Barksdale Airmen Support Integrated Aircrew Ensemble Development

  • Published
  • By By Master Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale Air Force Base, La. --  An Integrated Aircrew Ensemble (IAE) for B-52 Stratofortress crew members is in development. The 307th Bomb Wing is providing aircraft data to Air Force Program Executive Officer for Agile Combat Support Directorate (AFPEO/ACS) during the development of new versions of equipment.

"The new aircrew flight equipment is designed to maximize aircrew performance, protection and comfort, while minimizing thermal burden throughout the maximum number of aircraft, flight envelopes and mission profiles," said Carl Medeiros, IAE Program Manager. The new versions will replace as much of the current aircrew flight equipment, worn below the neck minus the boots, as possible with a configurable and fully integrated system. This design will reduce thermal burden, reduce weight and increase mobility."

IAE testing is being accomplished by the directorate via the Human Systems Division in coordination with Government prime contractors. Additional flying wings will be participating in the aircraft integration testing.

"This new ensemble will provide the protection required during ground and non-space, air operations for missions conducted over land and water in hot weather, cold weather and chemical/biological contaminated environments using a minimum number of layers," said Medeiros. The focus will be on the full spectrum of aircrew requirements with variants for ejection seat aircraft; non-ejection seat fixed-wing aircraft; and rotary wing aircraft.

Aircrew members from Barksdale are evaluating the IAE, alongside legacy aircrew flight equipment, while demonstrating they can perform B-52 aircraft mission requirements.

According to Medeiros, all Air Force aircrew members will benefit from IAE. The benefit is to maximize aircrew performance, protection and comfort, while minimizing thermal burden. The IAE will replace most of the current aircrew flight equipment, worn below the neck. This particular testing will address the full spectrum of aircrew requirements needed to accomplish their assigned duties.