Coast Guard seeks parts supplier for C-27J fleet

Through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014, the Coast Guard has acquired 14 C-27J aircraft from the Air Force. The C-27J is a medium size military transport aircraft that is manufactured by Alenia Aermacchi in Italy.

The Coast Guard has established the C-27J Asset Project Office (APO) in Elizabeth City, N.C., to make these aircraft ready for use. The C-27J APO will support the oversight of the process from acquisition and missionization of the C-27J to sustainment.

On Wednesday, the Coast Guard released a solicitation document to establish a firm-fixed price contract to purchase new aircraft parts to support the HC-27J.

“This requirement must be restricted to authorized sources of the Original Equipment Manufacturer or firms who can effectively demonstrate their ability to provide the components and obtain the proprietary data required meeting form, fit, and function of the units,” officials said in contract documents.

Kuwait AH-64 helicopter contract

The U.S. Army Contracting Command in Alabama made a brief announcement Thursday that they anticipate awarding Boeing a post production contract for Kuwait's fleet of Air Force AH-64 helicopters.

“It is anticipated that this acquisition will be restricted to The Boeing Company, Mesa, Ariz,” the Army said in contract documents. “This requirement is for the Post Production Support Service and Performance Based Logistics for the Kuwait Air Force AH-64 helicopter fleet. This is a follow-on requirement in which the U.S. government anticipates will be solicited and negotiated with only one source.”

The contract will support 16 AH-64D aircraft for a period of four years and six months comprised of a two year base, two additional one-year options, plus one six month option.

Interested sources should contact Boeing regarding subcontracting opportunities, the Army said.

Middleburg restaurant makes most romantic list

After reviewing five million restaurant reviews submitted by diners from more than 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states, The Goodstone Inn & Estate Restaurant in Middleburg, Va., made the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America list.

As diners around the world prepare to celebrate love on Valentine's Day, OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations, honored the 2015 Diners' Choice Award winners on the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America list.

Set on a 265-acre estate in the heart of Middleburg’s wine and hunt country, Goodstone Inn & Restaurant is a romantic Virginia country inn and award-winning French restaurant only one hour from Washington, D.C.

Other Virginia restaurants appearing on the list include: Cafe Renaissance in Vienna, The Cellars in Virginia Beach and L'Auberge Provencale in Boyce.

Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America

Addison at The Grand Del Mar - San Diego, California
Aerie Restaurant & Lounge - Acme, Michigan
Alize at the Top of the Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, Nevada
Altius - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ambience - Los Altos, California
Bouchard Restaurant and Inn - Newport, Rhode Island
Briarhurst Manor - Manitou Springs, Colorado
Cafe La Cave - Des Plaines, Illinois
Cafe Matisse - Rutherford, New Jersey

Cafe Monarch - Scottsdale, Arizona
Cafe Renaissance - Vienna, Virginia
Canlis - Seattle, Washington
Castle Falls - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Cellar - Fullerton, California
The Cellar Restaurant - Daytona Beach, Florida
The Cellars - Virginia Beach, Virginia
The Chateau on the Lake - Bolton Landing, New York
Chez Francois - Vermilion, Ohio
Chez Loma - Coronado, California
Chez Nous French Restaurant - Humble, Texas
Cite - Chicago, Illinois
Different Pointe of View - Phoenix, Arizona
The Dining Room-Biltmore Estate - Asheville, North Carolina
Dominic's on the Hill - St. Louis, Missouri
Eagle's Nest-Hyatt Regency - Indianapolis, Indiana
Eiffel Tower - Las Vegas, Nevada
El Encanto Dining Room - Santa Barbara, California
Erna's Elderberry House - Oakhurst, California
Europa - Palm Springs, California
The Farmhouse at Turkey Hill - Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Fearrington House Restaurant - Pittsboro, North Carolina
The Fig Tree Restaurant - Charlotte, North Carolina
Flagstaff House - Boulder, Colorado
Forepaugh's - St. Paul, Minnesota
The French Room - Dallas, Texas
Gamba Ristorante- Merrillville, Indiana
Geja's Cafe - Chicago, Illinois
Gerard's Restaurant Maui - Lahaina, Hawaii
The Goodstone Inn & Estate Restaurant - Middleburg, Virginia
Hugo's Cellar-Four Queens - Las Vegas, Nevada
Il Cielo Gardens Restaurant & Bar - Beverly Hills, California
Iron Gate Tasting Room - Washington, D.C.
Isabela on Grandview - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Joel Robuchon-MGM Grand - Las Vegas, Nevada
L'Auberge Provencale - Boyce, Virginia
L'Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek - Sedona, Arizona
La Caille Restaurant - Sandy, Utah
La Grenouille - New York, New York
La Mer at Halekulani - Honolulu, Hawaii
La V Restaurant and Wine Bar - Austin, Texas
Latigo - Sisters, Oregon
Latitudes - Key West, Florida
Le Relais - Louisville, Kentucky
Les Nomades - Chicago, Illinois
The Library Restaurant - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Little Door - Los Angeles, California
Log Haven - Salt Lake City, Utah
McNinch House - Charlotte, North Carolina
The Melting Pot - National locations
Michel's at the Colony Surf - Honolulu, Hawaii
Ocean - Kennebunkport, Maine
OHEKA Bar & Restaurant - Huntington, New York
On The Marsh Bistro - Kennebunkport, Maine
One if by Land, Two if by Sea - New York, New York
The Painted Lady - Newberg, Oregon
Pamplemousse Le Restaurant - Las Vegas, Nevada
Pepper Tree Restaurant - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Peter Shields Inn - Cape May, New Jersey
Red Fish Grill - Miami, Florida
The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro - Columbus, Ohio
Republic of Texas Bar & Grill - Corpus Christi, Texas
Restaurant G at the Gideon Ridge Inn - Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Ristorante Massimo - Portsmouth, New Hampshire
River Cafe - Brooklyn, New York
Romeo's Cafe - Miami, Florida
Rouge - Miami Beach, Florida
Rowland's Restaurant at Westglow Resort and Spa - Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Rue Franklin Restaurant - Buffalo, New York
Salvatore's Cucina Italiana - San Diego, California
Scarborough Fair - Sea Girt, New Jersey
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern - Raleigh, North Carolina
Shadowbrook Restaurant - Capitola, California
Sir Winston's Aboard The Queen Mary - Long Beach, California
Ski Tip Lodge - Keystone, Colorado
The Sky Room - Long Beach, California
The Spiced Pear - Newport, Rhode Island
Spindletop - Houston, Texas
The Standard at the Smith House - Nashville, Tennessee
Stars - St. Michaels, Maryland
Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch - Santa Barbara, California
Studio at Montage Laguna Beach - Laguna Beach, California
Top of the Pontch-Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown - Detroit, Michigan
Truluck's Seafood, Steak and Crab House - Austin, Texas
Tulalip Bay at Tulalip Resort Casino - Marysville, Washington
'Ulu Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge - Kaupulehu, Hawaii
V.Mertz - Omaha, Nebraska
Vintage House Restaurant at Messina Hof - Bryan, Texas
Water's Edge - Long Island City, New York
White Barn Inn - Kennebunk, Maine
Zenkichi - Brooklyn, New York

