FY24 defense authorization and budget are moving to the front of Capitol Hill agendas with $886 billion in military appropriations set out for next year. There is already bipartisan support for an anticipated defense supplement, but also a breaking in GOP ranks over how DoD money is spent.
MD Won’t Send Guard to Southern Border
A growing list of Republican leaders are sending their state National Guard soldiers or other state law enforcement officers to the US border with Mexico. Gov. Wes Moore (D) said last week that “Maryland’s not doing that. Right now, what Maryland is doing — Maryland is focusing on public safety here. Maryland is focusing on our schools here. Maryland is focusing on the myriad of challenges and the myriad of opportunities that we have here in the state of Maryland … .”
GAO Critical of How F-35 Spare Parts Are Tracked
A Government Accountability Office report reveals that more than 1 million F-35 fighter jet spare parts worth at least $85 million have gone missing over at least the past five years since the government does not have a system to track the parts.
Morning Coffee Off the Burner Today
Morning Coffee is off the burner today, Memorial Day. Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. We’ll be back Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
