By Pattie Odoardo
NAVAIR Lakehurst Public Affairs

You’re deployed aboard the USS George Washington somewhere in the Arabian Gulf. Before you begin your daily aircraft launches, you do daily tests on the launch valves. While checking your equipment readings you realize that you don’t meet the requirements in order to begin launches. What do you do? You call the Naval Air Systems Command Lakehurst!

“Without a doubt you must be able to launch those birds at any given time. Even the smallest inclination that something is wrong must be corrected immediately,” said LT Thomas Chorlton, Test Operations Officer.
When the Fleet has a problem, NAVAIR Lakehurst is the first to be notified. Being on a aircraft carrier thousands of miles away doesn’t prevent you from calling NAVAIR Lakehurst and speaking an engineer who knows the design like the back of his hand, and is ready and willing to help you solve your problem.

Working in synergy
The Engineering and In-Service Support engineers are continually talking to the Fleet, working to develop solutions and answers.
That solution is provided to the Prototyping and Manufacturing experts where the “best fix” is determined. The completed solution is then provided to Test Operations where the equipment is put on gear that is Fleet representative. Test operations are fully instrumented and it is ensured that all the equipment has passed Fleet and functionality testing prior to being shipped out. “Our gear at the test sites is exact to the gear on the carriers. NAVAIR Lakehurst is the only command to have such capabilities,” said Captain Mark Bathrick, Executive Officer.

Taking aim at terrorism
Naval Air Systems Command Lakehurst is the Navy’s center of excellence for aircraft launch and recovery systems and support equipment. Their responsibility on the carrier includes the catapults that launch the aircraft, the arresting gear that recovers the aircraft, the visual landing aids that guide the aircraft back to the ship and the support equipment that is used to handle, service, maintain and test the aircraft and its propulsion and avionics systems.

Since September 11th, in its primary role, NAVAIR Lakehurst also has provided worldwide support for the Enduring Freedom military operations against worldwide terrorism. Its members have been deployed on numerous occasions to resolve problems on a variety of ships and air stations. Its role included repairs to catapults and arresting engines on the aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Indian Ocean. Expert technicians also performed optical landing system repairs on the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in Hong Kong and the assault ship USS Bataan, LHD 5 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Its engineers have done helicopter recovery system repair on a destroyer in the Persian Gulf and created an expanded runway apron aircraft position movement plan at the Naval Air Station Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean. Engineers also deployed a minimum operating strip lighting kit and supplemental airfield lighting kit to the U.S. Marine Corp in Afghanistan.

A worldwide presence
With 22 field offices throughout the world, NAVAIR Lakehurst provided on-site support to the complete aircraft launching and recovery product line. The Lakehurst team also certified shipboard aviation fuel systems and configuration management of Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Division (AIMD) spaces aboard aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships.

Collocated with the AIR and SURFACE Type Commanders of both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleet as well as with each Marine Air Wing, its people are always ready to deploy to remote locations throughout the world with minimum notice. “These guys have suitcases packed at their desks on a daily basis”, said Joseph McGuckin, division head for the Fleet Technical Services Representatives Division. “Recent experience has shown the Fleet Technical Services representatives willingness to go in harms way to support forward deployed warfighters.” To McGuckin, they are unsung major contributors to the effectiveness of the warfighters.

Helping “Enduring Freedom” endure
Testimony to the extent that the Navy and the country have benefited from NAVAIR Lakehurst Team’s actions is the unparalleled availability of the catapults and arresting gear on the aircraft carriers while participating in Enduring Freedom. “This superb readiness is a tribute to the training, and morale of the Sailors and Marines coupled with the logistical support and the technical services provided by the NAVAIR Lakehurst team,” concluded McGuckin. “The fleet has been underway an unprecedented number of days and has been flying on a continuing basis during this all important mission to combat terrorism.”

Currently the NAVAIR Lakehurst representatives are working closely with their Coast Guard customers to develop and enhance the operational capability of the Coast Guard Cutter Fleet in support of Homeland Defense. Already, it serves a critical role in helping the Army develop future combat systems.

Securing the homefront
Situated in the heart of New Jersey, NAVAIR Lakehurst has more than 7,430 acres and is the largest Naval Aviation facility in the Northeast. Lakehurst is adjoined with the Army Training Center at Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base, forming a 38,000 acre mega-base complex.
The tenant commands at NAVAIR Lakehurst further enhances the base’s capabilities with the unique services they provide and their support for Homeland Defense and security missions.
One of the first to respond to the September 11th attack was the NJ State Police Urban Search and Rescue Team, which is housed at NAVAIR Lakehurst. As a tenant organization, they utilize Lakehurst’s facilities, provide training to their firefighters and emergency medical technicians on collapsed building and confined space rescue procedures, a service that is provided at no additional costs to the Navy.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is a worldwide federal law enforcement organization whose mission is to protect and serve the Navy and Marine Corps and their families. It serves as the focal point of all counterintelligence activities impacting Navy facilities and personnel within the Northeast geographic area. They provide ongoing educational programs and command briefings focused on keeping Lakehurst personnel up to date on current terrorist and criminal threats potentially affecting the area.
The Lakehurst team is definitely warfighter centric! It brings a world-class image to the NAVAIR community and is a positive reflection of all that is good with Naval Aviation.