Boeing FOD Team Visits NAS Whidbey Island
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080514-24
Release Date: 5/14/2008 5:22:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Det. Northwest
OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- The Boeing Company's Foreign Object Debris (FOD) team visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island May 8 to learn how the base runs their FOD programs.
"Like us, Boeing has a vested interest in minimizing FOD damage," said Bill MacMillan, NAS Whidbey Island airfield manager. "Tool control and FOD prevention measures are all part of what it takes to ensure our weapons platforms are ready to carry out a their mission just as Boeing has an enormous financial incentive to keep FOD out of their aircraft.
The group was comprised of 36 members from Boeing facilities throughout the northwestern U.S.
FOD team members also visited Fleet Readiness Center Northwest and toured their power plants, avionics, and airframes/hydraulics divisions to understand how FOD is controlled during maintenance and accountability for tools to prevent any being left on the flight line. In addition they visited the newly stood up Consolidated Maintenance Organization (CMO) 10, which supports the maintenance needs of Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10's P-3C Orion and EP-3E Aries II aircraft.
"I hope the FOD Team was able to compare their daily routine with our processes to find some procedures they can incorporate into their programs," said Lt. Cmdr. Eric Seib, CMO-10 officer in charge. "If today's discussions can save someone from being hurt or help prevent aircraft damage then both teams win."
The group was treated to a tour of the flight line and was shown the airfield sweepers.
Invitations were extended by the FOD team to have Sailors from NAS Whidbey Island see procedures on their airfields also to ensure all involved can have access to the information available to develop the best FOD programs possible.
"It's always good to benchmark with other people because you may pick up just one gem which you may be able to bring back to improve your program. It's very interesting, the processes we use are very similar. It's nice to see we're so closely meshed with what you are doing here at the Navy base," said Dan Swanberg, a Boeing Company FOD team leader.
With the pending arrival of the EA-18G Growler and P-8A Poseidon, both Boeing aircraft, NAS Whidbey Island had an opportunity to keep up the affiliation between the base and Boeing personnel.
"All Sailors are ambassadors and we are proud to share our daily routines with all neighbors in the Pacific Northwest," said Seib. "Boeing is one of the many companies that will continue to have ties to NAS Whidbey Island in the future."
For more news from Naval Station Whidbey Island, visit www.navy.mil/local/naswhidbey/.
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