Sea King Mk 7 trials team honoured
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Sea King Mk 7 trials team honoured
The Johnston Memorial Trophy
Awarded to a person or persons for an outstanding performance of air navigation or airmanship or for the development of new air navigation techniques and equipment.
Awarded to: SEA KING MK7 TRIALS TEAM
Lt Cdrs Tite and Smith, Lord Stevens, Lt Cdr (Retd) Colin Richardson
Citation:
The Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) helicopter entered Royal Naval service in late 2002, providing a step change in naval operational capability. This capability was further enhanced in support of Op TELIC some 6 months later where the Sea King Mk 7 was deployed to great effect. The success of this project from 2002 to the present day can be traced to a very small team of dedicated and highly effective military trials officers who worked with industry to ensure delivery of the required operational capability.
Lieutenant Commander Peter Smith, an accomplished Naval Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Observer and a widely acclaimed Tactical Data Link expert, was a key member of the joint development team. Lt Cdr Smith was individually responsible for the design and implementation of the development trials programme which facilitated the initial integration of Link 16 into the Sea King Mk7 Mission System and refined its subsequent performance.
Since 2002, the Sea King ASaC has developed from its initial capability, as seen during Op TELIC, to reach Full Operating Capability in March this year. This development has been primarily in the hands of the Sea King ASaC Mk7 Trials Team at MOD Boscombe Down – a team consisting of two qualified Aero-Systems Qualified Sea King Observers whose primary task has been assessment of the Mission System for both safety and fitness for purpose. Lt Cdr Tite has been the Senior Trials Officer and Technical Task Manager with the Trials Team since January 2005 and Lt Cdr Ling has been a member of the team since October 2003. Additionally, Lt Cdr (retd) Richardson has been part of the Sea King Mid Life Update Programme since its inception.
Through the developmental testing regime several complex faults in both equipment and procedures have been identified and rectified through the Trials Team’s relentless pursuit of perfection. Applying sound logical analysis, combined with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the technical specifications, the team have developed several innovative techniques to allow the aircraft navigation sub‑system to fully contribute to the Operational Capability of the aircraft.
The Trials Team was able to advance significantly the complex Sea King ASaC Mk7 navigation sub‑system through alterations to equipment and software and via the introduction of new techniques and procedures. In doing so, the Trials Team allowed Sea King ASaC crews to utilise fully this potent Mission System to its maximum potential.
The timely and successful introduction and integration of this complex airborne system is entirely attributable to the individuals involved and their verve, enthusiasm, dedication and unstinting professionalism throughout the project from its inception and proof of concept in 2002 to its full operational capability. Lt Cdrs Smith, Tite, Ling and Richardson are accordingly and collectively awarded the Johnston Memorial Trophy.
Lieutenant Commander Peter Smith, an accomplished Naval Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Observer and a widely acclaimed Tactical Data Link expert, was a key member of the joint development team. Lt Cdr Smith was individually responsible for the design and implementation of the development trials programme which facilitated the initial integration of Link 16 into the Sea King Mk7 Mission System and refined its subsequent performance.
Since 2002, the Sea King ASaC has developed from its initial capability, as seen during Op TELIC, to reach Full Operating Capability in March this year. This development has been primarily in the hands of the Sea King ASaC Mk7 Trials Team at MOD Boscombe Down – a team consisting of two qualified Aero-Systems Qualified Sea King Observers whose primary task has been assessment of the Mission System for both safety and fitness for purpose. Lt Cdr Tite has been the Senior Trials Officer and Technical Task Manager with the Trials Team since January 2005 and Lt Cdr Ling has been a member of the team since October 2003. Additionally, Lt Cdr (retd) Richardson has been part of the Sea King Mid Life Update Programme since its inception.
Through the developmental testing regime several complex faults in both equipment and procedures have been identified and rectified through the Trials Team’s relentless pursuit of perfection. Applying sound logical analysis, combined with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the technical specifications, the team have developed several innovative techniques to allow the aircraft navigation sub‑system to fully contribute to the Operational Capability of the aircraft.
The Trials Team was able to advance significantly the complex Sea King ASaC Mk7 navigation sub‑system through alterations to equipment and software and via the introduction of new techniques and procedures. In doing so, the Trials Team allowed Sea King ASaC crews to utilise fully this potent Mission System to its maximum potential.
The timely and successful introduction and integration of this complex airborne system is entirely attributable to the individuals involved and their verve, enthusiasm, dedication and unstinting professionalism throughout the project from its inception and proof of concept in 2002 to its full operational capability. Lt Cdrs Smith, Tite, Ling and Richardson are accordingly and collectively awarded the Johnston Memorial Trophy.
Picture copyright Gerald Sharp Photography
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 4th Nov 2006 at 22:00.
