First C-130 AMP kit arrives, work to begin in August Published July 1, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- A significant new workload will begin at Robins this fall after approval of low-rate initial production of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program. The initial production calls for Boeing to supply kits for cockpit upgrades on 20 C-130H aircraft. The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center will install 10 of those, Boeing will install five, and a competively-selected third party will install the remaining five. Afterward, for the next few years, Robins is slated to install 10 per year, said Terrence May, director of the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Group. Ultimately, the program calls for upgrades on 220 C-130s. The upgrades will be a significant benefit not just for the C-130 crews, May said, but for maintainers here because many of the older parts the upgrades are replacing are getting hard to find. "The cockpits in the upgraded planes will be similar to new airplanes coming off the production lines," he said. The biggest change is replacing the mechanical gauges in the aircraft with digital gauges, which are more reliable and easier to maintain. Also, the new gauges are set up for use with night-vision goggles. That allows pilots to shut off cockpit lighting and use the goggles to assure low visibility at night in an enemy area. Without the gauges being able to adjust for night-vision, the glare from the gauges would be too bright. The upgrade also includes new communications and navigation gear. Boeing has already delivered the first two kits to Robins. The first plane getting the modification will arrive here in August and the second will arrive in October.