Let's stop this damage.

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Dear Editor,

Through my work, as an instructor at the Ft Bliss Avenger school, I see lots of expensive damage done to Avengers that could be prevented by doing things just a bit differently. I'm talking about:

J5 and J7 cables to the crew chief air situation display (CCASD). It's difficult; to disconnect or connect the cables because there's so little room to maneuver them. As a result, the cables' pins or the security mounts are often broken.

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Solution: Disconnect and connect the cables at the cab interconnect panel (CIP). It's much easier there, plus there's only one cable to disconnect.

CIP. It needs to be grounded or a surge of electricity can short it out. When crewmen reinstall the enhanced position location reporting system (EPDRS), they often forget to reconnect the two ground straps for the CIP.

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Solution: Make it part of your BEFORE PMCG to ensure the ground straps are hooked up.

PLGR power connector. You have to twist the cable to connect it. Eventually, that damages the wiring.

Solution: The PLGR cable that connects to the battery works better. It has a 90-degree connector that make it easy to plug into the PLGR. You do need to tape over the old connector so it can't be grounded out accidentally.

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Remote control unit (RCU) and CCASD cables. The RCU W80 cable and the CCASD data cable are long and they constantly become tangled during remote operations.

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Solution: Prevent much of that tangling by connecting the cables at several points with tape or plastic ties. Some units get a cable reel from their commo folks and use those for reeling out and in the two cables.

Antenna tiedowns. The tiedowns are either left hanging or they come untied during operations. Then when the Avenger is slewed, the tiedowns get caught between the cab and the turret and tear up the turret's wall.

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Solution: Prevent that by making sure that the tiedowns are snugged down before leaving the motor pool. Make sure they stay tied down by wrapping tape around them.

CCASD and TC batteries. Their batteries need to be replaced every two years. If you wait until they go dead, you can't boot up the CCASD and targeting console. What makes it difficult is that the batteries are soldered to the circuit boards and must be replaced at depot.

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Solution: To prevent surprises, mark the date on the circuit board when the batteries were replaced. Then you will know when you need to get a new circuit board and send off the old one for battery replacement.

SSG Jason Williams

2-6 ADA 

Ft Bliss, TX

Editor's note: Whew! That's a slew of good Avenger tips. Thanks, Sergeant.