USS George H.W. Bush earns PALS certification

In May, five employees from the Atlantic Test Ranges (ATR) Real-time Telemetry Processing System (RTPS) and Optical groups and four from Air Vehicle Modification and Instrumentation (AVMI) had the unique experience of working aboard the nation’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS George Herbert Walker Bush (CVN 77). This trip was historic as it is the last of the Nimitz-class carriers. Onboard, the teams worked together to provide data for the carrier’s flight deck certification.

All aircraft carriers must undergo Precision Approach and Landing Systems certification to ensure that the crew can safely and independently conduct flight operations. During the certification, data from hundreds of flights is recorded and analyzed to verify the safety of operations.

While under way in the Atlantic Ocean, 695 catapult launches and arrested landings were completed by various VX-23 aircraft, including two F⁄A-18 Super Hornets, two F⁄A-18 Hornets and a T-45 Goshawk. These various aircraft were instrumented by AVMI, allowing decision-quality data to be captured and analyzed.

The Optical team, consisting of Mike Kerr and Kyle Tubbs, took high-speed digital imaging video of these take-offs and landings. This video was monitored to analyze the dispersion of the aircraft on the flight deck. The RTPS team, comprised of Donovan Farrell, Patrick Russell and Brent Johnson, provided carrier suitability engineers with an abundance of real-time flight data, focusing on tail hook and launch bar stress. Though RTPS has been involved in many carrier certifications before, this certification marked the first time that RTPS simultaneously provided data from five different VX-23 aircraft with one system. The data provided by these teams ultimately led carrier suitability engineers to certify the USS George H.W. Bush’s flight deck.

One of the highlights of the trip was undoubtedly the appearance by former President George H.W. Bush, the carrier’s namesake. The former president made the trip out to the carrier to see it in action for the first time.

Kyle Tubbs, who was on his first carrier trip, got closer to the former president than most. ‘‘Mr. Bush walked right up probably five feet from where I was standing,” said Tubbs. ‘‘He was telling everyone farewell and I spoke up and said ‘Goodbye Mr. President, have a safe flight,’ and he waved to me and said ‘Farewell.’”

All in all, the teams from ATR and AVMI had a memorable trip and provided invaluable data for the flight deck certification of the historic USS George Herbert Walker Bush.