ADMACS team celebrates first upgrade delivery Published Feb. 3, 2011 By Tom Worsdale Naval Air Systems Command Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Naval Air Systems Command's Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment program is installing the first Aviation Data Management and Control System Block 2 upgrade to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower with completion scheduled for Spring 2011. "I am very proud that we are providing the fleet with a cutting edge product - the Block 2 upgrade - that will increase daily efficiency and data management for shipboard operations," said Capt. James Donnelly, ALRE program manager. The current ADMACS system being operated by fleet carriers is a real-time data management system connecting the carrier's air department, ship divisions and Sailors who manage aircraft launch and recovery operations. ADMACS communicates aviation and command-related data across the system's local area network and the Integrated Shipboard Network System. The position and location of the aircraft on flight and hangar decks are then electronically displayed in the flight deck control room. ADMACS also displays the status of aircraft, launch and recovery equipment, fuel, weapons and other aviation and ship related information. According to Bruce Chiodi, ALRE Information Systems integrated product team lead, the system upgrade significantly improves the effectiveness of aviation operations and allows workload reduction through process automation, optimization and integration of key operational systems. Block 2 increases efficiency by automating current paper-based management processes such as weapons and ALRE maintenance management, as well as digitizing the flight and hangar deck control management process, which is currently accomplished by a template-based spotting board. "ADMACS Block 2 integrates many essential systems used on carriers and enhances data sharing over the network," said former ADMACS Block 2 lead Gino LoStracco, at a system dedication ceremony at NAVAIR at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, where the original system and upgrades continue to be developed. "The current upgrade also includes installing workstations throughout the carrier, allowing users to log on to access work orders, view maintenance scheduling and enter data." Other carriers slated for Block 2 installation include CVN's 68, 70-71, 74-77 and are scheduled for completion by 2015. The next upgrade installment, Block 3, will provide more integration with shipboard systems, and will add cross-check functionality, enhance weapons management functions and provide interfaces to the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, Advanced Arresting Gear and Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services systems. Block 3 installations are scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2013.