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Coast Guard Sector San Diego receives new helicopter
SAN DIEGO – Coast Guard Sector San Diego is the first operational unit on the West Coast to receive the new MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter model, Monday, Nov. 23, 2009.
The aircraft, although very similar on the outside, is completely different on the inside. A new cockpit replaces the older analog instruments with five multi-functional displays, or MFD screens, which allow both pilots to view a multitude of options. This new cockpit is based on the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) developed for the U.S. Army. The CAAS cockpit incorporates cockpit flight and mission management, as well as integrates multiple communication, navigation and mission subsystems such as radar, Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Electro Optical Infrared (EOIR) and hoist camera images to reduce crew workload and improve operational effectiveness and safety. With more than 2,500 Army aircraft flying with the CAAS cockpit, the Coast Guard was able to leverage both the Department of Defense contracting and logistics infrastructure to achieve significant savings in both acquisition and life-cycle costs.
The project, which began in January 2007, will extend the service life of these 15 to 20-year-old aircraft for an additional two decades. Moreover, this upgrade will reduce operating costs by replacing a majority of the most expensive and maintenance intensive components on the legacy MH-60J. The T model was designed and built at the Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) in Elizabeth City, N.C.
Pilots, aircrews and technicians have been training for several months at the Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC), Elizabeth City, N.C., and the Aviation Training Center (ATC), Mobile, Ala., in order to operate and maintain the new aircraft.
“The aircraft incorporates improved mission capabilities to aid in search and rescue, law enforcement and homeland security missions,” said Lt. Kevin Winters, Assistant Aeronautical Engineer stationed at Sector San Diego. “The communications suite gives us the ability to talk to local, state and federal agencies, greatly enhancing mission accomplishment within our area. Search and Rescue capabilities have also improved with the addition of direction finding equipment. This equipment improves the accuracy of locating a 406 MHz emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) by giving the GPS coordinates in latitude and longitude, where as the J models didn’t have that capability.”
“The technology aboard this aircraft will allow Coast Guard aviation to operate more effectively both autonomously and an in concert with our departments of Defense and Homeland Security partners in the post 9-11 environment,” said Lt. Simon Greene a pilot stationed at the Sector. “This model enhances both the pilots’ and flight crews’ ability to prosecute all 13 of the Coast Guard’s missions without having to continuously reconfigure the aircraft.”
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