Instrumented Launch Support Retain the Big Crow Aircraft

1. Instrumented Launch Support Retain the Big Crow Aircraft Andy Roberts 4/xx/08

2. Purpose Retain a unique “National Asset” program and ensure uninterrupted availability to a diverse customer base.

3. What is Big Crow? • The nations most versatile, agile, quick reaction, Research Test and Evaluation (RDT&E), Training and operational capability • Mission Capabilities • Electromagnetic environments • Electromagnetic vulnerability assessments • Science • Research, test and evaluation • Training • Worldwide deployable mobile instrumented test and training range • Telemetry • Instrumented radar • Electro-optics • Electronic attack / electronic support • Assets • Intellectual capital • Reconfigurable NKC-135 aircraft electronic platforms • Mobile ground platforms • Instrumentation & related equipment • Myriad of other aircraft via air services

4. Mobile Instrumented Test and Training Range

5. Training Exercise Support

6. Big Crow Air Services • Variety of fixed and rotary wing aircraft available • Gulfstream, Lear, Cessna aircraft • Fighters such as A-4s and F-16s • Helicopters including the Bell 412 • Capable of integrating equipment onto military aircraft • UH-60 • UH-1 • C-12 • Many others • Ultra Light • Lear • Lighter than Air Ship (Blimp) • NASA ER?

7. Big Crow Ground Systems • Ground based telemetry • Mass data store • SATCOM relay • Remote command, control destruct RCC • Communications • SATCOM • Relay • Data Link • Vulnerability Assessment

8. Background • Big Crow represents DoD’s consolidation from nine large-scale aircraft down to the two NKC-135’s: • 3 Navy King Crow EW • 1 Air Force ARGUS EO/IR • 3 Air Force telemetry • 1 Air Force SATCOM • 1 MDA DC10 • Consolidation resulted in Big Crow assuming new missions: • Navy ship qualification test • AF cruise missile chase test • MDA’s Airborne Laser (ABL) target board • Link and Communication testing

9. Problem • DoD’s most capable, RDT&E, Training, and capability will be lost in FY08/09 • Why a crisis now? • Air Force will retire Big Crow NKC-135s to avoid excessive military maintenance costs (Program Depot Maintenance Cost (PDM))

10. How did we get here? • No Air Force aircraft funding; AF Fleet board decision 6 June 2006 to terminate Big Crow aircraft when PDM’s come due • Air Force is excessing fleet KC-135E/B’s and won’t support Big Crow NKC-135E/B aircraft • OSD AT&L decision to transfer Big Crow aircraft and program to OSD • Last minute (December 07) legal determination, OSD AT&L is a policy organization; it cannot own assets

11. How did we get here? • OSD AT&L strongly supports Big Crow and is actively seeking a solution to retain Big Crow; however time is running out • Short term solution (less than 2 years) — find a “holding” agent that can take the Big Crow aircraft and convert the operation and maintenance (O&M) plan to a much more affordable commercial O&M plan • Long term (2 years and out) — Big Crow becomes a field operating activity under OSD with authorities to operate under commercial O&M paradigm

12. Big Crow Maintenance • Problem • Program Depot Maintenance (USAF Requirement) due with no funding available • Air Force Maintainers are being reassigned • Big Crow Program Office does not have the ability to grant its self an Airworthiness Certification

13. Big Crow Maintenance • Solution • Set-up a Maintenance Program which incorporates both requirements of the FAA and NASA aircraft maintenance (Bridging of Maintenance Actions) • Use all aircraft maintenance documentation available to generate a Low Utilization Maintenance Program (LUMP) • Write a comprehensive inspection program (“C” check) that will cover the structural requirements of the Air Force PDM in a cost effect manner (This would suffice as the NASA Acceptance Inspection) • Formulate a plan to comply with all open TCTOs • Ensure that an active Corrosion Prevention Control Program (CPCP) is in place • Have a General Maintenance Manual (GMM) that will cover all aspects of the Big Crow Aircraft Maintenance Program • Ensure that all inspections are covered (Bridging) • Ensure that a functional Maintenance tracking system is in place • Ensure that a real time Logistics Inventory system is in place

14. Big Crow Maintenance • Big Crow Aircraft • Low hours • 63-8050 • Total Flight Hours 30,626 • Last PDM August 2003 • Time since last PDM 1,836 • 55-3132 • Total Flight Hours 11,058 • Last PDM June 2004 • Time since last PDM 1,030

15. Big Crow Maintenance • Big Crow Aircraft • Clean Aircraft • No major maintenance concerns • Minimal number of Time Compliance Technical Orders (TCTO) open • No major damage noted to aircraft structure • No corrosion concerns noted on either aircraft • Aircraft records reviewed noted no areas of concern

16. Maintenance, Engineering & Logistics • Recommend NASA • Oversee the Bridging of the Aircraft Maintenance Program from Air Force to a more cost effective maintenance model • Provide Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review Board (AFSRB) approval • Bring Big Crow Aircraft Maintenance and Logistics Tracking under the NASA Aircraft Maintenance Information System (NAMIS)

17. Maintenance, Engineering & Logistics • Recommend NASA • Approve an Airworthiness Certificate for the Big Crow NKC-135 Aircraft

18. Maintenance, Engineering & Logistics • Recommend NASA • Provide Aviation Oversight to the Big Crow Program • Participate in Preliminary Design Review Boards • Participate in Critical Design Review boards • Participate in Flight Readiness Review Boards • Provide oversight to the Maintenance program in the form of a Independent Quality Assurance Inspector