Arnold Air Force Base
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TULLAHOMA TN Vol. 67, No. 14 Arnold AFB, Tenn. PERMIT NO. 29 July 20, 2020 AEDC, NAVAIR establish Remote Data Room By Deidre Moon AEDC Public Affairs Sitting in front of a computer screen in the Propulsion Systems Evaluation Facility (PSEF) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, also known as PAX, some 700 miles away, PSEF test engineer Leo Rubio speaks to analysts and monitors test data as if he was ac- tually in the control room at Arnold Air Force Base. Master Sgt. Lashonda Morehead, left, flight chief of medical operations at Arnold Air Force Base, briefs Gen. Using the facility known as the Re- Arnold W. Bunch Jr., right, commander, Air Force Materiel Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Cadell, mote Data Room, or RDR, the Arnold command chief, Air Force Materiel Command, about the COVID-19 response at Arnold AFB, headquarters of Engineering Development Complex and Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), July 8. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett) PSEF engineers, who have been collabo- rating for close to a year, witnessed their efforts come to fruition during a test of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine in the AFMC leadership visits SL-3 test cell at Arnold in January. According to Seth Beaman, NAVAIR aeropropulsion test analyst at Arnold, the development of the room was spear- headed by John Kelly, branch head for Arnold AFB, 704th TG Test Operations and Facilities Engineer- ing at PAX River. “Because the Navy and Air Force have a combined interest in the F-35 program, John Kelly brought the idea to AEDC as a way for his team at PAX River to remotely support test,” Beaman said. “The Remote Data Room serves as an extension of AEDC and provides a secure room for supporting various test programs.” Before the F135 engine test, Kelly had some reservations on how the setup in Maryland, comprised of four monitors and two keyboards, would work. “One thing we worried about was the Scott Meredith, left, technical advisor for AEDC Flight Sys- Col. Ernest Lincoln Bonner, chief of the AEDC Test Division, offers his thoughts to Bunch during a discussion on diver- latency when working in real time; will tems Branch, and Cadell walk past a rake installed in a test there be dropouts or will we see a num- section of the 16-foot supersonic wind tunnel, which is used sity and inclusion held by Bunch with AEDC senior leader- ber of data points from a minute ago or a to characterize the flow in the tunnel, during a tour July 8 at ship July 8 at Arnold Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo Arnold Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett) by Jill Pickett) second ago,” Kelly said. (This image has been altered by obscuring a badge for se- However, trial runs proved success- curity purposes.) ful, with new data points being received within milliseconds. Kelly said he would like to see the room eventually set up with four work stations and two big screen TVs so that they can see the engine running in the test cell. Rubio mentioned that another added benefit of the Remote Data Room is that it will cut costs for both NAVAIR and AEDC because less travel will be needed between the two locations. “It will reduce the cost for NAVAIR support of a test at AEDC (Arnold Air Bunch receives a briefing from 2nd Lt. Chase Bilyou, White Force Base) since an individual is not Capt. Anthony Alt, left, 704th Test Support Squadron direc- Sands Missile Range 586th Flight Test Squadron Detachment tor of operations, briefs Bunch June 29 at the 704th Test 1 weapon systems test manager, June 29 at the 704th Test required to physically be on TDY (tem- Group on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. (U.S. Air Group on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. (U.S. Air porary duty) for the duration of a test Force photo by Senior Airman Collette Brooks) Force photo by Senior Airman Collette Brooks) program,” he said. “This also provides analyst coverage for test programs that allow the AEDC analysts to be spread out across more programs since PAX en- AEDC Innovation Grant research generates tactical gineers will be able to serve remotely as an analyst during a test.” solution for test facility security In preparation to assist with data By Deidre Moon analysis during engine tests, Rubio com- AEDC Public Affairs pleted AEDC training for basic data analysis. Engineers at Arnold Air Force “NAVAIR personnel at Arnold have Base have researched the use of a already completed the training, but I am Cross-Domain Solution, or CDS, the first employee specifically from PAX interface to allow plant operations to have completed the training with the systems outside of the plant control Remote