Released: Jul 13, 1998
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Technical order developers assigned to the F-22 Combined Test Force here are breaking new ground as they create an interactive electronic technical manual for the F-22.
Aircraft technical manuals are called technical "orders" in the Air Force because compliance with a manual's content is mandatory.
"This is the cutting edge," said Phillip Schreier, F-22 Technical Order Development program manager. "Other programs have some technical order data computerized, but not interactive. We're developing the most advanced technical order format ever used in the Air Force."
The F-22 technical order is being designed for use on the aircraft's portable maintenance aid, a device similar to a laptop computer that plugs into the F-22 to perform automatic diagnostics. All information needed to maintain a Raptor, including the technical order, will be contained on the portable device.
Developers are designing the F-22 technical order to be user friendly, according to Schreier. Individual maintenance tasks will appear in a format similar to current job manuals. Text will be on the left side of the screen with graphics on the right.
Computerized graphics will highlight the specific item a maintainer is working on. For example, if the technical order says to take off a particular line or cable, that part will be highlighted.
Before the F-22 technical order is entered into the portable maintenance aid, writers organize aircraft data into an easy-to-follow format using data provided by F-22 contractors.
"The contractors will give us all of the technical data prior to the first F-22 being delivered. Consequently, we'll be able to fix many possible problems up front," said Schreier. "The quality of data we've received from the contractors is much better than any other program at the same stage. The data is cleaner and easier to use."
The next step after writing the tasks is a review process. Reviewers use a closed electronic network to view the technical orders and note items they feel should be changed.
Technical order developers at Edwards consolidate those comments and forward them to the contractors. At that time, contractors send back a list of comments they don't agree with. The developers then either concur or put together a stronger rationale for the proposed changes.
After technical order reviews have been formalized, aircraft maintainers perform tasks as written to verify whether they are accurate, safe, time effective and environmentally safe.
So far, 400 F-22 tasks have made it through the entire process.
This pre-production progress is uncommon in the world of technical order development, according to Schreier.
"One of the big differences between the F-22 program and other programs is we've been able to start tech order development early," he said. "Tech order development is often the last thing testers think of when a contract is put together."
The need for logistics test often is hard to recognize until after the aircraft is deployed, said Schreier.
"The progress we've made should result in a high quality product for the user," he said. "So far things have gone very well." (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)
