The OCCAR view on the S-standards

At the time, Ellacott was attending the AIA/ASD Brussels meeting earlier this year where the further development of the S standards was on the agenda. After the meeting EXPRESSway asked him about the benefits he sees and expectations he has regarding the new Sx000-series Standards and PLCS?

EXPRESSway: Can you describe your expectations for the ASD specifications?

Ellacott: We in OCCAR-EA see the ASD Suite of standards to be highly beneficial to our Organization. They offer internationally recognized, up to date and well maintained specifications that are used widely by our member and participating states and also by our Industrial counterparts. They are applicable to our Through Life Programme Management approach and offer an integrated ‘one stop shop’ for ILS and LSA guidance. As with S1000D and S2000M we expect the new specifications to be adopted widely by European defense programs in the future.

EXPRESSway: How does PLCS tie into all this?

Ellacott: PLCS is the way forward for through life data exchange activities. PLCS is also supported by our Customers and Industry and it is very important for Collaborative programs to be able to specify and control essential support information throughout a defense system’s life. It is OCCAR-EA’s policy to specify PLCS for data and information management and we expect PLCS to continue its evolution and become first choice for European defense programs.

EXPRESSway: So can you review the applicability to OCCAR-EA?

Ellacott: OCCAR is proactive in supporting and developing the ASD specifications and PLCS. We consider the ASD suite of standards and PLCS to reflect best practice. They meet our corporate vision to be “a centre of excellence, and first choice in Europe, in the field of collaborative acquisition of defense equipment” and as such we have incorporated them into our procedures. They are most applicable to OCCAR-EA because it is essential to specify internationally recognized standards and specifications rather than National ones for collaborative programs. There is no doubt that for OCCAR-EA, the S-standards are to be a central part of any effort to globalize effective collaboration within the aerospace industry.