Known worldwide as the U.S. Navy's premier Fighter and Attack aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet is integral to Naval Aviation, and the U.S. Navy's mission. The F/A-18 is utilized by many other nations as well, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain, and Switzerland.

The F/A-18 Program at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRC Southwest) consists of four main groups: Planned Maintenance Interval One and Two (PMI-1/PMI-2), Special Rework/Crash Damage Repair (SR/CD) Field Service In-Service Repair (ISR) and the F/A-18 Centerbarrel Replacement Plus (CBR+) Program.

PLANNED MAINTENANCE INTERVAL ONE AND TWO (PMI 1/PMI 2)

The PMI 1 and PMI 2 programs have been developed as a method to retain the highest amount of Flight hours versus Maintenance hours scheduled under the NAVAIR long-range vision, the Integrated Maintenance Concept. Pioneered on the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft by FRC Southwest personnel, the PMI 1/PMI 2 method has been expanded to encompass numerous other aircraft in the Fleet's inventory. By incorporating PMI 2 on-site at various locations around the world, a significant gain has been realized in keeping the aircraft available for their primary mission while cost savings in material, logistics, and manpower has been realized with an increase in reliability of the F/A-18's now in the fleet. FRC Southwest has also been fundamental in providing support in developing Planned Maintenance Interval Programs to the Spanish Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force.

SPECIAL REWORK/CRASH DAMAGE REPAIR (SR/CD)

The Special Rework/Crash Damage Repair team is the versatile and innovative arm of the FRC Southwest's F/A-18 Production and Repair team; performing distinctive repair and refurbishment of F/A-18's that have suffered damage from mishaps or with specialized repair requirements. The SR/CD Repair team works closely with Engineering to maintain the safety and reliability of the airframe to the highest degree possible. Facing unique challenges, the SR/CR Repair program is renowned for their capabilities to return F/A-18 assets to the Fleet that would have otherwise been removed from service, saving time and costs involved in replacement of aircraft and ensuring these aircraft are available for the warfighter's needs.

CENTERBARREL REPLACEMENT PLUS (CBR+)

One of the major capabilities of FRC Southwest, the F/A-18 CBR+ program is designed to allow the replacement of the center fuselage section of F/A-18 A through D model Hornet aircraft, saving both time and millions of dollars in costs related to replacing aircraft. Conceptualized and implemented by engineers and artisans at FRC Southwest, the fixtures and repair process were developed to provide an unprecedented method to accurately mate the fore and aft fuselage sections to the new Centerbarrel section. This capability has given the F/A-18 community a method to extend the flight worthiness of Legacy aircraft and has resulted in a major savings of time, labor and costs to the Fleet.

FIELD SERVICE IN-SERVICE REPAIR (ISR)

Field Service teams are stationed in numerous locations around the nation and the world and available for movement; which gives access to advanced repair capabilities and experienced artisans anytime, all while saving time and costs associated in moving aircraft assets to a FRC site.