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| Press Release Number: EHD200304224 | 22-Apr-03 |
NAVAIR Response Center Facilitates Joint Training Exercise with Army/National Guard |
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| By Vicky Falcón NAVAIR Public Affairs Preparations were well underway for the USS Mount Vernon's (LSD 39) participation in a joint exercise with Navy, Marine, Army and National Guard forces when Andres Alcocer, Lt. j.g., 2nd Class U.S. Navy Reserve, began to have concerns over helicopter deck-landing qualifications scheduled for his ship. Operation Northern Edge 2003 is Alaska's premier joint training operation designed to practice operations, techniques and procedures, and enhance interoperability among the services. More than 1,600 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen from active duty, reserve, and National Guard units participated. Part of the operation included deck-landing qualifications for Army UH-60 Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks aboard the ship. "When the Mount Vernon was selected to conduct this operation, I raised several questions about the wind characteristics of the CH-47 Chinook, but was unable to get the contacts or the information I needed," said Alcocer. Alcocer needed to find specifications on the CH-47 - specifically the wind and pitch/roll restrictions required for landing the army helicopter on the ship. Operation Northern Edge is designed to practice cold weather operations and since the joint exercise was planned for late winter in the North Pacific, wind and waves were bound to be a factor. Eventually Alcocer made contact with the NAVAIR Response Center (NRC) - and there he got his answers. "In a very short time (after making contact with the NRC), I learned all I ever wanted to know about the Chinook helicopter - and then some," said Alcocer. "All of my initial questions were answered in depth and additional issues were raised and covered with the same quality information and the highest level of service." The NAVAIR Response Center (NRC) is part of the Navy's Distance Support program and coordinates the resolution of naval aviation-related questions and issues - obtaining any necessary clarification from the customer and routing the question to the appropriate subject matter expert. The expert then researches the issue and responds directly to the customer - usually within two - 48 hours. Finally, the NRC follows up with all parties to ensure a satisfactory resolution. The NRC assists military personnel from all agencies, as well as Department of Defense civilian and contract employees. According to Fillip Behrman, program manager for the NRC, the center links customers with experts across the naval aviation community, ensuring the most current, comprehensive and accurate responses possible in a timely manner. "We assist customers who have been unable to find answers via their appropriate chains of command by putting them in touch with the experts across the naval aviation team," said Behrman. The NRC has been in operation for more than a year acting as a conduit between the aviation technology experts and providers at NAVAIR and the customer - facilitating the resolution of thousands of aviation questions and issues. And the resolution of one of those questions helped make Operation Northern Edge 2003 - specifically the deck-landing qualifications - a complete success. "The squadron completed over 140 deck landings to qualify their pilots, all without a single mishap," said Alcocer. "I'd like to thank the NRC for their services, which enabled Mount Vernon to successfully complete its mission." Customers can reach the NRC by calling the Navy Integrated Call Center at 1-877-41TOUCH (press option 2); by sending an e-mail to help@anchordesk.navy.mil; by sending a naval message at PLAD: ANCHORDESK; or by visiting the NRC Web site at http://nrc.navair.navy.mil/. NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. |
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