The Navy’s Common Aviation Support Equipment program office (PMA-260) successfully delivered the first of 27 replacement Crash and Salvage Cranes (CSC) to Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, Florida.
PMA-260 coordinated the development, acquisition and fielding with support from Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst, Fleet Readiness Center Aviation Support Equipment (FRC ASE), NAVAIR Technical Data & Engineering Services Command (NATEC) and Allied Systems Company.
“The delivery of the new CSCs to the fleet enhances readiness and ensures safety of our sailors deployed on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships around the world,” said Capt. Matthew Wilcox, PMA-260 program manager.
CSCs are used for lifting and moving disabled aircraft on aircraft carriers and landing helicopter dock ship flight decks. Flight operations are not allowed without these critical pieces of equipment.
The new CSCs, designed by industry partner Allied Systems Company, replaces the legacy carrier and amphibious assault crash cranes. The legacy CSCs, designed decades ago, exceeded their anticipated life expectancy and became increasingly difficult to maintain due to obsolescence issues. The new variants correct those deficiencies and are much easier to maintain.
The CSC has two variants — the carrier CSC (CCSC) and the amphibious CSC (ACSC). The CCSC has a heavier counterweight than the ACSC, and the lighter ACSC has inriggers within the width of the crane that increase its stability. The similar designs, along with the new diesel hydraulic system and user friendly human interface machine.
PMA-260 is responsible for the procurement, development and fielding of Common Ground Support equipment and Automatic Test Equipment. Additionally, this command serves as the lead manager of the Aircraft Maintenance and Material Readiness List (AMMRL), Metrology and Calibration (METCAL) and Mobile Facilities programs in support of the Naval Aviation Enterprise.