CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army have contracted Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) to provide helicopter Vehicle Health Management Systems. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. has ordered systems for installation on new MH-60R & MH-60S aircraft currently being produced as well as aircraft already in the fleet. Retrofit systems for the Marine Corp. Super Stallion (CH-53E) fleet have also been contracted. Furthermore, the Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala., has also ordered additional systems to retrofit into UH-60L aircraft prior to deployment in Iraq .
"These operators are realizing tremendous dispatch reliability and maintainability improvements in aircraft equipped with our Vehicle Health Management Systems," said Kip Freeman , Government Systems Business Director for Goodrich's Sensors and Integrated Systems division. "It is very rewarding for our employees to supply equipment that is helping soldiers, sailors and Marines accomplish their missions," he added.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a key supporter of the Navy and Army programs, noted, "This equipment has already increased the safety of our men and women in combat, improving the readiness of helicopters to fly crucial medical evacuation and troop transport missions. As Goodrich continues to deliver system after system to the Army and Navy, it is helping to transform the difficult and time-consuming task of maintaining aircraft. I am pleased to see that more helicopters that we deploy will be equipped with this vital system, and I am proud that Vermonters are providing such an important contribution to our fliers."
Goodrich's fully-integrated health management systems apply full-time diagnostic health monitoring of the entire helicopter mechanical drive train, from the engines to the rotor system, as well as monitoring of flight manual exceedances and hundreds of aircraft signals. The Navy and Army are using the system as the cornerstone of an initiative to move from flight-hour based maintenance of helicopters to actual health, or condition-based, maintenance practices.
Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems provides a broad range of systems to the aerospace industry worldwide including SmartProbe(TM) air data systems, Electronic Flight Bag systems, security and surveillance systems, fuel measurement and management systems, health and usage management systems, ice detection and protection systems, and rescue hoists and cargo winches. The Vergennes, Vt. facility produces aircraft health management systems for a wide variety of military and commercial helicopters including the: V-22; UH- 60A/L/M; MH-60R/S; AH-1Z; UH-1Y; CH-53E; and S-92/H-92.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities. For more information visit http://www.goodrich.com.
Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and as a parent company for its subsidiaries, one or more of which may be referred to as "Goodrich Corporation" in this press release.
SOURCE Goodrich Corporation; GR -- Electronic Systems
