Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic (FRCMA) ushered in a new way of doing business that will better equip the fleet and increase readiness now and in the future with the kickoff of its local Naval Sustainment System (NSS) initiative at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, April 30.

NSS is an approach which implements industry best practices and addresses all elements of aviation maintenance—people, parts and processes—to make permanent changes that increase aircraft readiness and lethality. With the Navy directive to produce 80-percent mission-capable Super Hornets by Oct. 1, the initial focus is on F/A-18E/F aircraft and will scale across all other type/model/series aircraft.

Addressing flag officers, industry partners and military maintenance personnel, Vice Adm. Dean Peters, commander, Naval Air Systems Command, started the day thanking industry partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), for getting naval aviation to “look beyond our own fence line.” He acknowledged the similarities between commercial maintenance, repair and overall (MRO) facilities and the Navy’s.

“BCG came into FRC Southwest last fall and implemented industry best practices to improve flow and throughput, and as a result, the issue priority group ones (unfilled high priority requisitions) have decreased significantly.”

Peters also pointed out the reduced turnaround time for planned maintenance interval (PMI) aircraft at FRC West (FRCW) with the implementation of industry best practices. “This is good news for our fleet operators,” he said.

Mid-Atlantic is the third FRC to implement NSS, and the second site to focus on PMI work. Having already put in place “lessons learned” from FRCW, leadership and artisans at FRCMA are ahead of the game, according to Rear Adm. Mike Zarkowski, Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC).

“Humility and teamwork are essential to obtaining gains from NSS. We are a team with [our industry partner] and we at COMFRC are a team with our artisans. It is my job to make sure our artisans have the best tools, best equipment and the engineering processes in place to do their jobs,” Zarkowski said.

FRCW revamped its PMI line under the guidance of industry representatives last winter. Capt. Bret Washburn, FRCW commanding officer, told the audience that the process can be painful, and change is not easy, but the improvements at the command strengthened his confidence in the future of naval aviation readiness and solidly established FRCW’s role in this effort.

Following the kickoff briefs, attendees got a firsthand look at NSS improvements on F/A-18 Super Hornet maintenance during a tour of FRCMA’s hangars. One improvement, is a document and status board located at the front of each aircraft to track open action items and days to completion. 

Attendees also toured the Aircraft on Ground (AOG)cell located at Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet (CNAL), in Norfolk, Virginia. Another NSS element focused on building efficiencies and long-term collaboration among partners, AOG gathers all lines of available support into one site enabling decision makers to quickly resolve constraints of short-term down aircraft.

Zarkowski concluded the kickoff by speaking with FRCMA artisans, explaining the upcoming changes to processes and how NSS will support their role in producing readiness. “The artisan is a surgeon, and like a surgeon, you will have the tools you need to work on aircraft right in front of you,” he said. “You are closer to the fleet than anyone, and your commitment to the mission is critical. Our fleet needs you; our warfighters need you.”

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