Data Room function in mind,” he room to remain unclassified during said. classified test programs. Rubio explained he had previously put Scott Howard and Greg Hal- his new training to use during another en- liburton, Department of Defense gine test at Arnold. team members with the Arnold En- “The goal was to work with my coun- gineering Development Complex, terpart at AEDC, Seth Beaman, to develop Test Information Systems Section at a training curriculum that would work to Arnold, along with members of the get NAVAIR personnel certified as basic- Controls Design team with the Test Chris Carr, an AEDC Instrumentation, Data and Controls engineer, demon- level analysts. The original plan was that Operations and Sustainment con- strates how the Cross-Domain Solution, or CDS, works Feb. 12 at Arnold I would go down to observe and possibly tractor, National Aerospace Solu- Air Force Base. The CDS interface was researched as a solution to allow complete some of the training. I ended up tions, worked to determine whether plant operations systems outside of the plant control room to remain un- plant control parameters could be classified during classified test programs.(U.S. Air Force photo by Deidre See DATA ROOM, page 3 Moon) (This image has been altered by obscuring items for security pur- See SECURITY, page 3 poses.) Safety Office enables Team Bluegrass and buds: Arnold Covid-19 AEDC to meet mission AFB team members gather and you for weekly jams …Page 2 …Page 4 …Page 6 2 • July 20, 2020 Arnold Safety Office enables Team AEDC to meet mission Air Force By Harry Clark general public and those strange objects that you requested test conditions at tions that best simulate the Base Chief, AEDC Safety flying the missions to and discover on the Arnold res- levels of risk that may be actual environment that from our airfield to ensure ervation, call the Safety Of- accepted at the appropri- the system will experi- “Hi, I’m from Safety we are performing all the fice. ate level of leadership. It ence. This includes under- and I’m here to help!” necessary Flight Safety Occupational Safety is is also the documentation standing how the required OK, what did you think functions for which a flying what everyone thinks of we use to understand how test conditions may stress when you read that state- Wing Air Force Base would when they think of “safety.” changes, both enhanced or exceed the capacity of ment? What most people be responsible. These are the folks who get capability resulting from the facility. Documenta- have thought in the past is Weapons Safety at no love because they are Investment and Moderniza- tion of these assessments something along the lines AEDC involves support- the ones constantly remind- tion projects and degraded is captured in Test Hazard of, “Oh brother…” Today’s Col. Jeffrey Geraghty ing the skilled craftsmen ing you that, “you could capability due to equipment Analyses, which require Commander AEDC Safety Office wants and engineers at G-Range get hurt if you …” The fact failures or deferred mainte- the same level of rigor as you to file all that away and where they use gunpow- is, these “rules” have been nance, affect our ability to those associated with the Jason Austin take a fresh look at an or- der and ignition devices developed over years of meet test requirements. The facility baselines. All of this Chief, ganization that exists to en- to launch projectiles/test analyzing data on work- fundamental process in the requires that the teams put- Public Affairs able you and your team to articles from the “guns” at place injuries. When Safety practice of System Safety ting together the test plans deliver your best products that facility, and the teams reminds you that the trench is the assessment of risk have a strong and in-depth in service to our mission that occasionally use start you are working in needs to inherent in operating and understanding of their test supporting the National Richard Tighe cartridges for small turbine be shored up (or the walls maintaining the systems. techniques and the skill to General Manager, Defense Strategy (NDS). engines. It also involves stepped back), when they Baseline Hazard Analyses match a customer’s require- National Aerospace Safety in the Air Force support to the teams that ask you to hold the hand- document the potential haz- ments to those techniques. Solutions consists of three primary execute the solid rocket rail while using the stairs, ards, including what might With that basis in place, the High Mach Staff: functions: Flight Safety, motor testing that is ac- when they scrutinize your cause that hazard to happen Test Safety documentation Weapons Safety and Occu- complished in the J-6 test Confined Space Hazard and what effect that hazard allows the appropriate lev- Kathy Jacobsen, pational Safety.