Landing a helicopter in low visibility environments is one of the most difficult tasks in aviation for a rotary-wing pilot – add weather like fog wind, or worse and aircraft recovery can be dangerous.
The very team who brought naval tactical aviation Precision Landing Mode (PLM) has now set sights on advancing capability and operational readiness for pilots flying legacy rotorcraft across the DOD.
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) recently patented a suite of corrosion mitigation products aimed at solving naval aviation’s billion-dollar corrosion problem.
Chemists from NAWCAD developed Navguard, a family of aircraft cleaning, coating, and lubricant products to prevent rust and mildew on aircraft and their components – a problem that cost the Navy over $2 billion for the F/A-18C-G fleet alone from 2017-2020.
Tony Spadarella, NAWCAD Patuxent River's 2021 Mentor of the Year, believes that the best way to teach someone is to give them the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.
"When I get teamed up with a young engineer, the first thing I do is tell them, 'Climb in, let's go see something,'" said Spadarella, the P-8A integration engineering test lead at the P-8 Integrated Test Team (ITT). "I walk them out to the airplane and have them use the systems and talk to the operators. It gets them excited because it's the real thing."
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) successfully developed and demonstrated an advanced logistics tracking system that could change the way Navy flight lines operate around the world.
The United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 received a Safety “S” for earning the 2020 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Aviation Safety Award, Nov. 3.
Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, Commander of the Naval Air Systems Command, presented the awards during back-to-back ceremonies at the respective squadrons on Nov. 3.
Cmdr. John Walsh took command of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 from Capt. Jared “J-Rod” Goul during a change of command ceremony at NAS Patuxent River today.
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Commander, Rear Adm. John Lemmon, was the guest speaker.
“J-Rod, I salute you for the steady hand and clear vision that you used to guide the men and women of your command through the tumult of the past year and a half,” said Lemmon.
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division recently completed its third annual Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX), showcasing more than 20 emerging warfighter technologies at its Patuxent River headquarters.
ANTX, a series of demonstrations by Navy and Marine Corps organizations, displayed new technology in settings similar to real-life operational environments and assists senior leaders in assessing and prioritizing technologies.
The Department of Defense (DOD) will provide rare access to its supercomputers for a NAWCAD engines project that could change the future of naval aviation testing.
The United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) held a graduation ceremony for Class 159 on July 30th. After an intense 11-month course of instruction for designation as Engineering Developmental Test Pilots, Test Flight Officers, and Test Engineers, 31 students received their diplomas.
Retired Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden delivered the keynote address. Bolden is a graduate of USNTPS and former astronaut and NASA administrator.
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) welcomed Stephen E. Cricchi as the new civilian executive director at its Pax River headquarters, July 14.
