The document summarizes EA-18G Growler sea trials conducted on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Over 2,400 test points were conducted over 5 days involving 420 approaches and 63 traps, testing the aircraft in various configurations and conditions. Key results included full certification of the EA-18G for precision approaches and carrier operations. Lessons learned included the need for improved planning and coordination for future developmental tests conducted in an operational carrier environment.

1. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
EA-18G “Growler”
Sea Trials Testing
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
CVN 69
LT Mike “Jockey” Lisa
VX-23 Ship Suitability Test Pilot / LSO
LCDR Jake “Rusty” Staub
VX-23 Ship Suitability Test Pilot / LSO

2. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Introduction
Face Shots

3. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Why Test at Sea?
 Ship’s Air Wake “Burble”
 Ship’s Conditions
 Wind Over Deck
 ALRE
 Pitching Deck
 Unique Environmentals
 High Gain
 No Margin for Error
 Embarked PALS
 CVN Compatibility
 EMI
 Durability
 Envelope Expansion
 Rhino 44,000
 Growler 48,000
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4. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Test Article

5. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Resource Limited
Test Environment
 CVN Deck Time Extremely Limited
 Limited CVN availability
– GWOT
 Decommission
– JFK, Constellation, Kitty Hawk
 Personnel
 Very few with corporate
knowledge
 Limited LSO availability
 Fleet Operational Requirements
EA-18G Sea Trials Cancelled 3 times (9 month delay)
Proposed Plan

6. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Test Planning
Over 2,400 Test Points = Max Efficiency Required!!!
Wind Over Deck
Off-Nominal Set-up
Configuration
PA
PA – 1/2
Load-out
Symmetric
Asymmetric
Degraded Modes
LEF 1
LEF 2
STAB
GAINS
SSE
Parameter Source
Recovery
Headwind MORIAH
Wind Over
Deck MORIAH
Gross Weight TM or
Pilot observation of fuel quantity
Lateral
Asymmetry
TM or
Pilot observation of wing tank fuel
split
Go / No-Go

7. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Team Composition
 CVS Expertise
 104 folks
 4 Pilots = <4% total manning
 MIL/CIV/CONT
 VX-23
 NAVAIR
 BOEING
 Pilot selection
 Broad Range of Experience
 EA-6B, F/A-18, Sea Trials
 LSO Manning
 All Pilots are LSO
 1 extra non-flying LSO for Flex-
manning
 Bonus LSO AIRLANT Paddles
Rank Total
Hours
Hornet
Hours
Traps
O-6 2,800 2,600 700+
O-5 2,200 2,000 500+
O-4 1,500 150 250
O-3 1,200 120 200

8. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
How we Executed
 PALS / FDC Prior
 Open up the CV for Ops
 High Density / High Op-
tempo Test Evolution
 15 Hr Days
 2 x 4 hrs Flex-Deck Periods
 Multiple Hot-Pumps
 Pilots and LSOs Swap Each
Period

9. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Results
Metric Summary
Summary of Totals
 420 Test Points
 54 Deck Hrs
 39.8 Flt Hrs
 63 Traps
 61 Catapults
 5 Days
 4 Pilots
 > 250,000 lbs
fuel dumped
10.55
7.78
1.17 1.13
0.74
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Test Point / Flight Hr Test Point / Deck Hr Trap / Deck Hr Cat / Deck Hr Flight Hr / Deck Hr
Rate Metric
EfficiencyFactor
Fleet Rate > 30Fleet Rate > 30

10. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Results
FQ&P

11. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Results
Degraded Modes

12. EA-18G Sea Trials
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Results
CATS

13. EA-18G Sea Trials
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Results
PALS

14. EA-18G Sea Trials
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Results
LSO
ARB
VID
W/O Perf

15. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Conclusion / Recommendations
5 NATOPS
CV / Flight Deck (Military and Civilian)
LSO NATOPS (Pocket Checklist)
Stab Fail 46k
PA1/2 35 Kts
High Lat Asym and PA1/2 PALS Clnc

16. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Future Safety Concerns
F/A-18 EF
EA-18G

17. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Lessons
Team Composition
Military Ratio
Manning in FDC
All people need to “make money”
No corporate dudes watching
LA incursion
Almost Lost a dude!!

18. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Lessons
LSO
Need to Fly the A/C under test
Need to “train like we fight”
ARB Drill at the field
Never have enough Paddles
All our Pilots were engaged in every test
point b/c they also waved

19. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Lessons
Test Planning
NFL Play Script
Decision Tree
Involve all HODS in Pre-sail
Test Asset Maturity

20. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Lesson
High Order Effects
Reactor
Air Department
Civilian rider burden on Ship Admin
Meals, beds

21. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Worlds Collide
 Developmental Test in an Operational Environment
 No Margin for planning error
 No Margin for execution
– 903
 Every minute you loose is gone forever
 3,500 displaced personnel supporting your test
 We test, But it’s their ship!!
The Carrier serves for a greater purpose then any single Test

22. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Video / Pictures
HUD of HOSX – High WOD
Platt
903 Video
Stab Recon T&Go

23. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Be The Ball!!!!
EA-18G Growler Sea Trials

24. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Agenda
 Executive Summary
 CVN 69 PALS Cert
 EA-18G Sea Trials
 Support
 Lessons Learned
 Summary of CVN 69 & EA-18G Firsts
 Final Words

25. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Executive Summary
 PALS Cert
 Full PALS certification, no limitations
 VX-23 Ship Suitability available to help through work-ups & deployment
 Advanced Navigation System (ANAV) Ground Tests
 EA-18G Sea Trials
 Expect a full certification of EA-18G
 Many firsts in Naval history
 319 Approach Test Points
 60 Catapult Test Points
 Exercised new ALB’s & ARB’s
 Support
 Hosted a combined team 104 military/GS/contractor
 Detailed presail planning was key
 Personal engagement by all departments drove success
CVN 69 PALS certification renewed
Over 2,400 Test Points = Max Efficiency Required!!!

26. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
PALS Cert
 Fully certified with no limitations
 Interim clearance issued
 Final clearance issued after data analysis (10-14 days)
 Deficiencies
 ACLS (SPN-46)
– SPN-46 Channel A Secondary Azimuth Encoder comparison error
check is disabled
– NAVAIR 4.5.8 will inspect/repair pedestal during an upcoming inport
 ICLS (SPN-41)
– Azimuth drive motor failed during high speed operations (vibrations)
after PALS Cert (during EA-18G Sea Trials)
– Repaired and operational
 All stabilization sources check good

27. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
EA-18G Sea Trials
 Statistics
 Flight Hours: 44.0
 Approaches: 319
 Traps: 62
 Cats: 60
 Zappers: > 500
 Areas tested
 Flying Qualities & Performance (Approach & Catapult)
 Precision Approach & Landing (PALS)
 Loadout
 Symmetric 48K lbs gross weight
 Asymmetric 26K ft-lbs, 48K lbs gross weight
 Configurations
 Full flaps
 Half flaps
 Manual & Auto Throttle (ATC)

28. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
EA-18G Sea Trials
 Wind Over the Deck
 Normal & High
 Max allowable crosswinds – very challenging for everyone!
 Degraded Modes
 Flap failures
 Stabilator failures
 Gain override
 Single engine
 Mission Systems in CVN environment
 Preliminary Results
 No unexpected or negative flying qualities noted
 No CVN mission systems compatibility issues noted
 Possible deficiencies & NATOPS discussion items
– Day visual identification
– Waveoff performance
– High WOD - Full Flap to Half Flap conversions
 Expect a fully cleared aircraft to support planned fleet IOC

29. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Support
 Big diverse team from NAVAIR
 104 Total
 11 Military, 24 GS, 79 Contractor
 28 contract maintainers on flight deck
 Many lessons learned, much experience gained
 Detailed Planning & Support
 Preliminary AIRPLANS & Coordination
 Email Accounts
 Visit rosters to base security
 3 presail meetings
 Strike Ops, Boss/Mini, OPSO, AIMDO, Suppo, CSO, PAO – Key
Players
 Onload & Offload
 ANAV EGI POD (12,000 lb trailer in hangar bay)
 12,000 lbs of gear and supplies
 Craned on and off telemetric and photographic instrumentation

30. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Support
 Berthing & Messing
 11 Military
 93 Guest Riders
 Increased burden for CVN 69 wasn’t easy
 Operations
 AIRPLANS & Decisions
 Daily Discussions
 Overall leadership
 Skill of flight deck crew was awesome!
 Supply
 Due to CVN 69 support, 11 downing discrepancies resulted in only 1
missed flight event
 Cats & Dogs
 1 Foreign National
 Medical for 13 personnel (2 military and 11 civilian)
 …..many others

31. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Lessons Learned
 Effects of DON systemic deficiencies amplified during this at-sea period
 Issues to be highlighted to NAVAIR COC
 Flight Deck NATOPS Changes & VX-23 Directive in work
 Specific
– Training & experience, corporate knowledge
– Increased burden on CVN
– Berthing & messing
– Living area maintenance
– Flight deck uniforms
– Dedicated safety observer
– Admin support functions
 Daily Flow & Coordination
 More detailed up front
 Include Gator & RO up front
 Radio communications equipment on Flag Bridge
 Stands for ALQ-99 pods
 COMSEC & Safes

32. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Summary of Firsts for CVN 69 &
EA-18G
 First EA-18G trap
 First EA-18G trap on main gear
 First EA-18G catapult
 First EA-18G Mode 1 approach
 First sighting of a sub by an EA-18G
 First EA-18G to complain about being too close to the
scupper
 First EA-18G team to unbolt and dislodge the Admirals
Chair
 ….and many more

33. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Special Thanks
 Strike Ops: Overall coordination, many details
 Air
 Boss: Leadership & deconfliction
 V-2: 60+ ARB drills w/ actual weight settings
 Handler – nuf said!
 Flight Deck: Doing what they do best!
 Supply:
 Berthing & Messing
 Parts
 AIMD
 Host for spaces (RR 6 & 7)
 AZCM Gage
 Combat Systems: Comms & Email Set-up
 Gator: Winds & Navigational Planning
 OOD/Bridge
 Capture of challenging test conditions (winds)
 Real-time flexibility
 OPSO: Overall leadership

34. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Final Words
 Limited deck time Navy wide
 CVN 69 supported with requested deck time, and it made the
difference
 EA-18G brings a major capability to Naval Aviation
 Work density was extremely high for CVN 69 during this short at-sea
period
 Increased burden on CVN 69 by taking on NAVAIR is recognized
 Operations and conditions were unique and challenging
 CVN 69 team performed flawlessly
 CD & DVD of pictures and movies provided to CVN 69 Photo Shop
 Thank you for accepting the challenge and for clearing EA-18G
Growler for the fleet!

35. EA-18G Sea Trials
Unclassified
Parameter Source
Recovery Headwind MORIAH
Wind Over Deck MORIAH
Gross Weight XF41013 or
Pilot observation of fuel quantity
Lateral Asymmetry XF4250 or
Pilot observation of wing tank fuel split