L2 Aviation Completes U.S. Air Force KC-10 Cockpit Upgrade

L2 Aviation, a subcontractor to Collins Aerospace, announces that Mode-5 automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) upgrades for the U.S. Air Force KC-10 “Extender” aerial refueling tanker fleet have been completed. L2 Aviation provided multiple contract field teams (CFT) as part of its Remote Avionics Rodification Services (RAMS) at different government locations that completed the avionics installations on 58 KC-10 Extender aircraft.

The installation of ADS-B, as part of a full communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems (CNS/ATM) upgrade, allows the U.S. Air Force to keep the high-volume refueling capabilities of the KC-10 ready to support America’s warfighters all over the globe long in to the future.

L2 Aviation RAMS teams completed each installation in just 4.5 days per aircraft on average, quicker than the time originally set — even during the outbreak. "The project was delayed for eight days at the start, and then we faced another delay of eight additional days while under quarantine for suspected COVID-19 exposure of a team member,” says Adam Tsakonas, program manager for L2 Aviation. “Even with the loss of 16 days, the program pulled ahead of the original schedule, and we were able to scale back to a single mod-line as we worked through the final aircraft."

“We are extremely honored to have been selected by Collins Aerospace as their installation and integration team for this project,” says Mark Lebovitz, founder and CEO of L2 Aviation. “Not only was this project technically and logistically challenging but carried on despite the pandemic without negative impact to the schedule. Our RAMS teams did an extraordinary job going to the different locations and getting the job done. They truly exemplified L2 Aviation’s commitment to our customers!”