Dominating the spaces in the forward part of the ship, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) is one of the largest departments aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike). During Ike’s Planned Incremental Availability period (PIA) there have been no aircraft aboard so the Sailors of AIMD have worked tirelessly in preparation for the day they return.

Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Joshua Founder maintains diagnostic machines for the F/A-18 Super Hornet but is currently working on something different from his usual day-to-day routine since Ike arrived in the yards.

“Right now we are pulling our equipment out for preservation,” said Founder. “We are getting everything back to operating status, and we have a time limit to do it. It’s different from being underway because all of these machines would be working.”

Founder said that even though the work is tough, the best part of his job is when he sees progress being made.

“Getting our equipment up and running, seeing the gear come in and fixing it, you feel good at the end of the day,” said Founder. “You feel good because you fixed it yourself. You actually see the difference you’re making, it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s the small stuff that counts.”

In AIMD’s IM-3 division, or the aviation ordnanceman shop, Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Michael Thornton, a gun technician and supervisor for missile launcher and rocket pod activities, is hard at work. “We have done a lot of space rehab since we got to the yards,” said Thornton. “Now that we are getting our capabilities back, we’re working on our launchers and gun systems, and we are slowly transitioning back to getting underway.”

While Sailors in AIMD are hard at work, their leaders are making sure the work is done correctly. AIMD’s Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Anthony Burrous, is responsible for AIMD's maintenance and production efforts.

“If we don’t get our jobs in the yards done correctly and we don’t enable readiness of the parts we repair, we wouldn’t complete the service the ship is supposed to provide,” said Burrous. “The department as a whole is essential to the air-wing. Without us here we would not be able to sustain flight operations for any period of time.”

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