P-3 Orion Crews Soar Without Ever Leaving The Ground
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090201-01
Release Date: 2/1/2009 7:22:00 AM
By ATAA Adam Thomas, Jax Air News Assistant Editor
JACKSONVILLE,, Fla. (NNS) -- P-3C pilots and aircrews are now training on the cutting-edge Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer (TORT) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville.
The TORT allows flight crews to train at a level of realism never before available in their training devices and earn readiness points from sorties completed in the simulator. The sophisticated system is designed to not only train new operators, but to maintain an operational crew's proficiency without leaving the ground.
Built by L-3 Communications, Link Simulation & Training, TORT is a high fidelity, computer-controlled, real-time trainer that accurately simulates all surveillance equipment found on the P-3C Orion aircraft. The trainer includes crew stations for the tactical coordinator, navigation/communications officer, acoustic and non-acoustic operators, as well as a fully functional flight deck for the two pilots.
"By placing a greater emphasis on simulation-based training in the form of TORT, VP-30 aircraft can be better used performing operational missions versus supporting costly aerial training," explained VP-30 Commanding Officer Capt. Richard Fite.
"With the use of the P-3C TORT trainers, the U.S. Navy has sufficient resources to meet its crew readiness training needs on simulation-based devices," said John McNellis, president of L-3 Communications, Link Simulation & Training.
"The need to conduct antisubmarine warfare or anti-surface warfare crew qualification flights in the aircraft will be dramatically reduced, which will lower training costs and extend the operational life of the P-3C Orion platform."
Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) Lead Fleet Projects naval flight officer Lt. Brad Davies and his team consisting of Fleet Projects lead pilot Lt. George Adams, Fleet Projects naval flight officer Lt. Justin Jennings, Fleet Projects naval flight officer Lt. Seth Eisenmengert, Aviation Warfare Operator 1st Class Mike Zivotofsky who mans the non-acoustic operator station and Aviation Warfare Operator 1st Class Brian Oliastro who mans the acoustic operator station, under the leadership of Lt. Matt Anderson, division officer, worked in conjunction with L-3 Communications & Naval Air Systems Command during the evaluating, testing and inspecting stages to insure the TORT simulator could properly prepare crews for the fleet.
TORT takes P-3C training to new heights by providing flight crews the ability to search for contacts, identify targets, program and release weapons and pass vital information into the Department of Defense global information grid (GIG). The GIG is a complex system of networks which links hundreds of information system elements to enable the rapid exchange of information among the U.S. military services, intelligence community and multi-national allies. Furthermore, the GIG is a globally connected, end-to-end set of information capabilities, associated processes and personnel for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand.
The physical arrangement of the crew station and the layout of controls closely replicate that of the aircraft, allowing the development of natural crew-to-crew and crew-to-aircraft interactions. Each crew station provides an environment that immerses the operators into the scenario and allows for a more robust training experience.
Additionally the flight deck has been replicated to include useful flight station displays and computers, electronically controlled flight controls and aircraft seats. A 140-degree horizontal field-of-view visual display system allows for visual identification of targets, as well as tactical employment of weapons.
Before TORT, P-3C crews initially received training on the weapons system trainer, also known as the "knob-turner," which simulated antisubmarine warfare (ASW) only. The knob turner limited the pilot interaction to turning three knobs located on the console. Flight crews also received training on the tactical trainers used only to simulate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. TORT combines, antisurface warfare (ASW)and ISR training into one simulator, increases the overall fidelity realism and enables crews to employ their systems in the simulator precisely as they do in the actual aircraft.
"I enjoy training in the TORT because it allows the operators and pilots to train together as a full crew, exactly as we would in the real aircraft," said Zivotofsky.
Future enhancements for the TORT will include the ability to conduct fleet synthetic training. Fleet synthetic training uses the GIG network connection to link different platform's nation-wide in a joint simulated training mission. For example, a P-3C crew at NAS Jacksonville, an Arleig- Burke destroyer deploying an SH-60B helicopter in San Diego and an aircraft carrier launching F/A-18s off the coast can simultaneously work together on the same simulated event instead of conducting individual live exercises.
"Being involved with the testing and evaluation of TORT, I am proud at how it has evolved. TORT will be an important asset to P-3 squadrons and the Navy. Working on this project was a very rewarding experience," stated Davies.
With such advancements in simulated training, P-3C Orion crews are more than prepared to see the fleet through to the next generation of antisubmarine warfare aircraft.
For more news from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, visit www.navy.mil/local/nasjax/.
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