PATUXENT RIVER, Md. –
The Navy’s Common Aviation Support Equipment Program Office delivered in February the first of 27 replacement Crash and Salvage Cranes (CSC) to Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, Florida.
The program office coordinated the development, acquisition and fielding with support from Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst, New Jersey, Fleet Readiness Center Aviation Support Equipment (FRC ASE), NAVAIR Technical Data & Engineering Services Command (NATEC) and Allied Systems Company.
“The delivery of the new CSCs to the fleet enhances readiness and ensures the safety of our sailors deployed on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships around the world,” said Capt. Matthew Wilcox, program office manager.
CSCs are used to lift and move disabled aircraft on aircraft carriers and land helicopter dock ship flight decks. Flight operations are not allowed without these critical pieces of equipment.
The new CSCs, designed by industry partner Allied Systems Company, replaced the legacy carrier and amphibious assault crash cranes. The legacy CSCs, designed decades ago, exceeded their anticipated life expectancy and became increasingly difficult to maintain due to obsolescence issues. The new variants correct those deficiencies and are much easier to maintain.
The CSC has two variants: the carrier CSC (CCSC) and the amphibious CSC (ACSC). The CCSC has a heavier counterweight than the ACSC, and the lighter ACSC has “inriggers” within the width of the crane that increase its stability.
The Common Aviation Support Equipment Program Office is responsible for the procurement, development and fielding of Common Ground Support equipment and Automatic Test Equipment. Additionally, this command serves as the lead manager of the Aircraft Maintenance and Material Readiness List, Metrology and Calibration and Mobile Facilities programs in support of the Naval Aviation Enterprise.
From the Common Aviation Support Equipment Program Office. 