By 
The Defense Department on Aug. 24 let more than a quarter-billion-dollars in helicopter-related contracts, mostly for rotorcraft services in support of the ongoing war in Afghanistan.Columbia Helicopters, based in Aurora, Oregon, was awarded an option year modification by U.S. Transportation Command in the amount of $243 million to a previous service contract to provide rotary wing airlift support to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), specifically in Afghanistan. The modification raises the total cumulative face value of the contract to $468.7 million…
