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New Cable Tensioning Technology Aboard Lincoln Could Save Navy Millions

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100813-02
8/13/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lex T. Wenberg, Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is testing a new cable spooling technology, which could save the Navy millions of dollars by preventing costly damage to helicopter anti-submarine warfare equipment.

The new equipment, called the Cable Tensioning System (CTS), was designed by PMA-299, a program office that creates new acquisitions for the MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

CTS is operated aboard the ship to re-organize quarter-inch thick Kevlar cable on a spool used by Seahawks assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77.

The aircraft's buoy hangs down into the water from this cable and transmits sonar signals beneath the surface, helping the helicopters detect enemy submarines. When the buoy is retrieved, a spindle aboard the helicopter rolls up the incoming cable in a pre-set pattern to maximize space and keep a specific amount of tension on the cable so there will be no signal degradation, or worse, having the $8 million buoy fall into the black depths of the sea.

However, as the cable winds up, the motion and banking of the helicopter often causes slippage in the cable called "miss-wrap," which leads to costly and time-consuming cable repairs and shipping fees. CTS can perform these "re-wraps" at sea instead of having to send the spools ashore to be serviced.

For now, Lincoln has the only CTS in the fleet, but plans for other carriers and platforms to get this equipment are in the works and are expected to save the Navy millions of dollars; $1 million of it on Lincoln's upcoming deployment alone, said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Mel E. Loga, one of two CTS experts aboard Lincoln.

Lincoln's Maintenance Officer, Cmdr. Wesley Joshway said the new equipment is already making a difference.

"Commander Naval Air Forces, Vice Adm. Allen Myers wanted his maintenance staff, working with PMA-299 and the HSM community, to develop a means to show cost savings to the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE). The development of the Cable Tensioning System does just that by eliminating a frequent Aviation Depot Level Repair charge to the NAE by an outside source and showing an immediate tangible saving," said Joshway.

Prior to using CTS, Lincoln's Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) frequently had to ship the entire 185-pound spindle back to the warehouse for re-spooling and repairs, costing tens of thousands of dollars each time. During Lincoln's Tailored Ship's Training Assessment, AIMD had to send spools to the warehouse four different times, costing the Navy more than $300,000 in repairs in four weeks.

The machine only costs $400,000 up-front, and it has almost paid for itself in a few weeks, said Loga. "About one in five times the helicopter pulls up the ALFS buoy and results in a miss-wrap. Every time that happened before we got the CTS, it would cost the Navy money," he added.

Lincoln's AIMD has two aviation electronics technicians who are the only ones capable of running and maintaining the system, Loga, from New Orleans, and Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Patrick Merker, a native of Satellite Beach, Fla.

Loga and Merker spearheaded the acquisition of the CTS and even attended a special training course on how to use, repair and maintain the CTS in order to for it to operate aboard Lincoln. They are writing the technical manual which should be released Navy-wide soon.

"It was a hard trip and long hours," said Loga. "But Airman Merker and I learned what we had to in order to get the job done."

The CTS will not only help with re-wrapping the cable, but can also be controlled to inspect the cable for damage. This new equipment could mean vigorous work schedules for Lincoln's two CTS experts, but they're both proud to be pioneering the new system.

"Two months ago was the first time I actually heard about the system," said Loga. "But I can already see how this will save so much in man-hours and time that the Navy will never do without one again."