Special Operations Rotary Wing Platform Receives Airworthiness Release

Rockwell Collins, CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa: The United States Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) has received an airworthiness release (AWR) from the Army's Aviation Engineering Directorate for its MH-47G upgraded with the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) developed by Rockwell Collins. 
 
This is the first of several rotary wing platforms being upgraded with CAAS to receive a production AWR. 
 
“The system we are delivering provides pilots with a significantly enhanced level of situational awareness,” said Woody Hogle, vice president and general manager of Integrated Systems for Rockwell Collins. “The Army's Special Operations Forces (SOF) are at the forefront of bringing a common, open architecture, avionics system into the Department of Defense for rotary wing platforms.” 
 
“The receipt of the production airworthiness release marks a significant milestone in our modernization effort. Our MH-47G crews have begun training in earnest and are putting the CAAS cockpit through its paces,” said Lt. Col. Brian Thompson, Director of the Systems Integration and Maintenance Office for the 160th SOAR(A). 
 
Initially developed for the SOF MH-47 and MH-60 helicopter fleets, Rockwell Collins' CAAS solution is also being provided for the CH-47F, UH-60M, RAH-70, HH-60T, VH-60N and CH-53E. 
 
The CAAS solution incorporates common, reusable processing elements in each piece of hardware and incorporates an open systems architecture based on commercial standards. The commonality of hardware components is designed to provide lower total lifecycle cost and lower costs for technology insertion and supportability.  
 
Rockwell Collins is a worldwide leader in the design, production, and support of communication and aviation electronics for commercial and government customers. The company's 17,000 employees in 27 countries deliver industry-leading communication, navigation, surveillance, display, flight control, in-flight entertainment, information management, and maintenance, training and simulation solutions.