PHOTOS: (Opposite page) A CH-147F Chinook takes to the air near the Boeing factory in Ridley Township, Pa., where the helicopter is made. Fred Troilo/Boeing (This page, clockwise from top right) A look at the side of the Canadian Chinook; on hand during the flight-test program were crew chief JJ Wallace, left, and flight-test engineer John Curran; test pilot Shawn Disarufino; mechanic Terrance McKinnon. ed Turner/boeing BOEING FRONTIERS / JULY 2013 35 knowledge to support the CH-147F in the new location, Parker explained. Additionally, the Arizona weather and test ranges maximized the amount of days the team could conduct the required tests. Unconventional ideas were given consideration, many leading to cost or time savings. Rather than follow the common practice of collecting test data and reviewing it at the end of the test program, the Ridley Township teammates reviewed and shared test data with the customer as it was produced by their Mesa colleagues. That tactic not only eliminated surprises that can occur when all the data from a test program are reviewed solely at the program’s conclusion, but it enabled real-time issue mitigation with the Canadian customer, said Ramy Mourad, Boeing Test & Evaluation test manager for the Canadian Chinooks. As a result, testing milestones were being met regularly, he said. And flight-test objectives that traditionally take days were being accomplished in a single day. Mourad traces the strong performance back to great teamwork and the factory handing off a “healthy aircraft and a head start.” The test team then had flexibility in its schedule to move non-test events, such as implementing design upgrades prior to delivery, significantly ahead of the plan. The effect was like a relay team gaining time with each leg. Said Parker of the on-time first delivery and program success: “The entire Canada team maintained a collective focus to provide the customer and its warfighter the very best of Boeing, believing they deserved nothing less.” n adam.m.tischler@boeing.com thomas.g.marinucci@boeing.com
Frontiers July 2013 Issue
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