Army to replace reconnaissance equipment aboard Dash 7/8 aircraft

The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., intends to solicit and award a contract for a period of five years for the Airborne Reconnaissance Low - Enhanced (ARL-E) system.

The ARL-E system will replace nine ARL-Multifunction (ARL-M) systems with nine ARL-E systems by upgrading the air platform from existing Dash 7 to Dash 8-315 Quick Reaction Capability aircraft.

The ARL-E will provide tactical commanders the ability to persistently monitor their operational environment, allowing them to rapidly identify, track and respond to potential threats.

It is anticipated that the Request for Proposal will be released in February.

Small plane crash reported in Hood Canal, Washington state

Coast Guard crews and local responders are searching for survivors of a small plane that reportedly crashed into the Hood Canal near Seabeck, Wash., on Monday.

Two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, a 45-foot Response Boat from Coast Guard Station Seattle, the Coast Guard Cutter Henry Blake and local law enforcement personnel are searching for the survivors of a small red and white plane that reportedly crashed in waters near Seaback.

Coast Guard units in Puget Sound received a call from Kitsap County 911 operators reporting a small plane with an unknown number of people on board had crashed in the waters of the Hood Canal.

A responding Dolphin helicopter crew confirmed a debris field in the area of the reported plane crash.

Coast Guard crews and local responders are continuing their search for survivors.

Dramatic video shows pilot ditch Cirrus plane in Pacific Ocean

The pilot of a single engine Cirrus SR-22 aircraft (tail number N7YT) that ran out of fuel is safe after ditching his aircraft 253 miles northeast of Maui, Hawaii on Sunday. The pilot was able to deploy the aircraft’s parachute system and safely exit the aircraft into a life raft.

Video: Another single engine plane ditched near Hawaii

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued all four passengers aboard a second single engine aircraft that ran out of fuel and ditched approximately 11 miles west of Oahu, Sunday.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew located and hoisted all four passengers. They were flown to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point where they were transferred to emergency medical services. The condition of the passengers is not known.

The pilot contacted the Hawaii Control Facility at Honolulu International Airport and declared an in flight emergency 30 miles west of Oahu. The pilot reported the aircraft was running out of fuel and they may have to ditch.

The Coast Guard diverted a crew aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew previously involved in Sunday’s ditching of a single engine Cirrus SR-22. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew was launched from Coast Guard Station Honolulu and the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Kittiwake also launched.

The single engine Cessna 172 (tail number N422BP) was flying from Hanapepe, Kauai to Kalaeloa, Oahu. The plane is registered to Barbers Point Flight School LLC in Kapolei, Hawaii, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. The aircraft was manufactured in 1977.

Three adults and one child were aboard the plane.

Video #1

Video #2

Single-engine airplane preparing to ditch in Pacific Ocean

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a distress call from a single engine aircraft running out of fuel approximately 975 miles north of the Big Island, Hawaii.

The pilot contacted the Hawaii National Guard on Sunday and reported his aircraft had approximately three hours of fuel remaining and he would be ditching 230 miles north east of Maui.

The Coast Guard has launched crews aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point.

The aircraft is reported as a single engine Cirrus SR-22 (tail number N7YT) with one person aboard. 

UPDATE #1 - The pilot of a single engine Cirrus SR-22 aircraft that ran out of fuel is safe after ditching his aircraft 253 miles northeast of Maui, Hawaii, on Sunday.

The pilot was able to deploy the aircraft’s parachute system and safely exit the aircraft into a life raft.

The Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu identified the cruise ship Veendam, en route to Lahaina, Maui, and coordinated the pilot’s ditch near their location.

The crew of the Veendam rescued the pilot. The pilot was reported to be in good condition. The aircraft was last observed partially submerged.

Weather conditions at the time of the rescue were seas of nine to 12 feet and winds of 25 to 28 miles per hour.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Barbers Point assisted the pilot during the process of ditching his aircraft and maintained communications throughout the ditching process. The Hercules crew remained on scene until the pilot was safely aboard the Veendam.

The flight originated in Tracy, Calif., and was destined for Kahului Maui.