96 RN

96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

896th Test Support Squadron

Bruce Lowmiller896 Test Support Squadron

Eglin AFB16 May 2019

DISTRIBUTION A: Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited

96 RN

96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Topic

Technical Training for Airborne Instrumentation Engineers

96 RN

96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Introduction

Airborne Instrumentation Engineering– Integrates instrumentation on various aircraft platforms

– F-15, F-16, A-10, UH-1, F-35

– Designs & supports test instrumentation systems

– Telemetry, recorders, bus traffic, aircraft discretes, high-speedvideo, pressure & acceleration, GPS

– Modifies aircraft equipment & AME

– Bomb racks, launchers, pylons, pods, cameras, test items

– Oversees installation and checkout on military aircraft

– Responsible for decision quality data

– Chapter 10, PCM, 1553, Video, Audio, IRIG Time, Ethernet …

Responsible for decision quality data supporting RDT&E

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Problem

Formalized technical training plan does not exist for 896th TSSEngineers. Currently rely on OJT to develop technicalexpertise and aircraft integration skills…Training curriculum/material is limited…

– Limitations for solving:

- Very few personnel in 896th capable of providing tech training – HighDemand, Low Density- Already task saturated: R&D, Configuration Control, Innovation,Cyber Security

- Outsourced training doesn’t provide niche education necessary foraircraft modifications

- Turnover of personnel resulting in lost expertise

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

A Persistent Challenge

Turnover

Currently Airborne Engineering takes about five years to developautonomous expertise.

– Most extreme training requirement is an entry-level engineerwith no airborne instrumentation experience

896th ~ 50% of engr req 75% or more of trng courses

896th ~ 15% of engr req 50% or less of trng courses

896th ~ 35% of engr req 25% or less of trng courses

– Effective training expected to significantly reduce this timeline

Expected Turnover Requires a Sustainable and RepeatableCore Training Curriculum

96th

TW

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Course Charted

As part of a much larger CPI directed at instrumentation,research was conducted to create a robust training solution

Assumptions

• Phase I: Development of theoretical training curriculum – 1yr

• Phase II: Development of practical training curriculum – 2 to4yrs

• Annual throughput for initial trng – 5 engineers

• Annual throughput for continuation trng – 11 engineers

• Outsource trng during core course development as needed

• Outsource specialized training as needed

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Recommendation

COA determination

COA 1 Organic Core Training (slowest)

COA 2 Outsource Core Training (not recommended)

COA 3 Phased-in Core Training (fastest)

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

COA 1 –Organic Core Training

Pros Cons

On-site SMEs Require two additional AFTC gov’t positions

Readily available technical expertise/information for lab validation and

aircraft integration

*Length of time to create course material

Low cost to sustain and deliver training

Easily tailorable as technology/capabilitiesevolve

Growth path to perpetuate organicknowledge of instrumentation and aircraft

integration* Existing material within AFTC and Navy may reduce time necessary for creating course material

Description: 2 full-time additional gov’t positions within AFTC (812th/896th) dedicated to trng

Timeline: 1.5 –4 yrs

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

COA 2 –Outsource Core Training

Pros Cons

Minimal impact to the mission to create/sustain/deliver training

Higher cost to create/deliver training

Potential for faster curriculum development Existing gov’t personnel required to ensuretraining satisfies mission specific

requirements

Limited growth path to perpetuate organicknowledge of instrumentation and aircraft

integration

Potential difficulty finding ctr(s) quickly

Description: 100% contractor created, sustained, and provided training

Timeline: 1 –2yrs to create plan

96 RN

96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

COA 3 –Phased-in Core Training

Pros Cons

Minimal impact to the mission to create/deliver training

Highest cost to create trng and transitionsustainment

Dvlp on-site gov’t SMEs to perpetuate technical knowledge

Require two additional AFTC gov’t positions

Gov’t sustainment allows easy tailoring of material as technology/capabilities evolve

Existing gov’t personnel required to ensuretraining satisfies mission specific requirements

Potential for faster curriculum development Finding/developing gov’t SMEs to fillpositions

Long-term, low-cost to sustain Potential difficulty finding contractor(s)quickly

Description: 100% ctr created/delivered trng; Sustainment by 2 additional gov’t positions

Timeline: 1 –2yrs to create plan, sustainment by government personnel

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Path Forward

– COA 3 has been approved by AFTC/CV

– Funding provided by AFTC to fund technical training at896 TSS and 812 ATIS for the first year.

– Pending: Contract action

– Expecting to start curriculum development in early FY20

A quality, sustainable, and executable core training curriculumis paramount for AFTC to maintain a well-trained Engineering

work force

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Back-up

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Training Evaluation for T-2 Mods

Training Requirement

Core

Cours

esInstrumentation (Length: 24hr)

PCM (Length: 120hr) & Sampling Theory

1553 (Length: 80hr)

Signal Conditioning and filtering (Length: 120hr)

TSPI (Length: 40hr)

TTC Ware Training (Class length: 80hr)

TTC Hardware Training (Length: 120hr)

TMATS for PCM (Length: 100hr)

Data Recorders (Length: 120hr)

TMATS for recorders (Length: 40hr)

Data Reduction (Netview, DACS, CMDP) (Length: 120hr)

RF Transmission (Quasonix) (Length: 50hr)

Network Telemetry (RCC iNet standards) (Length: 80hr)

Cameras for Separations (Length: 80hr)

Fiber Optic

Ethernet

Successful Measurement of Dynamic Force, Pressure and Accel (PCB)

Training for strain gage (Vishay 3 day)

F-16 familiarization training (Lockheed)

F-15 familiarization training

Airworthiness (Two wks Wright-Patterson)

Solid Works

AutoCad

System Safety Class

Vendor provided training

Specialized

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96 TW/PA Approved, 10 May 19 Distribution A

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9

Contractor

Development

Contractor

Implementation

Government

Sustainment

CIV #1

COA 3 –Phased-in Core Training

CIV #2