NNS020926-03 NAVAIR Assists French Navy Carrier
Release Date: 9/26/2002 12:12:00 PM
By Vicky Falcón, NAVAIR Public Affairs
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The French Navy had a choice to make.
Spend six months in the shipyard and four million Euros (equivalent to about $4 million dollars) to peen both catapults on the French carrier Charles De Gaulle, or have the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) perform the task in three weeks at a fraction of the cost.
The choice was easy.
Four NAVAIR Voyage Repair Team (VRT) members and two Carrier and Field Service Unit (CAFSU) representatives spent less than three weeks in Toulon, France, recently working with French sailors to service the catapults aboard the ship.
Catapults are the key to launching aircraft off the deck of a carrier. Ship personnel can perform routine maintenance; but when major servicing is required and professional expertise is necessary - that's where NAVAIR comes in.
"The impressive commitment displayed by everyone involved, again demonstrates, the continuing success of the services provided to our launch and recovery program; and are in keeping within the highest traditions that our two navies share," said the Commanding Officer of Charles De Gaulle, in a message expressing his thanks to the American team.
The job entailed lifting the power cylinders (46 per catapult) from Charles De Gaulle's two catapults onto the deck of the ship and taking them apart for peening -the process of reshaping the inside of the cylinders. They were then reassembled and lowered back into the carrier's catapult trough, where the cylinder covers were installed and adjusted.
Subsequently, the catapult trough covers were set. Two tests were performed to validate that clearances were within specification.
Joe McGuckin is the head of NAVAIR's Fleet Technical Services Division and oversees CAFSU personnel.
"These men and women represent the essence of NAVAIR," said McGuckin. "They have unsurpassed knowledge, expertise, and experience in naval aviation technologies; and are able to respond urgently, accurately, and effectively to the calls of our warfighter - and our allies. In other words: they are the best in the world at what they do."
CAFSU and VRT personnel provide on-site technical services for the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) for American carriers at sea, as well as the French carrier.
Some of the systems they can repair and maintain include catapults, arresting gear, jet blast deflectors, Heads-Up Display (HUD) systems and the Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (FLOLS).
According to McGuckin, who works out of NAVAIR Lakehurst, N.J., the CAFSU and VRT are the eyes, ears, and the direct link between the many engineers at Lakehurst, and the ship's personnel who operate the equipment.
"We at NAVAIR believe the warfighter has the right to expect the world's best guidance, counsel, advice and support regarding naval aviation technology," he said. "And that's what we provide every day."
McGuckin also looks forward to working with the French in the future. "They've just received the 'OK' to build a second carrier," he said. "They will definitely be working with NAVAIR on that initiative, as well."
NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery, NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.
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