Aircrew techs upgrade Wolf Pack pilots' equipment

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Araceli Alarcon
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Technicians from the 80th Fighter Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) received training from Boeing experts on the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 here.

"The purpose is to train Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) technicians on the sizing, fitting, inspection and maintenance of the JHMCS helmet and related sub-systems," said Master Sgt Eric Seney, 80th Fighter Squadron AFE flight chief.

The training was part of the F-16 Block 40 Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP) upgrade currently underway. The training from Boeing consisted of how to create a custom helmet for a pilot. In order to create the helmet, the pilot must be measured for correct size. After finding the correct helmet size the visor is fitted to the pilot's head, by cutting and filing down the visor until it fits correctly. The process can take up to four hours to accomplish.

"The goal is for the visor to sit on the mask without any light leakage between them," Sergeant Seney said. "During this process a tester is connected which configures and aligns the display unit as they adjust the visor."

The new JHMCS helmets are designed with an integrated heads-up display (HUD). Critical data such as airspeed, altitude and target range is projected directly on to the pilot's visor. This will help reduce tasks required by pilots, such as checking the display and readout in the cockpit.

According to a Boeing statement, "there are no helmet-mounted displays or cueing systems currently deployed on U.S. Air Force or Navy fighter aircraft. Current aircraft fire control systems rely primarily upon on-board aircraft radar and heads-up display to acquire and track airborne targets. These systems present weapons employment deficiencies within the visual range arena due to limited 'head out' target acquisition capabilities and restrictive visual verification field of regard."

The JHMCS visor display also acts as a targeting device. The visor display can aim weapons sensors wherever the pilot is looking. This system will also minimize maneuvering of the aircraft and help reduce time spent in a hostile environment.

"It increases our capabilities in all aspects of our mission whether it's air-to-air or air-to-ground operations," said Capt. Darin Wetzler 80th Fighter squadron pilot. "It allows us to use the full capacity of our weapons."

"The JHMCS consists of a 20 percent field of view," said Staff Sergeant Kishawn Thibou 80th FS aircrew flight equipment technician. "...which means if they can see a target even if a target is not in front of them they will be able to lock on to it."

Sergeant Thibou said the 80th Fighter Squadron is the first squadron on the Korean peninsula to use this system which will improve the Wolf Pack's fighting and tactical capabilities.