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| Press Release Number: EHD200303181 | 18-Mar-03 |
NAVAIR teams take two of six 2002 Defense Standardization Program awards |
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| Each year the Defense Standardization Program Awards honor personnel and organizations of the military departments and defense agencies for outstanding performance in the implementation of the Defense Standardization Program. Two NAVAIR teams were recognized for their singular improvements in technical performance, which greatly enhanced safety for DOD personnel while avoiding billions of dollars in costs. Allen Beckett, Principal Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Logistics Material Readiness, recognized the teams' accomplishments earlier this month. Steve Daniel of the Navy's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program office, PMA-263, was chairman for one of the award-winning teams. Daniel led the 10-nation member team to develop a standard that would address the interoperability of UAVs across the participating NATO countries. Current UAV systems are similar to operating a traditional aircraft system but with the cockpit on the ground. Commonly called the ground control station (GCS), it is a crucial component in the overall design and success of any UAV system. Traditionally, each UAV system has had a different and unique GCS using formats and protocols that cannot interface with other systems. This hinders interoperability and obstructs widespread dissemination of payload data/information. The standardization agreement spearheaded by this working group specifies an open architecture that is NATO compliant, non-proprietary, and represents a standard for future tactical UAVs. Furthermore, it ensures multinational UAV interoperability, data sharing, and future shared development activities. Countries that intend to ratify the agreement are Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. The other NAVAIR team to be honored with an award was a joint Air Force and Navy team that developed and published a concise, consensus-based set of assessment criteria, the Airworthiness Certification Criteria, that apply to all fixed-wing aircraft systems. NAVAIR team members included Susan DeGuzman and Robert Hanley, both of NAVAIR's Research and Engineering, Airworthiness Office. The assessment addresses 15 key technical areas and contains more than 700 criteria that must be addressed to ensure safety. Standardizing the airworthiness certification criteria eliminates the need for each military service to recertify the airworthiness of an aircraft, which in turn eliminates the needless consumption of limited resources (manpower, financial, schedule). Certifying the airworthiness of a single aircraft can easily exceed $1 million. Eliminating the need for recertification results in substantial savings. It also reduces response time, which translates directly to increased readiness. The Defense Standardization Program champions standardization throughout DOD to reduce costs and improve operational effectiveness. For more information about the program, go to www.dsp.dla.mil. NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch and recovery; from sensor data to precision targeting and real-time communications; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment and sustainment; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter. For more information about the Naval Air Systems Command, go to www.navair.navy.mil. |
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