Network Centricity and the Flight-Line Mechanic

摘要

Network Centricity and the Flight-line Mechanic looks at the efforts of the Electronic Distribution of Technical Information via Satellites (EDTIS) Program managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for the Robins Air Logistics Centers Special Operations Office (WR-ALC/LU). The EDTIS Program is being performed by the Raytheon Corporation, which brings to the project its expertise in electronically formatted technical documentation, satellite interoperability, and radar weapon system technology and documentation. EDTIS is developing the technologies necessary to provide a link between technical information repositories (such as Technical Order Libraries, vendor services, and skill pools) and flight-line personnel over a satellite network. This type of network link frees the technical person from a dependence on bulky paper technical manuals, and allows him to select what he wants, where he wants it, and when he wants it. The EDTIS program has proven the technical feasibility of distributing timely technical information between remote sites. It is now working on improving the presentation of the technical information to the technician through improved portable maintenance aides, visualization and vocalization techniques, and data links between satellite nodes and the maintenance activity. If this type of system could be fully implemented, the requirement to transport complete sets of hard copies of technical documents for every fleet mission deployment would be eliminated, saving millions of dollars in storage, transportation, and document configuration management.