Gerald R Ford heads to acceptance trials, prepares for delivery

[Ethan]

The US Navy's (USN's) first-of-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) departed Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia and is under way for acceptance trials with the Navy's Board of Inspections and Survey (INSURV) for delivery to the USN, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced on 24 May.

Acceptance trials are primarily aimed at demonstrating the ability of the ship to conduct operations at sea to the INSURV and that the ship is constructed in accordance with contract specifications. During this step USN and INSURV official will issue electronic 'starred' trial cards, which indicate deficiencies and note any major discrepancies identified during acceptance trials. The USN has a process in place to correct all starred cards in time to support fleet tasking.

"Over the next several days, CVN 78 sailors will operate many of the ship's key systems and technologies, overseen by INSURV and the navy's Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair, and accompanied by shipbuilders from Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding," NAVSEA said in a statement.

According to a NAVSEA spokesperson, flight operations will not be conducted from Gerald R Ford during acceptance trials, and the USN expects to test aircraft operations during subsequent underway periods following delivery to the navy.

This means that two new critical systems, the General Atomics-built Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) and the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) needed to launch and recover aircraft, will not be tested with aircraft until after delivery, although 'no load' cycle testing with EMALS may occur. A Director, Operational Test, and Evaluation (DOT&E) annual report for fiscal year (FY) 2016 warned that stress limits of the aircraft were exceeded during EMALS test launches and that there were problems with "end-of-stroke dynamics with heavy wing stores". The AAG cable shock absorber required modification to provide variable damping in 2013, and the twisters were also redesigned in 2014.

http://www.janes.com/article/70791/gerald-r-ford-heads-to-acceptance-trials-prepares-for-delivery