US Coast Guard, May 29, 2013 - The Coast Guard’s H-60 Conversion Project, which modernizes the Service’s legacy fleet of H-60J Jayhawks to the upgraded MH-60T configuration, recently achieved three major milestones, project officials said.
On March 15, 2013, the last MH-60J pilot completed training to transition to the MH-60T; on May 2, the last MH-60J air station completed the transition to the MH-60T with delivery of CGNR 6018 to Air Station Clearwater, Fla.; and on May 13, the last MH-60J – CG 6024 – was inducted for conversion to the MH-60T configuration at the Aviation Logistics Center (ALC), Elizabeth City, N.C.
“These milestones are the result of thousands upon thousands of man-hours beginning with the initial planning phase in 2002 and continuing through prototyping, developmental and operational testing, entering full rate production and the establishment of the initial logistics required to meet the required availability,” said Steve Kellogg, H-60 project manager.
The MH-60T upgrade features the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit and new Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems.
Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Bacher, H-60 deputy project manager, noted that the project’s ongoing work includes the installation of Enhanced Digital Engine Control Units (EDECU), which automatically provides additional power to the aircraft’s engines in emergency situations.
CGNR 6015, currently on the product line at the ALC, will be the first to receive the EDECU system. Additionally, the project will install the Advanced Diagnostic Vibration Management System (ADVMS), which provides maintenance crews with a means to digitally monitor vibrations throughout the aircraft, helping in the early detection of weakening components.
About the MH-60T: The Coast Guard is upgrading its fleet of MH-60J Jayhawk Medium Range Recovery helicopters with new avionics, communications, navigation equipment and flight instruments, converting them to MH-60Ts. The HH-60Js, which first entered service in 1990, are equipped with avionics hardware that is obsolete and becoming unsupportable due to a lack of production components and discontinued manufacturing sources. Equipment software support for current aircraft systems are no longer economical to maintain or available. With dramatically improved reliability and mission performance, the MH-60Ts will remain in service through 2027. The MH-60T is being upgraded in phases or discrete segments. Although the MH-60T’s outward appearance will not change significantly from previous versions, on the inside these will be completely new aircraft.
On March 15, 2013, the last MH-60J pilot completed training to transition to the MH-60T; on May 2, the last MH-60J air station completed the transition to the MH-60T with delivery of CGNR 6018 to Air Station Clearwater, Fla.; and on May 13, the last MH-60J – CG 6024 – was inducted for conversion to the MH-60T configuration at the Aviation Logistics Center (ALC), Elizabeth City, N.C.
“These milestones are the result of thousands upon thousands of man-hours beginning with the initial planning phase in 2002 and continuing through prototyping, developmental and operational testing, entering full rate production and the establishment of the initial logistics required to meet the required availability,” said Steve Kellogg, H-60 project manager.
The MH-60T upgrade features the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit and new Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems.
Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Bacher, H-60 deputy project manager, noted that the project’s ongoing work includes the installation of Enhanced Digital Engine Control Units (EDECU), which automatically provides additional power to the aircraft’s engines in emergency situations.
CGNR 6015, currently on the product line at the ALC, will be the first to receive the EDECU system. Additionally, the project will install the Advanced Diagnostic Vibration Management System (ADVMS), which provides maintenance crews with a means to digitally monitor vibrations throughout the aircraft, helping in the early detection of weakening components.
About the MH-60T: The Coast Guard is upgrading its fleet of MH-60J Jayhawk Medium Range Recovery helicopters with new avionics, communications, navigation equipment and flight instruments, converting them to MH-60Ts. The HH-60Js, which first entered service in 1990, are equipped with avionics hardware that is obsolete and becoming unsupportable due to a lack of production components and discontinued manufacturing sources. Equipment software support for current aircraft systems are no longer economical to maintain or available. With dramatically improved reliability and mission performance, the MH-60Ts will remain in service through 2027. The MH-60T is being upgraded in phases or discrete segments. Although the MH-60T’s outward appearance will not change significantly from previous versions, on the inside these will be completely new aircraft.
See also |
HH/MH-60 Jayhawk in
US Coast Guard Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk
