Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, April 19, 2019

Auto-GCAS team wins prestigious award
by Giancarlo Casem
Edwards AFB, Calif.
The National Aeronautic Asso- ciation announced that the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System Team are the recipients of the 2018 Robert J. Collier Trophy. The trophy will be formally presented at a dinner event in Washington, D.C., in June.
“I am so proud of the entire Auto GCAS Team and their commitment and dedication to saving lives through this revolutionary technology,” said Mark Wilkins, Senior Aviation Safe- ty Analyst, Office of Secretary of Defense for Personnel Readiness and Safety. “We are truly honored to be recognized with such a prestigious award and deeply humbled consider- ing the aviation greats who won pre- viously.”
The Collier Trophy is awarded for what the Collier Trophy Selection Committee considers the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astro- nautics in the U.S., with respect to im- proving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles. The committee is comprised of 30 aviation and aerospace professionals and heard presentations from 10 other nominees. The Collier Trophy is housed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
“I want to congratulate the Auto GCAS team on winning the 2018
Collier Trophy,” said Greg Princi- pato, president and CEO, NAA. “The Collier Trophy was established more than a century ago to encourage the best minds in this country to continu- ally find ways to advance and improve aviation.”
The Auto GCAS team comprises representatives from Lockheed-Mar- tin, the U.S. Air Force, the F-35 Joint Program Office, NASA and the De- fense Safety Oversight Council. The team is credited for successfully com- pleting a rapid design, integration, and flight test of critical, lifesaving tech- nology for the worldwide F-35 fleet. Auto-GCAS is a technology designed to save a pilot from crashing into the ground in the event of a sudden loss of consciousness or target fixation.
Principato said the team, “is a ster- ling example of a project that brought together the best minds from many disciplines. The result is a game- changing advance in safety that has already changed military aviation and can one day change the game for ev- eryone.”
Members of the F-35 Integrated Task Force at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., were notified of their achievement earlier in April. Lt. Col. Tucker Hamilton, 461st Flight Test Squadron commander and F-35 ITF director, addressed his team and thanked them for their work.
“We do not strive and pour our
hearts into our work to win some award. It’s always been about the warfighter and our impactful work in delivering capability to the battle- field,” Hamilton told them. “However, I’m glad the efforts you put in each and every day have been recognized at such a high level, it is so deserving.”
The Collier Trophy was established in 1911 by Robert J. Collier, publisher and early President of the Aero Club
of America.
The trophy is administered by the
National Aeronautic Association of the U.S.A. and is awarded annually for “the greatest achievement in aeronau- tics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.”
It is permanently housed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Two F-35s taxi down a taxi-way at Edwards Air Force Base. The 461st Flight Test Squadron began flight testing the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) onboard the F-35 aircraft in late 2018.
Lockheed Martin photograph by Darin Russel
Smithsonian Institution photograph
The Collier Trophy was established in 1911 by Robert J. Collier, publisher and early President of the Aero Club of America. It is permanently housed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Lear Aircraft Mechanic
Calspan, a technology company with
a strong heritage in aerospace and transportation research and development, is looking for an A&P rated Aircraft Mechanic to support an Experimental Lear type Aircraft located at the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, Ca.
Description:
• Perform inspections, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and project installations and modifications to aircraft assigned to support.
• Inspect the work of other Aircraft Mechanics as required. Fill out and sign off on aircraft logs and work sheets in the proper manner.
• Keep abreast and maintain files of aircraft manuals, service bulletins. Attend pre-flight and post flight briefings as necessary. Maintain, operate and troubleshoot complex research systems installed in the aircraft. Maintain currency in aircraft manuals, service bulletins.
• Sign off inspections and aircraft log books as appropriate.
Preferred Education / Experience:
• High school graduate or equivalent
• Formal aircraft maintenance training
• 5+ years’ experience in field
• Airframe and Power Plant ratings highly desired
• Learjet 20/30 series or USAF C-21 experience highly desired
• Interpret drawings, specifications, manuals and procedures for mechanics. Inspect size and soundness of fabricated parts and sub-assemblies intended for installation in aircraft.
• Service and maintain aircraft and ground support equipment. Responsible for mechanical soundness of aircraft. From drawings and sketches, layout, fabricate and install, special modifications without compromising aircraft structural integrity or accepted aircraft standards.
• Perform or direct servicing, towing, starting and maintenance of the assigned aircraft and ground support equipment. Remove and install controls, electrical units, hydraulic components, engines and engine components.
• Preferred Knowledge / Ability:
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• Use of precision tools, measuring devices, instruments, etc.
• Required to adhere to procedures and requirements outlined in current
Calspan work instructions
Be part of the future in the aerospace research, with Calspan at Edwards AFB, Ca. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package
Interested candidates should apply online at: https://www.calspan.com/careers/
EEO-M/F/V/D
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