Robins VDATS tester deploys on first real-world mission Published July 11, 2008 By Amanda Creel 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- A crowd of Robins team members gathered together July 9 to celebrate a milestone in the base's mission to establish a universal tester for the depot. The Versatile Depot Automatic Test Station was put to the test as it examined its first production asset in its career as an Air Force and Department of Defense Family of Testers member. The production asset to be tested was the decoder assembly from the Pave Penny pod, which is a targeting device used in the A-10 Thunderbolt II. This asset, up until now, has been tested on the Computer Operated Multifunction Electronics Test System tester; a 1968 vintage tester which has become increasingly difficult to maintain and keep operational. Michael Hunt, lead test station operator, described the addition of VDATS to his test station as "awesome." Mr. Hunt also said the addition of the VDATS to the test station will relieve some of the workload off the COMETS, which he hoped would lead to fewer mechanical malfunctions. The Test Program Set, which was approved on June 27, officially made its debut at 7 a.m. in Bldg. 158. Dempsey Ventress, VDATS depot program manager, described the early morning milestone as the finish line to the team's first race and the starting line of the next. "This event represents the first of many test programs to be re-hosted from our legacy testers to the common VDATS tester," Mr. Ventress said. About 20 test programs are expected to be in production by the end of fiscal 2008, he added. Mr. Hunt said his favorite part about the addition of VDATS to his test station was "the ease of operation." "There is so much involved with COMETS; its just point and click with VDATS," he added. John Dunn, deputy director of the Avionics and Instrument Flight, described the first VDATS unveiling in the production arena as a great start to their desire to retire their one-of-a-kind tester, COMETS. He said though the end to their journey may still be about three years away, he and the Pave Penny pod team can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mr. Dunn said the biggest blessing for the team would be the availability of other VDATS testers if there was a mechanical malfunction. When COMETS breaks down, it can mean their line has to shutdown. He said another plus to the new tester would be the reliability factor. "We will have faith in this one. With COMETS, we had to double check everything," Mr. Dunn said. The event allowed members of the Robins' community to witness the beginning of a new era in testing here at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Mr. Ventress said. "I think the most important thing to remember is the tester is not only going to be important to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, but it is going to be used Air Force-wide and it will affect everyone in the Air Force world-wide," said Bob Pennington, VDATS 402nd Software Maintenance Group lead engineer. The ultimate goal is to get all the legacy testers out of service and have one uniform tester for the depot, Mr. Ventress said. "What a wonderful world the depot would be if the same tester could be used throughout the depot," Mr. Ventress added. Though the project originated in the 402nd Software and Electronics Maintenance groups, many other members of the community are now also a part of the VDATS mission. The 542nd Combat Sustainment Group is now responsible for VDATS program management, but members of the 402nd EMXG and 402nd SMXG will still be helping to develop TPSs, help resolve software and test system issues and work on any other technical issues that arise. The 402nd EMXG manufacturing squadron will be building all of the future VDATS. Mr. Pennington said he would describe this as the most important project VDATS team members would see during their career. Along with beginning to use the tester on production assets throughout the Robins' depot community in the coming months, the tester is also beginning to make its global debut at military installations around the world such as its first field appearance at Kadena Air Base in Japan.