EA-18G SETP Brief

EA-18G Sea TrialsUnclassified

EA-18G “Growler”Sea Trials Testing

USS Dwight D. EisenhowerCVN 69

LT Mike “Jockey” LisaVX-23 Ship Suitability Test Pilot / LSO

LCDR Jake “Rusty” StaubVX-23 Ship Suitability Test Pilot / LSO


Introduction

Face Shots


Why Test at Sea?

Ship’s Air Wake “Burble” Ship’s Conditions

Wind Over Deck ALRE Pitching Deck Unique Environmentals

High Gain No Margin for Error

Embarked PALS CVN Compatibility

EMI Durability

Envelope Expansion Rhino 44,000 Growler 48,000

vert contours

u

vert = w / WOD

WODw vert


Test Article


Resource Limited Test Environment

CVN Deck Time Extremely Limited Limited CVN availability

– GWOT Decommission

– JFK, Constellation, Kitty Hawk

Personnel Very few with corporate

knowledge Limited LSO availability

Fleet Operational Requirements

EA-18G Sea Trials Cancelled 3 times (9 month delay)

Proposed Plan


Test Planning

Over 2,400 Test Points = Max Efficiency Required!!!

Wind Over Deck

Off-Nominal Set-up

ConfigurationPA

PA – 1/2Load-outSymmetric

Asymmetric

Degraded Modes

LEF 1

LEF 2

STAB

GAINS

SSE

Parameter Source

Recovery Headwind MORIAH

Wind Over Deck MORIAH

Gross Weight TM or Pilot observation of fuel quantity

Lateral Asymmetry

TM or Pilot observation of wing tank fuel

split

Go / No-Go


Team Composition

CVS Expertise 104 folks

4 Pilots = <4% total manning MIL/CIV/CONT

VX-23 NAVAIR BOEING

Pilot selection Broad Range of Experience EA-6B, F/A-18, Sea Trials

LSO Manning All Pilots are LSO 1 extra non-flying LSO for Flex-

manning Bonus LSO AIRLANT Paddles

Rank Total

Hours

Hornet

Hours

Traps

O-6 2,800 2,600 700+

O-5 2,200 2,000 500+

O-4 1,500 150 250

O-3 1,200 120 200


How we Executed

PALS / FDC Prior Open up the CV for Ops

High Density / High Op-tempo Test Evolution

15 Hr Days 2 x 4 hrs Flex-Deck Periods

Multiple Hot-Pumps Pilots and LSOs Swap Each

Period


ResultsMetric Summary

Summary of Totals 420 Test Points 54 Deck Hrs 39.8 Flt Hrs 63 Traps 61 Catapults 5 Days 4 Pilots > 250,000 lbs

fuel dumped

10.55

7.78

1.17 1.130.74

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Test Point / Flight Hr Test Point / Deck Hr Trap / Deck Hr Cat / Deck Hr Flight Hr / Deck Hr

Rate Metric

Effic

ienc

y Fa

ctor

Fleet Rate > 30Fleet Rate > 30


ResultsFQ&P


ResultsDegraded Modes


ResultsCATS


ResultsPALS


ResultsLSO

ARB

VID

W/O Perf


Conclusion / Recommendations

5 NATOPSCV / Flight Deck (Military and Civilian)LSO NATOPS (Pocket Checklist)Stab Fail 46kPA1/2 35 KtsHigh Lat Asym and PA1/2 PALS Clnc


Future Safety Concerns

F/A-18 EF

EA-18G


LessonsTeam Composition

Military RatioManning in FDC

All people need to “make money”No corporate dudes watching

LA incursionAlmost Lost a dude!!


LessonsLSO

Need to Fly the A/C under test

Need to “train like we fight”ARB Drill at the field

Never have enough Paddles

All our Pilots were engaged in every test point b/c they also waved


LessonsTest Planning

NFL Play ScriptDecision Tree

Involve all HODS in Pre-sail

Test Asset Maturity


LessonHigh Order Effects

Reactor

Air Department

Civilian rider burden on Ship Admin Meals, beds


Worlds Collide

Developmental Test in an Operational Environment No Margin for planning error No Margin for execution

– 903 Every minute you loose is gone forever 3,500 displaced personnel supporting your test

We test, But it’s their ship!!

The Carrier serves for a greater purpose then any single Test


Video / Pictures

HUD of HOSX – High WOD

Platt

903 Video

Stab Recon T&Go


Be The Ball!!!!

EA-18G Growler Sea Trials


Agenda

Executive Summary

CVN 69 PALS Cert

EA-18G Sea Trials

Support

Lessons Learned

Summary of CVN 69 & EA-18G Firsts

Final Words


Executive Summary PALS Cert

Full PALS certification, no limitations VX-23 Ship Suitability available to help through work-ups & deployment

Advanced Navigation System (ANAV) Ground Tests EA-18G Sea Trials

Expect a full certification of EA-18G Many firsts in Naval history 319 Approach Test Points 60 Catapult Test Points Exercised new ALB’s & ARB’s

Support Hosted a combined team 104 military/GS/contractor Detailed presail planning was key Personal engagement by all departments drove success

CVN 69 PALS certification renewed

Over 2,400 Test Points = Max Efficiency Required!!!


