Boeing said Thursday its C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) Head-Up Display (HUD) and Head-Down Primary Flight Display (HDPFD) has been endorsed by the Headquarters U.S. Air Force Directorate of Operations (HQ USAF/A3O) as the aircraft’s primary flight reference. The endorsement follows four years of design reviews, lab evaluations and demonstrations with the Air Force customer.
A primary flight reference is a requirement in all aircraft and must include airspeed, altitude and attitude data, as well as flight path information for the pilots. The C-130 AMP HUD is a transparent display of flight data that allows the pilots to maintain an "out-the-window" viewpoint rather than looking down at cockpit instruments as on a standard C-130.
"This endorsement means C-130 AMP pilots can now use the HUD as their sole primary flight reference, allowing them to use their head-down displays for other data," said Mahesh Reddy, C-130 AMP program manager for Boeing. "We involved the Air Force customer from the beginning of the design reviews. This allowed them to ask questions along the way, become familiar with the product and make all necessary adjustments to the HUD design."
The C-130 AMP was approved for low-rate initial production (LRIP) on June 19. The first two LRIP aircraft are scheduled for induction in August and October at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., where the Air Force will perform the Lot 1 installations. Boeing delivered the first two AMP kits and will upgrade five of the 20 LRIP aircraft.