Meeting Notices - Orange County

“The Disruptively Changing Aerospace Landscape”

OC Chapter meeting in Irvine on August 2

Boeing and Embraer, Airbus and the C-Series, Boeing’s thrust into the aftermarket, seats, APUs, and Avionics….Never before has there been such bold moves to capture more of the Aerospace market by the big OEMs.

How will this impact the overall competitive landscape? What are the challenges ahead for suppliers, MROs, distributors, and manufacturers? How will the Tier 1 suppliers react? How well will Boeing and Airbus execute on these new strategies? What challenges might they face.

How can you leverage the changes going on in the marketplace and what other disruption might we see? While no one can know for sure how these new strategic thrusts will play out, one thing is for sure, the game is changing and to grow and thrive, the industry will have to change with it. Disrupt or be disrupted. Adapt or die. Old business models are not going to work going forward. How can companies adapt and flourish in these times of intense and disruptive change?

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, August 2, 7:30–9:00am, when Jeffrey Johnston, President & CEO, Desser Holdings will present and lead a discussion on these and other questions.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until July 26). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by Moss Adams and InVista Associates.

Tour of Quality Aluminum Forge

OC Chapter meeting in Orange on May 3

Please join us for a tour of Quality Aluminum Forge (QAF) in Orange, 7:30-8:45am, when you will garner an understanding of the precision forging process and why they are so important to the aerospace industry – and will explain grain structure differences between a casting, plate stock, and a precision net/near net forging. You will also get to see receipt of raw material, the forge process, post forge processes, machine shop, assembly, packaging and shipping.

QAF is not just a build to print shop, but an all-source solution provider incorporating powerful CATIA modeling and Deform simulation software to produce forge models from machined part configurations so that customers have another option when sourcing their machined part requirements.

Tickets are limited to 20 people.

The meeting is free for members (exclusive access until April 20) & $30 for non-members ($40 after April 26). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by Moss Adams and InVista Associates.

“Fuel Cells in Aviation: Next Generation Power Generation”

OC Chapter meeting in Irvine on April 5

Although fuel cells have been used in space exploration for many years and are starting to gain traction in the automotive market, their promise of reduced emissions, lower noise and regenerative power are now making them more attractive for aircraft applications.

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, April 5, 7:30–9:00am, when Matt McConnell, Engineering Manager, Parker Hannifin, Aerospace Group, will discuss how fuel cells can be applied to aircraft for emergency power, auxiliary power, electric taxi and propulsion. Fuel cells are not a distant technology, having already been flight tested on commercial aircraft. Come listen to how this new technology will change the aircraft systems landscape.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until March 29). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The OC chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, Verify and InVista Associates.
The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, Verify, and InVista Associates.

Tour of SpaceX

OC Chapter meeting in Hawthorne on June 7

Note: This tour is sold out. However, you can register for the wait list.

SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.

Join us in Hawthorne on Thursday, June 7, 7:30–9:00am, when we will see one of the most interesting manufacturing facilities in the world. SpaceX performs 80% of the needed manufacturing in-house at the Hawthorne facility, and thus a wide variety of manufacturing processes will be seen, from welding to composites. Engineering is also close to the manufacturing line to quickly handle problems.

The floors and the facility are so clean there is no wall between the 2-level cafeteria and the manufacturing floor. Mission Control is located on the manufacturing floor (with a level floor so employees can see everything). Note the expressions of the workforce – motivated like those of few other companies.

The meeting is free for members (exclusive access until April 9) & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until April 16). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, and InVista Associates.

“Advanced 3D Printing Technologies”
A Presentation and Tour at Purple Platypus

Orange County Chapter meeting in Irvine on March 1

Please join us for a presentation and tour of the Purple Platypus Tech Center in Irvine when Peter Montgomery, Senior Applications Engineer, and Gabriel Suppes, Senior Engineer, will update you on the most current 3D printing technologies, including metal 3D printing, FDM 3D printing, and multi-material polyjet 3D Printing.

Come see first-hand why these technologies are considered disruptive to traditional subtractive manufacturing processes such as CNC milling, turning and casting, as well as injection molding.

The tour will include live demos and a presentation of real sample A&D parts. You will leave with a clear understanding of how the Aerospace industry is using 3D printing for applications such as prototyping, manufacturing tools, and end-use parts.