PALS Cert

Fully certified with no limitations Interim clearance issued Final clearance issued after data analysis (10-14 days) Deficiencies

ACLS (SPN-46)– SPN-46 Channel A Secondary Azimuth Encoder comparison error

check is disabled– NAVAIR 4.5.8 will inspect/repair pedestal during an upcoming inport

ICLS (SPN-41)– Azimuth drive motor failed during high speed operations (vibrations)

after PALS Cert (during EA-18G Sea Trials)– Repaired and operational

All stabilization sources check good


EA-18G Sea Trials Statistics

Flight Hours: 44.0 Approaches: 319 Traps: 62 Cats: 60 Zappers: > 500

Areas tested Flying Qualities & Performance (Approach & Catapult) Precision Approach & Landing (PALS)

Loadout Symmetric 48K lbs gross weight Asymmetric 26K ft-lbs, 48K lbs gross weight

Configurations Full flaps Half flaps Manual & Auto Throttle (ATC)


EA-18G Sea Trials

Wind Over the Deck Normal & High Max allowable crosswinds – very challenging for everyone!

Degraded Modes Flap failures Stabilator failures Gain override Single engine

Mission Systems in CVN environment Preliminary Results

No unexpected or negative flying qualities noted No CVN mission systems compatibility issues noted Possible deficiencies & NATOPS discussion items

– Day visual identification – Waveoff performance– High WOD - Full Flap to Half Flap conversions

Expect a fully cleared aircraft to support planned fleet IOC


Support

Big diverse team from NAVAIR 104 Total 11 Military, 24 GS, 79 Contractor 28 contract maintainers on flight deck Many lessons learned, much experience gained

Detailed Planning & Support Preliminary AIRPLANS & Coordination Email Accounts Visit rosters to base security 3 presail meetings Strike Ops, Boss/Mini, OPSO, AIMDO, Suppo, CSO, PAO – Key Players

Onload & Offload ANAV EGI POD (12,000 lb trailer in hangar bay) 12,000 lbs of gear and supplies Craned on and off telemetric and photographic instrumentation


Support

Berthing & Messing 11 Military 93 Guest Riders Increased burden for CVN 69 wasn’t easy

Operations AIRPLANS & Decisions Daily Discussions Overall leadership Skill of flight deck crew was awesome!

Supply Due to CVN 69 support, 11 downing discrepancies resulted in only 1

missed flight event Cats & Dogs

1 Foreign National Medical for 13 personnel (2 military and 11 civilian) …..many others


Lessons Learned

Effects of DON systemic deficiencies amplified during this at-sea period Issues to be highlighted to NAVAIR COC Flight Deck NATOPS Changes & VX-23 Directive in work Specific

– Training & experience, corporate knowledge– Increased burden on CVN– Berthing & messing– Living area maintenance– Flight deck uniforms– Dedicated safety observer– Admin support functions

Daily Flow & Coordination More detailed up front Include Gator & RO up front

Radio communications equipment on Flag Bridge

Stands for ALQ-99 pods

COMSEC & Safes


Summary of Firsts for CVN 69 & EA-18G

First EA-18G trap First EA-18G trap on main gear First EA-18G catapult First EA-18G Mode 1 approach First sighting of a sub by an EA-18G First EA-18G to complain about being too close to the

scupper First EA-18G team to unbolt and dislodge the Admirals

Chair ….and many more


Special Thanks Strike Ops: Overall coordination, many details Air

Boss: Leadership & deconfliction V-2: 60+ ARB drills w/ actual weight settings Handler – nuf said! Flight Deck: Doing what they do best!

Supply: Berthing & Messing Parts

AIMD Host for spaces (RR 6 & 7) AZCM Gage

Combat Systems: Comms & Email Set-up Gator: Winds & Navigational Planning OOD/Bridge

Capture of challenging test conditions (winds) Real-time flexibility

OPSO: Overall leadership


Final Words

Limited deck time Navy wide CVN 69 supported with requested deck time, and it made the

difference EA-18G brings a major capability to Naval Aviation Work density was extremely high for CVN 69 during this short at-sea

period Increased burden on CVN 69 by taking on NAVAIR is recognized Operations and conditions were unique and challenging CVN 69 team performed flawlessly CD & DVD of pictures and movies provided to CVN 69 Photo Shop Thank you for accepting the challenge and for clearing EA-18G

Growler for the fleet!


Parameter Source

Recovery Headwind MORIAH

Wind Over Deck MORIAH

Gross Weight XF41013 or Pilot observation of fuel quantity

Lateral Asymmetry XF4250 or Pilot observation of wing tank fuel split

EA-18G SETP Brief

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