JATDI to put updated info in Airmen's hands

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard's ability to train Airmen like they will fight is jumping up a notch in the near future with advancements in technology that will mimic what they'll do at their first duty location.

The innovation isn't so new to the military, but the Joint Aviation Technical Data Integration Joint Data Distribution system is new to Sheppard. Susan Hardgrave, the JATDI Air Force program manager, said Airmen-in-Training here should have updated technical orders available to them during training just as those in the field do.

Ms. Hardgrave said the old paper-trail system of supplying updated technical orders took weeks, months and even up to a year to get new information to the field. Now that field units are able to get updated information, it's time to provide that same level of service to those in training.

"Unfortunately, the training community didn't receive updated data with any high level of frequency," she said.

With JATDI, updated technical orders could be retrieved as quickly as it takes client devices such as laptops, desktops or PDAs to link up with the data base. Ms. Hardgrave said the two-way communication between supplier and user allows for an ever-evolving flow of information.

Once the system is configured here, instructors and AITs will have the opportunity to share in that cross flow of information instead of waiting for new technical orders to filter down.

Steve Brite, a member of the 82nd Training Wing Operations Technology office, said this new technology at the training level will prepare Airmen now for experiences in the field.

"The JATDI initiative offers Sheppard's newest warfighters the capability to retrieve up-to-date tech data from anywhere in the world," he said. "Since we train like we fight, utilizing this system by our students will enhance their performance and provide the mission, a better trained and better equipped warfighter."

The improved system would not only help AITs in the classroom, Mr. Brite said, but also those who provide instruction.

"Our course writers and instructors will be retrieving real-time tech data and will gain efficiencies in the way courses are designed," he said. "Currently, the Predator, U-2 and Global Hawk aircraft are being delivered via a secure web-based environment through JATDI. Other aircraft that may soon be included in the JATDI initiative include the F-16 and the C-130."

The system has two brain centers, or top-tier servers, that maintain the information. The servers branch out into more than 100 mid-tier servers that support the thousands of client devices.

JATDI supports just about any type of platform to convey the information including .pdf, .xls and .doc.

"The client device can receive any kind of data," Ms. Hardgrave said. "It can be designated for a specific platform" or can be topic-specific such as avionics for a Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. It can also be unique to the user's career field.

A firm stand-up date has not been set as JATDI and Sheppard representatives work out the details.

The system first came into being when the Navy needed a product that would allow carrier groups to receive new aviation technical data while out at sea. Later, the Army saw the need for a system, as well.

The Air Force became a player in the exchange of technical information within the last couple years.

"We are full blown in the other services," Ms. Hardgrave said. "We are just now getting our arms around the Air Force."

In addition to the immediate distribution of updated information, JATDI also offers a secure Web format for users as well as tele-maintenance capabilities.

By owning a .mil address, military users are able to securely access information from JATDI anywhere at any time.

The third core capability, tele-maintenance conferencing, allows end users to link up with specialists via teleconferencing to work out maintenance issues. Ms. Hardgrave said the military traditionally sent a group to a location if a problem came up. Sending someone to the site is no longer needed because of the conferencing capability.

She used the Global Hawk program as an example.

"Global Hawk has used (tele-maintenance conferencing) to develop digital flight manuals," Ms. Hardgrave said. "Most of it has been done now through the tele-maintenance tool."

For more information on JATDI, visit www.jatdi.mil.