April 29, 2020 —
The H-65 fleet reached a milestone April 10, 2020, with the completion of programmed depot maintenance (PDM) on CGNR 6592 at the Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. This is the last aircraft to depart ALC as an MH-65D; all future aircraft will undergo a process at ALC that combines planned maintenance, service life extension activities and, avionics upgrades resulting in the MH-65E configuration. MH-65E upgrades include reliability and capability improvements to the Automatic Flight Control System; installation of a digital cockpit display system and an upgraded digital weather/surface search radar; integration of a robust command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance suite; and modernization of the digital flight deck with the Common Avionics Architecture System. The Coast Guard plans to convert all 98 aircraft to the MH-65E configuration by fiscal year 2025. CGNR 6592 is based at Air Station New Orleans. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
For more information: MH-65 program page