Phase 1 begins

The Turbine Engine Dry Air Capability (TEDAC) Phase I ground breaking ceremony was held outside the Engine Test Facility Building C-Airside Wednesday, March 18. According to Hughes, the TEDAC project is the first of a four-phase effort to eliminate 45,000 gallons of trichloroethylene and 24,000 pounds of R12 refrigerant dependency by Arnold Engineering Development Center. The project consists of constructing a new desiccant wheel facility in the Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility complex (built in the early 1980s) that will provide conditioned, dry air for turbine altitude testing. The current refrigeration system has suffered numerous leaks and spills that jeopardize reliable test operations. Pictured from left to right: Corps of Engineers’ Mike Abeln, Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) Project Manager Dave Browning, 704th Test Systems Group Director Ron Polce, COE Mobile District Commander Army Col. Byron Jorns, Arnold Engineering Development Center Commander Col. Art Huber, ATA Deputy General Manager John Miller, Chicago Bridge Company’s Darles Scheibe and Program Manager for the 651st Test Systems Squadron Kris Hughes. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)