VHATS Pact Awarded

Boeing picked up a $15 million contract to develop the V-22 Hydraulic Automated Test System (VHATS) to support the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Boeing said the system will provide advanced dynamic testing for servo-cylinder linear and rotational actuators as well as other aircraft hydraulic components. The company added VHATS will incorporate sophisticated test development capabilities and a test macro library to simulate the functions of fly-by-wire flight control computers and test actuators. The system also will utilize programmable actuator load simulators to replicate aerodynamic forces on these components. The new test system features open hardware and software architecture. VHATS can support both commercial and military hydraulic test requirements, the company said. Boeing contracted with Testek, Inc., Livonia, Mich., to develop the VHATS test station, with delivery to the Boeing Philadelphia Support Equipment Integration Facility this spring. Boeing will deliver four VHATS units and associated test routines to Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., to provide depot-level maintenance for V-22 hydraulic components. More