FRCSE Site Jacksonville making strides
By AT2 (AW) Krystal Smith PAO PO

Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Site Jacksonville is an intermediate level (I-Level) maintenance activity formerly known as Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment (AIMD). In fiscal year 2006, the Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission merged the former AIMDs with Naval Air (NAVAIR) Depots to establish Fleet Readiness Centers.

The merger has brought about many substantial changes. Besides the obvious name change, you will now see military and civilian artisans working together providing aircraft and aircraft components to the Fleet. By working together, Site Jacksonville Sailors benefit from the artisans vast experience and subject matter expertise, and the fleet benefits by receiving better trained technicians. One effort currently under way is the co-location of the intermediate level hydraulic shop with the depot level hydraulic shop. Not only will the sailors benefit from the artisans technical expertise, but this is a first step in reducing costly infrastructure associated with maintaining essentially the same capabilities at both activities.

Cdr. Charles Nixon, Site Jacksonville’s Officer-In-Charge, said, “The hydraulic shop merger is the first of many opportunities currently being studied. We are examining all areas where we have duplicate capabilities and will merge those capabilities if it is the right decision for supporting the Fleet.”

Another aspect of the merger is the Beyond Capable Maintenance Interdiction (BCMI). BCMI in short, is when the I-Level site sends aircraft components to the depot site for maintenance or a depot artisan goes forward to the I-Level site and performs maintenance. Components in the BCMI pipeline are evaluated to ensure that a reliable and cost effective repair can be performed without fully reworking the component; therefore, reducing the cost of the repair and returning that savings to the Naval Aviation Enterprise. According to Chief Robert Campbell, from Site Jacksonville’s production control, the BCMI process has successfully completed 302 interdictions saving the Naval Aviation Enterprise $2.974 million since October 2007.

“By merging the intermediate level and depot level commands we have the opportunity to take full advantage of the tremendous capabilities that exist throughout FRCSE. Having the ability to focus the efforts of FRCSE’s 4,000 civilians and Sailors will significantly enhance our ability to provide cost wise readiness to the Fleet,” according to Cdr. Nixon.

Additionally, Site Jacksonville has greatly expanded its component repair capabilities and improved its overall efficiency through the utilization of AIRSpeed, the Lean process improvement initiatives, and the Fleet Readiness Center Cost Avoidance Program. These combined efforts have reduced FRCSE’s time-to-reliably-replenish aircraft component and engine inventories and provided over $7.9 million in cost avoidance this fiscal year alone.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

(800 Division) PR2 Brian Langston from Site Jacksonville’s survival and support equipment division prepares a curtain for use in aircrafts to cover avionics stored in the fuselage.

(400 Division) AD3 Alexis Rivera Colon performs maintenance on a T-56 engine valve at Site Jacksonville’s power plant division. The power plant completes maintenance on aircraft engines.

(500 Division) AM2 Steve Vaughn welds a 3G test plate at Site Jacksonville’s air framing division.

(600 Division) In preparation for the AMI, AE2 Jeremiah Downes is inspecting Individual Maintenance Repair List (IMRL) inventory in Site Jacksonville’s avionics division.