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NAS Brunswick P-3 Team Commits to NAVRIIP/AIRSpeed

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS040930-07
Release Date: 9/30/2004 4:35:00 PM

By Betsy Haley, Naval Air Systems Command Public Affairs and NAVRIIP Communications Team

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- Naval Aviation Enterprise leaders visited Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, in late August to demonstrate a commitment to the cost-wise readiness journey and the improvement of long-standing processes for the P-3 aircraft.

The leaders also expressed their continued encouragement of Sailors and Marines to implement the Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement Progam (NAVRIIP) and AIRSpeed process improvement tools.

"We are open to new ideas and innovative business practices," said Cmdr. Dan Lafond, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing (CPRW) 5 maintenance officer (MO). "We welcome and are ready for NAVRIIP and AIRSpeed training for our Sailors and Marines. Our team understands the benefits associated with implementing the process improvement tools."

NAVRIIP seeks to provide cost-wise aircraft ready for tasking for all Navy and Marine Corps warfighters throughout the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE). AIRSpeed is NAVRIIP's enabler for operationalizing cost-wise readiness across the NAE.

The P-3 squadron is actively involved in process improvement initiatives throughout the squadron and AIMD/ASD. Such initiatives include active-Reserve integration (ARI), AIRPLAN and consolidated isochronal scheduled inspection system for maintenance (C-ISIS). These improvements contribute to increasing A-RFT during a period of flightline gaps by increasing the number of available aircraft and decreasing the number of aircraft in the depot for structural service inspections and enhanced structural inspections.

"CPRW-5 improvement activities are aligned to NAVRIIP," said Lafond. "Our Sailors are enthusiastic about C-ISIS, and they see the need for AIRPLAN in our operations and training departments. Also, AIMD participates in the P-3C barrier removal teams. Our people are excited to begin applying Lean to the intermediate maintenance activity production processes."

Established in June 2004, AIRPLAN is a management tool used to prioritize aircraft assignments. All events are prioritized, and a pooled resource concept is utilized. The program helps maximize aircraft use and readiness and helps in training air crews with limited A-RFT to execute the flying hour program. AIRPLAN effectively maintains readiness.

C-ISIS is the scheduled maintenance plan for the P-3, which combines several work center maintenance areas into one. The wing MO coordinates the schedule, and all maintenance procedures are conducted in a dedicated hangar bay, work center and office space.

Through ARI, the active-duty and Reserve squadrons have been working closely together, borrowing aircraft and sharing a maintenance hangar. The maintenance officers and maintainers are consolidating resources in an effort to support the need for A-RFT.

"By instituting C-ISIS, AIRPLAN and ARI, we are increasing our fiscal awareness, making informed decisions and enhancing teamwork in support of cost-wise readiness," said Capt. Dan Lynch, CPRW-5 commodore.

The Brunswick team is also employing the aviation financial analysis tool (AFAST), utilized NAVRIIP-wide to manage resources.

"AFAST data helps make us all smarter on what we need to spend money on," said Cmdr. Jim Buckley, Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 commanding officer. "The maintenance department is smarter when trouble-shooting because of available AFAST data. We have to balance this with requirements from the commanding officers. We are more aware when troubleshooting because we work closer with the AIMD and spend money together."

Massenburg reiterated the need for the Navy and Marines to share the same path to reach cost-wise readiness.

"In the beginning, NAVRIIP was solving the readiness problem," said Massenburg. "We got it about right. Now, we are moving toward getting the cost-wise piece right. We need to afford the Naval Aviation of the future. We will do this by cultural change, commitment by our Sailors and Marines, and by using the NAVRIIP and AIRSpeed tools."

NAS Brunswick is scheduled to receive full AIRSpeed training in June 2005. "We will continue to look for improvements and work with the P-3 type-model-series community to improve operational and intermediate-level maintenance," said Lafond. "We look forward to receiving AIRSpeed training at NAS Brunswick.