pdx
HSM Pilot
That would be a novel idea.
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C-130 Marine NFO's??
- Thread starter Riper Snifle
- Start date
That would be a novel idea.
I should have posted sooner, and this info is Air Force based but I imagine it to be fairly accurate for the question.
I got to fly in a C-130J from NAS Point Mugu up to VOR Point Reyes and back. They have gone (as posted) pilot, co-pilot, and load master up top. They say the accuracy/precision improvement offered by the glass cockpit of the J model is huge compared with that of a human doing it. I also spoke to an engineer who was working with the legacy versions were all going to be retrofitted with the same steam -> glass approach they used on the C-5s. Point being they said that there would no longer be a need for a Navigator in the C-130s in the near future as more of them are replaced by J models and the ones that are not are retrofitted.
The glass cockpit J model was pretty sweet though, the ground radar they could use for supply drops was really sophisticated. Pretty cool stuff.
I got to fly in a C-130J from NAS Point Mugu up to VOR Point Reyes and back. They have gone (as posted) pilot, co-pilot, and load master up top. They say the accuracy/precision improvement offered by the glass cockpit of the J model is huge compared with that of a human doing it. I also spoke to an engineer who was working with the legacy versions were all going to be retrofitted with the same steam -> glass approach they used on the C-5s. Point being they said that there would no longer be a need for a Navigator in the C-130s in the near future as more of them are replaced by J models and the ones that are not are retrofitted.
The glass cockpit J model was pretty sweet though, the ground radar they could use for supply drops was really sophisticated. Pretty cool stuff.
I would venture that getting rid of the Nav has more to do with improved INS/GPS technology and less to do with how that information is presented to the Aircrew (I.E. glass cockpit). Flying to a point in space by looking at an analog needle on an old school BDHI isn't all that different from looking at a needle on a video screen.
Brett
I would venture that getting rid of the Nav has more to do with improved INS/GPS technology and less to do with how that information is presented to the Aircrew (I.E. glass cockpit). Flying to a point in space by looking at an analog needle on an old school BDHI isn't all that different from looking at a needle on a video screen.
Brett
And of course Lockheed Martin can say how it is going to save the military big bucks in manpower requirements if they use buy the J.
In my branch, the new J-models have the two pilots, a flight mechanic/mission specialist in the middle where the engineer would have sat, and a loadmaster in the back. The J model was forced on us with the promise that now the surface radar is up front, as well as the ability to tune all radios and input for searches that the autopilot can fly (the radar and search parameter input are Nav duties in the H model). So the pilots are busier putting in search parameters, fiddling with the radar, etc. while trying to find someone in the water.
Now if we can just get the cash to missionize our 5 J-models....
The Col. flying the plane didn't look too busy, in fact I am nearly completely confident he was passed out for a good 1/3 of the flight. The JO did most of the flying. The autopilot abilities were pretty amazing too, come to think of it other than Take Off/Landing there was not much 'flying' being done. Granted your mission is extremely different then the Aerovac (sp?) mission I watched.
Attachments
On long flights in either model you will usually find the non-flying pilot reading a Maxim with his dogs propped up, so not much difference there. I'm just talking when its a$$holes and elbows at night in the goo looking for the boater who doesn't have a radio (just a cell phone), no freakin' flares, and told his wife he was just going to one of his favorite fishing holes. This while a small craft advisory is out.
Stupid people...the best job security.
And the avionics in that bird is great; a real leap ahead. I believe their only emergency procedure is....
1) Flight computer........"REBOOT"............(P)
2) Continue flight
Stupid people...the best job security.
And the avionics in that bird is great; a real leap ahead. I believe their only emergency procedure is....
1) Flight computer........"REBOOT"............(P)
2) Continue flight
The Air Force has tried to get rid of Nav's several times, but they have had to go back to them several times too. They are moving away from Nav's in most planes nowadays, but there will be several aircraft that will carry them for some time in the forseeable future. Plus, no amount of equipment is going to be good unless the guys know how to use it and if there are enough of them to use it. Ever heard the Hornet called the jack of all trades but master at none?
There is something to be said about specialization, and a Nav whose sole job is to navigate is arguably going to pay a little more attention at where he is than a 3P who is also worried about flying the plane. I know of several instances where planes have gone way off course, even flown over the completely wrong country, with and without Nav's. It seems to happen a little more often without a Nav though. I am not delusional though, the days of the Navigator are coming to a close.