Hornet has a quick fix

THE DEMONSTRATION

By Andrew Stackpool

AIRCDRE Mark Binskin listens to SGT Terry Maher explain how the integrated maintenance management system works to diagnose a problem.

Photo by LAC Euan Grant

*

*

The Integrated Maintenance Training System was accepted into service on March 22 for students to use for technical training for the F/A-18.

AIR Force’s new simulator system has significantly improved the quality of students’ technical training on Hornets.

Air Commodores Mark Binskin, Commander of the Air Combat Group, and Roy McPhail, Director General Air Combat Systems, accepted the Integrated Maintenance Training System (IMTS) into service at RAAF Base Williamtown on behalf of Air Force on March 22.

Three units were handed over by Boeing and the Canadian manufacturer, Atlantis Systems International (ASI). A fourth will be located at RAAF Base Tindal.

Sergeant Leon Bubenicek, the SNCOIC EO instructors, described the IMTS as a very effective and useful resource.

“It is allowing our instructors to assess competence in the true spirit of competency-based training. The IMTS prepares technical airmen for fault diagnosis and system troubleshooting without the need to occupy an aircraft,” the SGT said.

The system’s effectiveness was illustrated at the ceremony when Sergeant Terry Maher asked AIRCDRE Binskin to demonstrate the systems’ video capability by folding a wing from the simulator’s cockpit.

The AIRCDRE was unable to do so and SGT Maher explained that this was because the safety pin was still in place. He initiated simulation removal and asked AIRCDRE Binskin to try again.

The wing folded perfectly.

“It’s almost as much fun as the real thing but [for our students] a lot safer,” SGT Maher said. Rick McCrary, from Boeing Australia, congratulated DMO and Air Force for “their good vision in coming up with the concept and ASI in bringing it to fruition.”

Boeing has worked on the Hornet upgrade project for about six years. Dan Pagel, Boeing USA’s IMTS program manager, said the real task was the instructors’ use and its effectiveness for the students to use it.

“We had to consider the expectations and requirements of 278SQN’s instructors and ensure they got what they were expecting. 278SQN and its instructors have contributed much to the development and success of the IMTS,” he said.

AIRCDRE Binskin said the backbone of ACG’s capability was its technical troops and its maintainers.

“The maintainers are out there making sure that aircraft get airborne, get out there and do their job. I fully support any system like this that supports our people.”

---

Background

• The IMTS system was decided upon in 1996 to replace the ageing “Simulated Aircraft Maintenance Trainers System”.
• The project has cost $48 million.
• IMTS instructors completed a three-day initial training course by Boeing Australia. The current instructors will carry out system training for future instructors. Only basic PC use is required.
• The system is based on the Windows XP Professional OS software.
• A system 2.2Mod upgrade is currently being processed.

How the maintenance training system works

TROUBLESHOOTING

AIRCDRE Mark Binskin tries out the equipment.

Photo by LAC Euan Grant

THE Integrated Maintenance Training System (IMTS) is a computer-controlled maintenance simulator used to train technical maintenance personnel in the ground maintenance of the Hornet.

It simulates normal aircraft operations and malfunctions and is used in the same way as flight simulators.

Limited aircraft functions and operations are reproduced on the simulator, including the necessity to remove safety pins and conduct normal safety checks before systems will operate. Instructors can replicate a range of malfunctions or group of malfunctions unseen by the student.

Students must then trouble- shoot the problem and repair or replace the faulty component. When they have done so correctly, the instructor’s screen comes up with a “fixed” advisory message. The unit comprises a cockpit replica, two large touch-screen, interactive panels and an electrical checkout panel.

Each IMTS is a stand-alone system, however they are also connected to a common file server so that a simulation can be performed on any IMTS unit selected. Instructors use the IMTS from an instructor operating station, controlling configuration of the simulation and applying system malfunctions.

The principle is simple. A student carries out a maintenance or malfunction action, which produces a computer-generated response, simulating maintenance actions. Students learn how to test, diagnose and repair aircraft malfunctions in a safe environment, without working on a “live” aircraft.

According to Sergeant Leon Bubenicek, this provides optimum training opportunities with minimum aircraft downtime.

The system uses a combination of rear-projection and touch-screen technologies to provide an interactive window-based display system.

Standard window functionality, such as menus, pop-up lists and “drag and drop” techniques, further increase its flexibility. The system can be used to display schematic diagrams of the aircraft’s principal sub-systems.

The diagrams are enhanced with illustrations, video clips, multi-coloured light paths and aircraft gauges to show the sub-system’s operation. Connection and disconnection of test equipment and ground support equipment are performed in a single action.

A video sequence shows the maintenance action. Other actions include aircraft configuration, activation of aircraft systems, opening access doors, disconnection/connection of connectors, and removal/ installation of aircraft assemblies.

Students can zoom in on a zone of the aircraft by selecting an aircraft touch area. In the event of failure of the replicated cockpit, all cockpit areas can be re-produced and operated on one of the touch-screens.

An external interface enables connection of a laptop or other network systems to the interactive panels so they can be used as an electronic whiteboard for more formal instruction.

---

System check

• The Integrated Maintenance Training System simulates aircraft operations and malfunctions and is used in the same way as flight simulators.
• The unit has a replica cockpit, two large touch-screen, interactive panels and an electrical checkout panel.
• The system can display schematic diagrams and a video sequence shows the maintenance action.

.