The Navy recently awarded a $22.6 million contract to Gentex Corporation to deliver more than 5,000 Next-Generation Fixed Wing Helmet (NGFWH) systems and spares to support the fielding of these systems across all Navy fixed wing aircraft.

The firm-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is intended streamline and modernize life-support capabilities for fixed-wing aircrews and will eventually replace the aging HGU-55/P and HGU-68P legacy helmets, which have served as the fleet standard for decades.

Military personnel from across the country gathered near NAS Patuxent River May 5-8  for an annual workshop aimed at strengthening fleet training on critical aircrew support systems, ensuring the safety of both aircrew and maintainers during flight missions.

Hosted by the Naval Aircrew Systems (PMA-202) Fleet Air Introduction/Liaison of Survival Aircrew Flight Equipment (FAILSAFE) team, the event welcomed more than 100 attendees, including parachute riggers, fleet aeromedical safety officers, and Naval Survival Training Institute instructors.

The Naval Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202) welcomed new leadership during a change of command and retirement ceremony April 17 at Pax River.

Capt. Joseph Kamara assumed command of PMA-202 relieving Capt. Carey Castelein of his duties as program manager, who will retire from the Navy.

Over his tenure, Castelein managed 13 acquisition programs and more than 1,200 safety-critical, lifesaving products with an annual budget of more than $150 million. During the ceremony, he reflected on his tenure expressing gratitude for his team’s dedication and achievements.

The Naval Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202) is leading the design and modification of the F/A-18 and EA-18G pilot helmet-mounted components of the Improved Joint Helmet-Mounted Cuing System (IJHMCS).

The Navy awarded a $16.8 million contract July 28 to Collins Elbit Vision Systems for the design and development of the IJHMCS, making the system lighter in weight with a better center of gravity to reduce potential for pilot back and neck injuries. The program office plans to field the IJHMCS in 2025. 

The Naval Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202) aircrew survival vest team is testing new rotary wing and tilt aircrew survival vest systems that will optimize aircrew performance with a lighter, less bulky and more ergonomically suitable solution.

The team is evaluating the new vest systems for their ability to reduce instances of overheating, increase overall comfort and reduce the potential for short and long term back and neck injury of pilots and aircrew due to the bulkiness and imbalanced weight of the legacy systems.

The Naval Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202) is using data collected during recent fleet assessments to refine the HGU-99/P Hearing Protection Helmet (HPH) which is intended for flight deck crew exposed to extreme noise environments.

The Naval Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202) is fielding new headgear, the Head Gear Unit Number 98/Personal Use (HGU-98P), that improves both head and hearing protection for fleet Marine Corps aviation maintainers.  

PMA-202 incorporated the latest advancements and information gained from market research, lab testing and fleet assessments to select the new Marine Corps maintenance cranial, the Team Wendy Exfil Light Tactical Polymer helmet, which is a Commercial-off-the-Shelf solution.

The Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202) welcomed a new program manager during a ceremony held 24 Feb. in Patuxent River, Md.  

Program Executive Officer for Aviation Common Systems and Commercial Services (PEO(CS)), Mr. Gary M. Kurtz, presided over the change of command ceremony during which Capt. Carey Castelein assumed command of PMA-202 from Capt. Tom Heck. 

The Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202) welcomed a new program manager during a ceremony held January 25 in Patuxent River.

Vice Adm. Michael T. Moran, principal military deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (research, development, and acquisition), presided over the change of command where Capt. Tom Heck assumed command of PMA-202 from Capt. David Padula.

A common tenet from Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Richardson’s Four Lines of Effort is increasing the speed of getting capability to the fleet.  In the current geo-political climate, taking a measured risk approach in order to accelerate capability delivery is imperative to maintaining strategic and tactical superiority over adversaries.  The Night Vision Cueing and Display (NVCD) program, managed by the Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202), is an example of one such program willing to take measured risks in order to accelerate capability.