AAI-Choctaw partnership brings new industry to Neshoba County

By Staff
special to The Star
Oct. 15, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C. Sen. Trent Lott and U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering praised a new Mississippi partnership Thursday that will bring a defense contractor and jobs to Neshoba County.
AAI Corporation and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will team up to provide aviation-related ground support equipment for U.S. Army helicopters.
Lott and Pickering, both Republicans, said the move has two positive results: jobs for Mississippi and support for the country's military.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Army awarded Applied Geo Technologies, a Choctaw corporation, a five-year, $29 million contract to develop and manufacture modernized aviation ground support equipment systems at Mississippi-based Choctaw facilities.
AAI will provide preliminary design and development for the systems.
Applied Geo Technologies and AAI will provide hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and nitrogen test systems used in the ground support of Army helicopters including the AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.
AAI Corporation is a company focused on the design and production of defense systems.
In addition to aviation ground support equipment, its products and services include unmanned aerial vehicle systems, training and simulation systems and logistical/engineering services.
Pickering said he is pleased to announce AAI as a new corporate citizen for Mississippi: "We have a great potential for continued growth which could lead to more jobs for Mississippi workers and expanded economic development in this region of the state."
On the Web: www.aaicorp.com, www.choctaw.org.