Boeing on Tuesday delivered the first upgraded E-3A AWACS to NATO, equipped with cockpit upgrades. The Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management upgrade includes a digital flight deck and avionics upgrades needed to comply with current and future air traffic control requirements, Boeing said in a news release. The cockpits include five new full-color glass displays, used to customize engine, navigation, and radar data. These upgrades, which will eventually be outfitted on 14 NATO aircraft, reduce the aircrew size by one, according to Boeing.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
