RAMSTEIN, Germany - On July 7, during an official ceremony in the Italian Ministry of Defence, the MoD Directory of Air Armaments and Airworthiness (DAAA) awarded NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Force (NAGSF) with its first Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) Certificate of Continuing Airworthiness.
The requirements to get this important award are very complex and high, as the certificate grants NAGSF with privileges of an approved and recognized military AMO that complies with internationally agreed Airworthiness requirements. That means that the NAGSF evidently maintains the NATO AGS System totally according to required high standards that officially allow the AGS unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to fly in Italian and international airspace and ensure the safety of its navigation and flights.
NATO AGS Force continues to progress with an unwavering commitment to NATO security while ensuring compliance with all Airworthiness standards
NAGSF Commander U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Houston Cantwell said: "NATO AGS Force continues to progress with an unwavering commitment to NATO security while ensuring compliance with all Airworthiness standards. The Certification of NAGSF as an Approved Maintenance Organization officially recognizes the quality of our work, the professionalism of our personnel, and our commitment to maintaining the highest levels of aviation safety. As the Operational Airworthiness Authority of the NATO AGS Force, I am satisfied and most appreciative to receive this certificate," he added.
Major General Fabio Sciorella (left), Deputy Technical Director, from the Italian Ministry of Defence DAAA awarding NAGSF Commander, Brigadier General Houston Cantwell.
Photo: Courtesy of Italian Ministry of Defence
Commitment to maintaining the highest levels of aviation safety.
Photo: Courtesy of NATO AGS Force
NAGSF is now an Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO).
Photo: Courtesy of NATO AGS Force
To achieve this certification NAGSF
successfully established and safely implemented in less than five years a
Maintenance Program and a Quality Management System, which guarantee the
Continuing Airworthiness of AGS and encompass effectively planning, executing,
measuring and controlling processes, activities, changes, personnel skills,
documentation, training, reports, materiel and facilities, while at the same
time striving for conformance, safety, currency and continuous improvement.
Continuing airworthiness is an integral part
of the day-to-day management of complex aerospace systems like AGS. It ensures
that the AGS core system continuously meets the Italian Ministry of Defense
airworthiness rules and standards throughout its operating life.
Italian Air Force Major General Fabio
Sciorella, Deputy Technical Director, from the Italian Ministry of Defence DAAA
while awarding NAGSF Commander, Brigadier General Houston Cantwell underlined:
"DAAA is extremely pleased to award this AMO Certificate to NAGSF, in
recognition of their big effort to comply with applicable DAAA norms and
requirements. Thanks to this important achievement, as Technical Airworthiness
Authority we rest assured that the end user reached the right level of
capabilities to safely manage the daily maintenance activities ensuring
through-life airworthiness on such a complex system as the Global hawk NATO
AGS."
NATO's
Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system is composed of five NATO RQ-4D
"Phoenix" remotely piloted aircraft and a series of associated ground command
and control stations. The AGS system gives commanders a comprehensive picture of
the situation on the ground, providing a state-of-the-art Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability to NATO.