L-3 Communications,
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: L-3 Communications announced today that its SPAR Aerospace Limited (L-3 SPAR) subsidiary, at the Dubai Air Show, has launched Herc 2020(TM), an end-to-end aircraft life extension solution for E and H model C-130 Hercules (C-130) transport aircraft.
“Herc 2020 offers operators a cost-competitive alternative to the purchase of new aircraft, while allowing them to continue to meet their country's critical airlift mission needs,” said Patrice Pelletier, president of L-3 SPAR. “L-3 SPAR can extend the service life of a C-130 by 15 to 20 years for less than half the cost of a new aircraft. Working with a global network of best of class technology and in-country partners, L-3 SPAR can deliver this solution anywhere in the world. Herc 2020 is a proven best-value and low-risk solution for today and into the future.”
L-3 SPAR is exhibiting at the Dubai Air Show, which runs from November 20 to 24, and briefings on Herc 2020 are available at its show stand E609.
Herc 2020 features the most innovative and extensive package of life extension solutions ever offered for the C-130 by a single service provider:
Structural life extension, including outer wings, center wing, fuselage, major fittings replacement, fatigue monitoring and fatigue improvements
Reliability improvements, including complete rewiring, engine instrument, electrical power and mechanical system upgrades Next generation cockpit upgrades that are fully compliant with Global Air Traffic Management standards Optimized aircraft preventative maintenance programs, particularly for aging C-130 aircraft.
Special mission modifications, including night vision goggle compatible lighting conversion, electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors, search and rescue modifications, fuel range extension and tanker conversions
Through life in-service support, including aircraft and component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), technical services, logistics, interactive electronic technical manuals and spares “Herc 2020 is the culmination of 45 years of experience in maintaining and upgrading C-130s for more than 20 operators worldwide,” continued Mr. Pelletier. “Building on the very best of our past, we are able to offer our customers a solution that will allow them to increase their fleet availability and fly their fleets anytime, anywhere, until 2020 and beyond.”
One innovation featured in Herc 2020 is the C-130 Center Wing Re-life. L-3 SPAR is the only company in the world who is under contract to completely refurbish a C-130 center wing, enabling high time C-130E and H model aircraft to safely reach a planned withdrawal date of 2020. L-3 SPAR offers a comprehensive center wing re-life solution based on ten years of engineering focus using actual in-service fatigue, corrosion and mechanical damage to high time C-130 center wings, as well as an array of engineering analytical methods that is significantly more effective than a simple inspect and repair approach.
“Herc 2020 is designed to be scalable and adaptable to individual customer's needs,” said Andrew Reif, vice president of product engineering at L-3 SPAR. “Our solution has evolved from years of engineering and technical innovation supporting aging airframes, and minimizes non-recurring costs through maximum use of off-the-shelf components and repeatability of the solution across many customers.”
L-3 SPAR has also launched a suite of structural and system fleet management solutions called FleetLife(TM), which continuously optimizes the operational capability of C-130 fleets. FleetLife is based on L-3 SPAR's state-of-the-art software solutions developed over the past ten years working with some of the highest flying time Hercules aircraft in the world.
Mr. Pelletier concluded, “With a combination of L-3 SPAR solutions, including Herc 2020 and FleetLife, global C-130 operators can dramatically reduce operating costs, increase aircraft availability, and ensure the continuing airworthiness of their fleets for years to come.”
A subsidiary of New York City-based L-3 Communications, SPAR Aerospace is one of Canada's leading aerospace companies and is a Lockheed Martin approved C-130 Hercules aircraft service centre – the only one in North America outside of Lockheed Martin itself. L-3 SPAR's corporate headquarters are located in Edmonton, Alberta, with additional facilities in Trenton, Ontario; Mississauga, Ontario and Venice, Italy. With more than 800 employees across Canada, L-3 SPAR is a globally competitive market leader of MRO and Aircraft Life Extension Solutions for air mobility platforms. L-3 SPAR serves customers from Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications is a leading provider of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, secure communications systems, aircraft modernization, training and government services. The company is a leading merchant supplier of a broad array of high technology products, including guidance and navigation, sensors, scanners, fuzes, data links, propulsion systems, simulators, avionics, electro optics, satellite communications, electrical power equipment, encryption, signal intelligence, antennas and microwave components. L-3 also supports a variety of Homeland Security initiatives with products and services. Its customers include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, selected U.S. Government intelligence agencies and aerospace prime contractors.
