Marine Corps tweaks presidential helo to address landing zone issue

摘要

The Marine Corps has identified changes it can make to the VH-92A presidential helicopter's Auxiliary Power Unit exhaust system that will reduce the risk of damage to the aircraft's landing zone. In a March report, the Government Accountability Office expressed concerns about the helicopter's ability to land on the South Lawn of the White House without causing damage. "The Navy has yet to demonstrate that it can meet the requirement to land on the White House South Lawn without causing damage," the GAO report said. "Heat from the auxiliary power unit and/or engine exhaust continue to damage the lawn under certain conditions." Program spokeswoman Megan Wasel said testing modifications to the helicopters' auxiliary power unit exhaust were completed this summer.