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2006 Press Releases
Marine Fighter Squadron Deploys to Iraq
with MFOQA Demonstration
Tools from SimAuthor
MIRAMAR, Calif., Dec. 18, 2006─ In August of this year, the “Bats” of
Marine All-Weather Fighter-Attack Squadron 242—VMFA(AW)-242—deployed to
Iraq with prototype software tools developed under the Department of the
Navy’s Military Flight Operations Quality Assurance (MFOQA)
demonstration project. The tools are currently being used in combat
operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
The “Bats” used the tools during air-to-air training at MCAF Kaneohe
Bay, Hawaii, and air-to-ground training at MCAS Yuma, Ariz., in
preparation for deployment to Iraq. The tools provided notable
improvements in the aircrews’ debriefs of air-to-air and air-to-ground
sorties, as well as more timely visualization of aircraft systems data
to support maintenance.
“Though the demonstration project is still in progress and uses for the
tools continue to be refined, they provided significant improvements
during our tactical and maintenance debrief sessions and were convincing
enough for us to request their use during our deployment to OIF,” said
Major “Drowsy” Reed, Director of Safety and Standardization for VMFA(AW)-242.
The tools include FlightAnalyst™ and FlightViz™, modified commercial
off-the-shelf software programs developed by SimAuthor, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Westar Aerospace & Defense Group, Inc. as well as a
separate software tool developed by the Navy.
Maj. Reed said several squadron members were convinced of the value of
the MFOQA demonstration prototype tools, and described them as a “force
multiplier” during the unit’s preparation for deployment.
The SimAuthor tools provide an analytical presentation of a flight based
on operational data from the aircraft, a graphical and animated
representation of a flight, and a post-flight replay of aircraft systems
data in a format similar to multi-function displays available to the
aircrew in-flight. The analytical and data visualization capabilities
enable squadron aircrews to improve the quality of their missions in
terms of performance and safety, and assist maintenance personnel with
systems troubleshooting and repair.
“The “Bats” were selected as the lead fixed-wing squadron for the MFOQA
demonstration, which was established to involve the warfighter in the
development of MFOQA requirements and concepts of operations. MFOQA is a
knowledge management process being developed to improve operational
readiness and reduce risks in Navy and Marine Corps aviation squadrons.
“Throughout the demonstration we evaluated and evolved the prototype
tools for potential use in a combat environment,” said Dr. David Haas,
the technical lead for the MFOQA Demonstration Project.
The “Bats” are using the tools in Iraq on a daily basis. Typical
applications include aircrew debriefs of missions with the capability to
depict spatial relationships of multiple aircraft during simultaneous
flights. The tools also provide the capability to validate discrepancies
during daily maintenance operations, and possibly eliminate
“troubleshooting” steps or maintenance actions, as allowed within the
provisions of the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program.
The capabilities provided by the prototype tools are being used to help
define MFOQA fleet requirements for to the Naval Air Command (NAVAIR),
which is responsibility for the Navy’s MFOQA Program Acquisition.
The history of the Marine All-Weather Fighter-Attack Squadron 242 dates
back to 1943 when it was activated as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron
242. The Squadron has a long combat history. It flew anti-submarine
patrols in the South Pacific until the end of World War II, was deployed
to Key West during the Cuban Missile Crisis, participated in combat
operations in Vietnam, and was part of the Marine Air Group-70 in
Operation Desert Shield. The Squadron is currently based at the Marine
Corps Air Station in Miramar, Calif.
For more information on SimAuthor, Inc., visit: www.simauthor.com
For more information on Westar Aerospace & Defense Group, visit:
www.westar.com
Media Contact:
Mike Ruggeri
Vice President, Communications
Westar Aerospace & Defense Group, Inc.
636-300-5151 (office)
636-627-9070 (mobile)
ruggeri@westar.com