ARMY AL&T
NEW LIFE
The Black Hawk UH-60V upgrade is a key component for the Army’s future vertical lif t transformation.
by Cheryl Marino
a digitally reconfigured aircraft with a glass cockpit that matches, and in some cases, outpaces, its predecessor the Black Hawk UH-60M “Mike,” and segues the Army to its Future Vertical Lift program.
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“We’re taking all the good stuff of the Lima—the range, the speed, the sling load capacity, the internal cargo weight, and then putting in a new entire wiring system from tip to tail and a fully digital cockpit that takes out all the old gauges that are all analog,” said Col. Joseph Parker, commander of the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) in Texas. “Every- thing now is like flying with four iPads and it’s pretty neat,” which is high praise, coming from an AH-64 pilot.
Parker said that, with the digital interface, pilots can do their mission planning outside the aircraft using a computer that works with the same programming as the aircraft, then load it into the aircraft and set up different views and moving maps to monitor everything, from the condition of the aircraft to routes, waypoints, landing zones, pickup zones and return flights at the same time, or however the pilot wants to engage it. “If there’s an issue, you can get a maintenance report from it. You’re not having to judge things by sight, sound and feel. You’re able to get that digital information into the aircraft,” he said. “A better pilot interface reduces crew burden and allows pilots to maintain situational awareness outside the aircraft to execute the mission safer, faster and more effectively.”
DRIVING FORCES Parker, who is working with Col. Calvin Lane, utility helicopters project manager (PM), and his team at the PM Utility Helicopter Program Office within the Program Execu- tive Office for Aviation at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, to produce the UH-60V, said four major benefits have driven the Black Hawk upgrade initiative. Tose benefits are: Pilot interface enhancements, flexibility to the combat aviation brigade commander, significant
https://asc.ar my.mil 63
hether it’s troop transport, medevac, air assault or special ops, the Sikor- sky Black Hawk UH-60L “Lima” was made for the mission. Its speed, durable lift capability and overall versatility make it the perfect candidate for an avionics upgrade to produce the Black Hawk UH-60V “Victor”—
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