ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- A team of Arnold Engineering Development Complex professionals recently traveled to Turgi, Switzerland, to complete factory acceptance testing and training for the Engine Test Facility Plant Variable Frequency Starter System, or VFSS.
The team combined expertise from the 804th Test Group and propulsion personnel with Beyond New Horizons, the AEDC Test and Operations and Sustainment contractor, to support the critical modernization effort. Representing AEDC were Albert Velazquez, Air Force propulsion asset manager; James Rogers, BNH instrumentation data & controls engineer; John Bearden, BNH electrical systems engineering lead; Travis Smith, BNH electrical systems engineer; Rocco Simeri, BNH electrical specialist technician; Zachary Grosch, BNH lead electrical craftsman; and Kenneth Taylor, BNH lead electrical craftsman.
The week-long visit allowed the team to work directly with the equipment manufacturer to validate the new system before its installation at AEDC. The VFSS is a component that starts the air compressor supporting C-Plant Block, making the training an important step toward successful implementation.
“You cannot modernize a facility’s assets without modernizing its workforce. The investment in this Swiss training guarantees that our craft and engineers own this system from day one,” said Velazquez. “When every hour of testing downtime counts, waiting on an external contractor isn’t an option; our in-house crew is now equipped to respond instantly.”
While onsite, the team updated the control system to support the unique operating environment at AEDC’s Engine Test Facility. They also gained valuable hands-on experience replacing snubbers, learning the purpose and implementation of electrical firing angles, navigating the onboard software suite and working alongside the programmer to refine the drive selection interlocking criteria.
“In critical operations, downtime is not an option. System reliability is ultimately driven by experience and ambition, which the team obtained and proved with rigorous training on our upgraded VFSS control systems,” stated group leader Rogers.
The knowledge gained during the visit will play an important role as AEDC prepares for the upcoming VFSS upgrade. By combining factory testing with hands-on technical training, the team returned better equipped to support the modernization of critical test capabilities and ensure continued mission success.