By Jacqueline Boucher
Tobyhanna Army Depot
TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. — With an eye to the future, Army aviation officials recently merged the talents of Tobyhanna Army Depot and Rockwell Collins to repair cutting-edge technology used on the CH-47F Chinook helicopter.
Technicians here will use test equipment and parts supplied by the original equipment manager (OEM) to sustain the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS). The CAAS-equipped aircraft provides Army aviation with a reliable and efficient heavy lift cargo helicopter for tactical and combat support mission requirements around the world.
Tobyhanna was named the Depot Source of Repair for the CAAS equipment and works with Project Manager for Cargo Helicopters (PM-Cargo), who executes the life cycle management for the world’s most advanced heavy lift rotary wing aircraft.
Forging partnerships with industry is crucial to meeting the challenges of ensuring readiness and protecting critical capabilities within the industrial base, according to Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche, deputy commanding general for the Army Materiel Command and senior commander of Redstone Arsenal.
“We’ve been working hand-in-hand with Rockwell Collins and PM Cargo to bring this project online,” said Larksville resident John Stochla, chief of the C4ISR Directorate’s Avionics Branch. “This is an exciting time for Tobyhanna. This agreement gives us the opportunity to work on technology that’s being used in today’s latest and greatest helicopters.”
The CAAS is often referred to as a glass cockpit, which consists of touch-screen, multi-function flat-panel displays. It’s a switch from the older electronic architectures of the last 20 years, which are gauges and dials. The equipment features sophisticated real-time operating-system software and the latest in processor technology, which improves situational awareness.
In addition to performing necessary repairs, eight employees who work in the Flight Control and Navigation Section will test the CAAS components using the automated common equipment station (ACES). The team members completed a 40-hour training course and are anxious to get started. All the parts have arrived from the OEM and the systems are due any day.
Stochla commended Rockwell Collins for providing superior technical support throughout the transition. Depot personnel have already developed a sound rapport with the support team, he said.
“There is constant communication between everyone involved in this project,” said Pittston Township resident Edward Cebula, electronics mechanic. “The training was helpful and I’m confident we’ll be able to test, inspect and replace the system sub-assemblies as required.”
Electronics Mechanic Angela Miller (a resident of Allentown) explained that the CAAS system looks and operates much like the dashboard of a car, especially the new ones with features such as onboard Global Positioning System and Bluetooth. She also noted that the system hardware and software can be adapted to meet mission requirements of a broad spectrum of rotary wing aircraft.
“CAAS takes several individual pieces of equipment in the cockpit and puts them all together for easier access by the pilot,” Miller said. “Among other things, it displays the gauges, caution, and advisory lights and provides access to communication.”
Bradley Statz, a CH-47F logistics manager at Redstone Arsenal remarked that developing this partnership was a challenge, but it came together on time and within budget.
“It was fantastic to work with Tobyhanna,” he said. “Everyone pulled together to work as a team.”
Electronics Mechanic and member of the team Amanda Oziemblo (a resident of Greentown) agreed.
“We have a dedicated team. What we do on a daily basis has a direct impact on the Soldiers’ safety and ability to do their job,” she said. “Therefore, only quality products leave this facility.”
Senior military leaders realize that as the Army transforms to a leaner, more lethal, agile and expeditionary force, partnerships with industry become more critical than ever.
“Partnering helps identify best practices, integrate approaches from industry to enhance modernization efforts and gain efficiencies,” Wyche said to a group of industry partners recently. “We have an opportunity right now to help reshape our great Army for a new generation of Soldiers and for a nation that will continue to depend on an Army that is equipped and ready for operations around the globe.”
Tobyhanna is working to expand this partnership to support other CAAS-equipment aircraft across other military services.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.
Tobyhanna Army Depot New
About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
