Aerospace

A former U.S. fighter pilot who worked in China arrested in Australia

A former US fighter pilot and aviation instructor who worked in China has been detained by the Australian Federal Police as a result of a request from the US government. That person was detained last Friday as a result of a request from the US government, according to a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office. It would not be appropriate to comment further, the spokesperson said, as the matter is still pending in the courts.

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The individual has been identified as Daniel Edmund Duggan, 54, who was arrested by the AFP in Orange, in the NSW Central Tablelands. His last Friday appearance before the bench was documented in court records. A subsequent court appearance in Sydney was set for next month after his request for bail was denied.

Duggan, a former citizen of the US, would probably be the subject of formal extradition proceedings. The arrest occurred the same week that the Australian government announced it was looking into claims that some Australian Defense Force pilots had been approached about jobs in China.

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Richard Marles, the minister of defence, announced that an investigation had been opened. According to the UK government, the Chinese Liberation Army Air Force had recruited up to 30 former British military pilots for training.

According to the UK Defence Ministry, China is using third parties to find British and other western pilots to train Chinese pilots in-house, along with state-owned defence industry firms and research facilities.

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Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.