Put Through Its Paces
Ammunition loaded on the B757
By SQNLDR Brett Goodall
The first B757 out of upgrade completed Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) on 17 October 2008. The aircraft was tasked two days later, and completed the first post-OT&E task over the period 19-26 October – combining tasks through Australia, India, Malaysia, PNG and Tonga, and operating in one of the new combination ‘Combi’ passenger/cargo configurations.
Acknowledging the pressure to get the B7571 back into operational service, together with the requirement to conduct a robust OT&E process, the schedule was both aggressive and compressed. The aircraft flew 56 hours on six tasks over a 12 day period, with only one non-flying day. These tasks had the aircraft operating in all of the new configurations – VIP and 2, 4, 7 and 11 pallet combination of passengers and freight.
CAF boarding SATS
The OT&E was combined with tasks representative of the anticipated locations and loads that the aircraft upgrade was designed to support. The process tested and evaluated the whole Air System – planning, tasking, training, logistics support, maintenance (including extensive testing of role changes), flying operations, air movements and ground support away from home base.
There were some significant milestones during the OT&E, namely the carriage of a T56-14 engine to Penang (on a stand designed by SSU and built by the Metal Section in Auckland - an engineering masterpiece!), and the carriage of 21 tonnes of 105mm Howitzer ammunition to Exercise SWIFT EAGLE in Townsville.
The B7571 achieved NZDF Supplemental Type Certification in late November. While the aircraft was accepted from the MoD Acquisition Project with only a few outstanding issues, the upgrade of the HF radio and some other warranty issues required a return to works in the US this month (December).
There are a number of follow-on OT&E activities that will be initiated in the New Year.
The aircraft certainly seems to perform best when it’s working hard and the OT&E results have been very encouraging thus far. The second B757 is scheduled to return to service in late January 2009.