As the centerpiece of Marine aviation support for many years, the CH-46E assault helicopter remains the primary aircraft for Marine combat troop transport. Yet, the T58-GE-16 engine used to power it has suffered from reliability and power degradation, becoming what some have described as “tired iron.” The engine has been made a top fleet safety concern.

Now, a $300 million Engine Reliability Improvement Program (ERIP) managed by NAVAIR’s PMA-226 will deliver 446 much-improved T58-GE-16A engines to the fleet. The first four engines were delivered in April 2003 to HMM-266, located at Marine Corps Air Station New River, NC. On 25 November 2003, ERIP achieved Initial Operational Capability (meaning one operational squadron with full logistics support in place), under budget and weeks ahead of the program objective of 31 December. The squadron is flying with a complement of fully supported ERIP engines. And a 20-year reduction in reliability, power and safety has now been reversed.

For the near term, the revitalized T58-GE-16A is the only insurance policy to bridge the gap between extended CH-46E operations and a replacement aircraft. ERIP will extend T58 engine life and restore desired power margins by providing a new engine core. In addition, Naval Air Depot Cherry Point will overhaul key engine accessories, incorporate approved engine CIP changes, and perform final assembly of the core with accessory components. In addition to engine component overhaul and final assembly, Naval Air Depot Cherry Point maintains and operates the T58 test cell.

Lt.Col. Mitch Bauman, PMA-226 program manager, says that after watching the NAVAIR team in action for the past eighteen months, he is reminded of the words of Lou Holtz, famous Notre Dame football coach: “All winning teams are goal-oriented. Teams like these win consistently because everyone connected with them concentrates on specific objectives. They go about their business with blinders on; nothing will distract them from achieving their aims.”

To illustrate, Bauman notes “the focused teamwork demonstrated by the H-46 T58-GE-16A engine Integrated Product Team in getting engines out to the fleet to outfit a squadron ahead of schedule. This comes at a time of great need as Marine forces plan to return to the inhospitable environment of Iraq. The team—consisting of the H-46/T58 Program Office, Fleet Support Team, NADEP Cherry Point, NAVAIR Inventory Control Point, Defense Logistics Agency, AIRLANT, AIRPAC, the fleet, and General Electric—has delivered a zero-time engine to the fleet in record time, two and a half years from funding turn-on to delivery of the first engine in April. The leadership demonstrated by all parties in resurrecting the T58 production line and the supply chain management while stepping up and attacking the challenges of the initial learning curve has been exemplary.”

FMI: www.navair.mil