20080408 industry_day_answer questions.doc

The following questions were asked and answered during the question and answer period (1105-1117), Tuesday, 8 April 2008.

1. What is the normal student to instructor ratio during a normal training flight?

Answer: With 3 students on a 3 hour flight, we would expect to have 1 hour in the seat for each student. There is probably a maximum of about 6 students on ICS at a time. Some consideration is given based on the capability of the students. For example, an engineer with lots of engineering experience, but not much actual flight experience may be given more time. May put more time in seat for engineer so they can see the things so they can learn. Not as critical for the F/A-18 pilot to see things he has already seen. May only have 15 minutes in the hot seat when someone else could better use the time. Ideal, about 1 student per hour in the seat on a 3 hour flight.

2. Can you provide drawings or dimensions of the major systems? Evaluator’s station? Would Interface Control Descriptions (ICDs) work?

Answer: Yes. Need to include wiring involved.

3. Structural substantiation reports. Do have crash ratings for systems installed. Electrical load analysis? Do you have power forms and power requirements of the current system?

Answer: We can provide ICD.

4. Do you have thermal requirements? With respect to ground operation, how long is indefinite?

Answer: As part of RFP we can provide flight clearance package for the system as installed today, and throw in ICDs.

5. Question on whether the airplane should be IFR Capable.

Answer: We don’t purposely go into weather, but want to be able to operate IFR to transit to the test and training area.

6. Are we going to keep the P-3s?

Answer: Don’t have a time line for P-3 replacement. We would probably go down to one P-3 as a result of this effort. Once this becomes a proven asset, probably would divest ourselves of the second P-3. We won’t support both P-3s. Will have one while we transition.

7. Traditional, MIMC? FAA certified?

Answer: We’ll have to get back to you on what is required.

8. Will the aircraft require a TEMPEST?

Answer: We’ll check.

9. Question on operational cost. Is it a mix of contractors and navy personnel? If it is a mix, how do we roll them up into the cost? Is the information rolled up?

Answer: We are fully contract maintenance at the O level. We’ll try to capture total cost in the benchmark, or at least tell you what is included.

10. MIL HB 5400, do we use that as guidance? For install?

Answer: MIL HB 5400 is guidance for putting Commercial off the shelf (COTS) on aircraft. Do we use it for guidance? As part of our RFP, we’ll decide if we are going to include it for guidance. Will have to see what we did on the P-3s, contact Tony Spadarella for the answer.

1. How do we plan for this aircraft to be FAA certified, experimental aircraft or public use?

Answer: We will have to look into this and get back to you with an answer. (Comment from one of the attendees. Believes we can’t do experimental aircraft under government contract, but we’ve been doing it that way for years.)

2. Break out Maintenance Man Hours/Flight Hour (MMH/FH) for just systems stuff.

3. Determine budgetary constraints. What can we tell the contractors to bound the issue?

Answer: To Be Determined (TBD)

4. Do we plan on putting out any aircraft performance limits? Airspeed? Altitude? Pressurized?

Answer: No, we don’t. We don’t want to limit the range of possible solutions. We are working with very old P-3s now, what can you do to at least meet their capability?

5. Period of performance. Concern that the intention to do a 5 year contract is too short. Purchasing a new airplane is expensive, and once the modifications are made, it probably can’t be used for something else. Has there been any consideration to extending the contract length?

Answer:

6. Will there be pictures posted pictures of the systems, especially the installation of the components.

Answer: Yes

7. What certification will the aircraft have?

Answer: TBD.

Q – Is aircraft performance going to be published (i.e., airspeed/altitude)?

A – Not planning to set limits at this time.

Q – Are they going to use the airplane to go to overseas?

A – Undecided

Q – Altitude, will it be required to operate above 10,000 feet?

A – Not putting altitude limits as a requirement at this time.

Q – Is there a preference of turbo prop or Jet?

A – No.

Q – What is the requirement for government furnished equipment?

A – There is some government furnished equipment available if they want to use them (listed as an attachment to the statement of objectives).

Q – Has a load limit (G) been set?

A – No, but it is not required to reach tactical fighter load limits, we don’t need t to be able to go to 5 or 6 Gs to evaluate systems.

Q – Who is going to perform the depot level maintenance?

A – Expect that to be contractor determined.

Q – Is the government looking for GFE or contractor furnished aircraft?

A – Looking for contractor furnished aircraft to replace the P-3.

Q – Is it planned for the aircraft to be certified at Federal Aviation Administration standards?

A – To be determined.

Q – What is the capacity level?

A – To hold 4 students with 2 instructors, as a minimum.

Q – Is it to be categorized as Public use airplane?

A – To be determined; there was some discussion on making it a Federal Aviation Administration experimental aircraft.

Discussion – Cannot get Federal Aviation Administration through STC process without great difficulty. This has been taken as an Action Item.

Q – Will they tell Industry what certifications are required?

A – This is to be proposed by the contractor.

Discussion – Attempts is to reduce costs while performing the same functions. They will be asking the companies to come back and give capabilities they have to perform the functions.

Aircraft would be used about 40 weeks a year, about 350 hours. Need aircraft about 5 months out of every 6 months.

Q - Who will fly the airplane?

A – The government expects the contractor to fly the airplane.

Clarification: Design would start by the contractor around 1 January 2009, when the contract is awarded.

Q – How many airplanes?

A – One.

Q – How long is contract expected to be?

A – Base plus 4 Options to total 5 years.

Q – What kind of telemetry or data link is required?

A – Currently we have no data link or direct telemetry requirements. We can carry a high-density information system or external advanced range data system pod to support Atlantic Test Range time, space, and position information data.

Q – Do we want data link capability?

A – It would be a nice to have – depends on cost.

Q – Any preference of the age of the aircraft?

A – No minimum age is being defined. The stipulation is that it be safe and available.

Q – Is there a budget in mind?

A – Not set yet.

Discussion on cost – The government will consider posting what is currently being spent when the RFP is posted.

File Name: 20080408 industry_day_answer questions.doc