Aviation Acquisition Update -- MH-60T and HC-144 standing the watch

Cutting the ribbon on the first operational MH-60T now standing the watch at Air Station Elizabeth City
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Last week I participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Air Station Elizabeth City to mark the achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the MH-60T. I was joined by VADM Currier, RADM Blore (D13 Commander and newly crowned Ancient Albatross), CAPT Doug Menders (CG Aviation Acquisition Program Manager) and CWO Montgomery Everson (Aviation Logistics Center).

IOC for the MH-60T is defined as three MH-60T configured aircraft relied on for Bravo Zero response (three is the minimum number of a/c needed for this type of response, which is the ability to launch within 30 minutes of receiving a call) at an air station. The aircraft must also be operated by an adequately trained and equipped Coast Guard unit. Five MH-60Ts have been delivered in all; E-City has three, and two other 60Ts are at ATC Mobile for aircrew training.

One MH-60T out of E-City has already been involved in a rescue case: In August 2009, an MH-60T aircrew was diverted from a routine training flight to assist a diver suffering from symptoms of decompression sickness off the coast of Wilmington, N.C. The diver was flown to Duke University Hospital Center for treatment.

Some of the upgrades from the "J" to the "T" include:
1) old cockpit components/instrumentation replaced with five multi-function display screens (basically, a glass cockpit) that the crew can display weather, radar and hoist cam images onto.

2) Airborne Use of Force package with a 7.62mm machine gun to fire warning shots and a .50 caliber long range rifle for precise targeting, such as disabling the outboard engines on a non-compliant "go-fast" vessel. Also includes ballistic armor for crew protection and upgraded comms subsystems for better interoperability with other DHS components.

HC-144A:

Also last week, the HC-144A assumed the watch in place of the HU-25 24/7 at Air Station Mobile (4 aircraft).

8 aircraft total have been delivered. 3 complementary roll-on, roll-off mission system pallets have also been delivered. Plans call for a total of 36.

HC-144A has much longer endurance than HU-25; depending on configuration, it can stay airborne as long as nine hours, vice four for the HU-25. Rear cargo ramp and roll-on, roll-off mission system pallet make it configurable for a variety, of cargo and transport missions.