Crewmen at the Robins AFB Air Logistics Center tow the C-130 HVM validation aircraft from the hangar and to a parking spot.
The team found the three primary plate. Previously, the process was to HVM process will be expanded across
tenets to HVM are: bring the airplane in, inspect it and the C-130 fleet. It is being developed
then, after identifying the discrepan- to be transportable and scalable so
• Understand the condition cies, determine the type of repairs, HVM can be exported to all weapon
of the airplane before it gets to the develop the repair and then gather systems, including commodities.
maintenance facility; the parts for it. “By doing the pre- According to Air Force releases,
• Have the material, parts and induction inspection, says Mobley, the Develop and Sustain Warfighting
everything the mechanics need when “we had four months in advance to Systems (D&SWS) targets for 2011
the aircraft hits the ground; and work all those issues and have that kit are a 20-percent improvement in air-
• Follow daily standard work designed and laid out.” craft availability and a 10-percent
so that all those other supportability “You see, under lean principles, reduction in operations and support
issues can be there waiting or you. that [preparation work] is all non- funding requirements by 2011. The
value added,” Doug Keene, the HVM expectation is that if the U.S. Air
After HVM team members com- Product Team Manager, empha- Force can accomplish aircraft mainte-
pleted their pre-induction inspec- sizes. “That’s the whole philosophy nance at rates comparable to civilian
tion, they ran their findings through here – let’s know everything about commercial aviation, aircraft avail-
their Maintenance Requirements that airplane before we put it on ability may be improved by at least 14
Supportability Review (MRSR) team. the ground.” percent and efficiencies and potential
This team—which includes represen- cost reduction can be achieved.
tatives from engineering, supply and Transportable and Scalable A key aircraft availability driver
planning—laid out the repairs that The HVM approach was briefed to has been the time spent in mainte-
need to be done based on the inspec- a team of senior Air Force officials, nance. The HPT examined the best
tions. They worked toward getting all industry experts and academia in practices of commercial airlines and
the materials supported and building August 2007. Since then, the High maintenance, repair and overhaul
the repair kits. When the airplane Performance Team identified the lean (MRO) companies. It found that the
arrived, the MRSR team was ready. events and projects required to imple- civilian aviation community routinely
The pre-induction inspection for ment an HVM proof-of-concept pro- obtains daily maintenance man-hour
the C-130P identified just one major totype on the C-130P target for the burn rates (velocity of maintenance)
long-lead time item: the ramp scuff prototype effort. Once validated, the four to 10 times higher than the Air
34 Aviation Maintenance |
avmain-mag.com | Oct/Nov2009
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