Purple Platypus is a privately-held Southern California company and a preferred dealer of a variety of additive-centric hardware & software. Purple Platypus provides manufacturing businesses with the new additive technologies needed to bring innovative designs to fruition.

Tickets are limited to 50 people on a first-come first-served basis.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until Feb 22). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, and Verify.

Tour of National Technical Systems (NTS) – Fullerton

Orange County Chapter meeting in Fullerton on February 1

Join us on Thursday, February 1, 7:30–9:00am for a tour of the NTS Fullerton Laboratory and see first-hand the rigorous, complex and comprehensive testing Aerospace and Defense companies put their products through to ensure they function exactly as designed.

For more than 50 years, commercial and military partners have trusted the diverse engineering capabilities of NTS to ensure their products are developed and perfected in compliance, on time and on budget.

NTS, the undisputed leader in testing, inspection, and certification services has built one of the broadest networks in North America. The NTS laboratory network with more than 28 locations offers a full suite of environmental simulation and materials testing, including climatic, structural, dynamics, fluid flow, EMI/EMC, lightning, acoustics, failure analysis, chemical, and other industry-specific tests.

Tickets are limited to 30 people on a first-come first-served basis.

You must be a U.S. citizen or active green card holder to gain entry to the site (proof of a legal right to work in the U.S.).

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members. Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, and Verify.

“The Evolving State of Federal Contractor Bid Protests”

Orange County Chapter meeting on December 7

Bid protests are a critical facet of the federal procurement process and ensure that the government’s procurement decisions are rendered lawfully. Protests ensure that contractors competing for federal contracts are evaluated fairly and in accordance with the solicitation and the FAR. As the budgets of certain federal agencies shrink, the bid protest process becomes an especially important tool for contractors in pursuing or maintaining existing federal work. Bid protests remain equally important for Department of Defense procurements, where spending appears likely to remain strong.

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, December 7, 7:30–9:00am, when Richard Oliver, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a leading authority on government contracts and disputes involving the Department of Defense and civilian agencies, will describe recent developments in government contract bid protests, including the impact of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act and the GAO Civilian Task and Delivery Order Protest Authority Act of 2016, which have greatly impacted the ability of government contractors to pursue bid protests on task order awards.

The meeting is free for members ($40 non-members). Click here to register to attend the meeting

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, Hein & Associates, and Verify.

“Are Drones the New First Responders?”

Orange County Chapter meeting on November 2

We all recognize that first responders have a challenging and vital role. They are called to respond to multiple incidents simultaneously, with little to no advance notice, and often to remote locations where time is a critical component of situation evaluation and mitigation.

Flying Lion was formed to address these challenges, offering Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Departments on-demand rapid aerial assessment and imaging services with remotely operated copters with built in HD and infrared cameras. “Eyes on the Scene” applications include emergency response, active shooter, SWAT, fire, crowd observation, natural disasters, search and special events.

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, November 2, 7:30–9:00am, when Barry Brennan, Founder and President of Flying Lion will discuss the company’s role with public safety, a brief history of UAS, the current FAA requirements, and the future of UAS.

You will find this to be an interesting look at how technology is being integrated to significantly enhance public safety and the capability of first responders, and maybe see opportunities for technology integration by your company.

The meeting is free for members ($40 non-members). Click here to register to attend the meeting

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, Hein & Associates, and Verify.

“How to break into the OEMs and Tier 1s as a small business”

Orange County Chapter meeting on October 5

Westworld Associates was formed in 1978 by a retired executive from Lockheed. The primary purpose was to provide sales and marketing services to companies with a desire to expand their customer base as well as to grow their current customer base within the US aerospace and defense industries.

The idea was to offer a cost-effective alternative to exploring new opportunities within the US aerospace and defense industries.

The company works directly with their clients to help develop sales and marketing plans with a focus on target customers, programs, key decision makers and execution strategies.

Today the team at Westworld Associates continues to provide support in the development of sales and marketing plans with the inclusion of certain markets in Europe and Asia.

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, October 5, 7:30– 9:00am, when Robbie Robinson, CEO of Westworld Associates will discuss the company’s approach to penetrating new customers within the US, European and Asian aerospace markets with a focus on the aerostructures segment of the industry.

The meeting is free for members ($40 non-members). Click here to register to attend the meeting

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, Hein & Associates, and Verify.