Aircraft Avionics (Digital Avionics Study).

Current USAF avionics acquisition practices breed black box proliferation with all its attendant high costs, low reliability, and heavy OM burden. This is happening while digital technology threatens to inundate the Service Logistic channels. Enough technology is in hand to create prototype digital avionics. Software turns out to be the single most deficient technical area. The board concludes that properly exercised avionics General Systems Engineering GSE can cause the much needed turn about in this avionics situation. The board has identified practices and facilities needed to adequately conduct avionics GSE Chapters II, III, and IV. The Board recommends a modest investment of approximately 10 MTS, to initiate a full spectrum GSE capability at ASD, the principal USAF aircraft weapon engineering center. Certain prerequisites mandatory for the success of the GSE organization have been identified by the Board. These are 1 need-to-know, 2 organizational GSE expertise, and 3 an outlet for GSE organizations guidance and advice to, and among the SPOs. The Board recommends careful monitoring of the growth of the avionics GSE capability by the Commander ASD. Author