Individual Aircraft Tracking Programs
MERC provides application development and support services for the C-130 System Program Office’s Automated Inspection, Repair, Corrosion, and Aircraft Tracking (AIRCAT) system. AIRCAT is the Individual Aircraft Tracking Program (IATP) of record for the C-130 as mandated by the USAF Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP). This effort includes the development and maintenance of an extensive Oracle database and a wide variety of both client/server and web-based applications that support data entry, reporting, and analysis.
In 2002, MERC evaluated the existing data collection and analysis applications employed by the USAF. We performed an extensive engineering analysis to identify and resolve several data processing and reporting issues to ensure customer confidence in the system output. The results of this effort have enabled the C-130 ASIP manager to make several critical decisions regarding the safety and reliability of the current aircraft fleet. MERC has since implemented numerous system enhancements, addressed customer change requests, and improved the overall reliability and supportability of the system.
MERC has significantly enhanced the maintainability of the AIRCAT system by migrating most of the client/server applications to web-based applications using ASP.NET technologies and smart client architectures. MERC also developed several forecasting and prognostic tools, implemented a methodology for user reporting in a deployed status when network connectivity is intermittent or unavailable, and updated the system’s management and administrative tools.
Today, MERC continues to provide user support, process customer change requests, enhance the overall user experience, and deliver improved reporting capabilities. Additional data types have been incorporated to extend the application functionality, supporting a more complete picture of aircraft condition and usage. MERC leverages its combined software engineering and aircraft structural engineering expertise to ensure the best possible product for the customer.