CUTLINES:

Chris Colvin works on a transmission beam inside the H-60. Photo by Bill Bartkus

Frank Casha works on the transmission beam atop the H-60. Photo by Bill Bartkus

This stripped H-60 will be put back together again and look just like new when it’s returned to the squadron. Photo by Bill Bartkus

H-60 program: another Depot success story

By Bill Bartkus
NADEP North Island

Naval Air Depot North Island’s H-60 program has been a busy and successful one in the two years that the program has been in existence at the Depot.
“Aircraft come in for different phases of work like the four-step PMI (Planned Maintenance Interval) and Base Line,” said Thell Fowler, Code 6.1.6.5.0.1. If the aircraft has been flying for a while and hasn’t been to the Depot, we will first perform a major overhaul – a Base line – on it. Then two years later, we will begin the four-step PMI program in two year intervals,” he said.
“PMI-1 is performed at the squadron, and the others are accomplished here at the Depot,” he said. Turnaround times vary for each step of the PMI. Base Line is the former SDLM (Standard Depot Level Maintenance),” Fowler said. In Base Line, the aircraft is completely stripped down and serviced. “This procedure takes about 100 working days.”
Squadron personnel – called a Tiger Team – arrive with the aircraft and are the first ones to remove certain items from the aircraft before it is inducted for Base Line. “We perform our portion within the specifications,” said Fowler, “and then squadron personnel place their parts back on.”
Fowler said that Depot artisans do not work on transmissions. “We remove and replace them only,” he said. “We also only remove and replace tail rotary and gear boxes. If these parts need work, squadron personnel work on them.”
A number of artisans work on the “choppers” but not at the same time. Mechanics disassemble the aircraft, then Examination and Evaluation personnel check the aircraft before metal smiths work their portion. Next come the machinists and electricians before the aircraft is given back to the mechanics to reassemble.
“The whole program is Integrated Maintenance Concept,” said Victor Brambila, a retired Navy master chief aircraft maintenanceman, now a contractor working with the Depot. “Squadron personnel perform their requirements (on the aircraft) and Depot artisans have their tasks to perform on the aircraft as well,” Brambila said.
Fowler said that the H-60 program has been with the Depot for a little more than two years. “The IMC program keeps the aircraft in the squadron for a longer time. Rather than have the aircraft gone for eight to 10 months at a time for maintenance, they are now away for shorter periods of time,” he said.
“We can work on six aircraft in the hangar plus work on some at the squadron at the same time,” Fowler said.
The Depot services HS (helicopter antisubmarine squadron) and HSL (light helicopter antisubmarine squadron). “We’ll soon start with the HC (helicopter combat support squadron) once they get the new MH-60s,” said Brambila.
“We’re setting up a program to start servicing helos in Hawaii,” said Fowler. “Depot personnel will be traveling to Hawaii. Turnaround time will be shorter by sending artisans to Hawaii rather than bringing the aircraft here for maintenance,” he added.
In the program’s first year, the Depot worked on six aircraft. “Then we worked on 13 or 14 last year. This fiscal year, we are slated to work on more than 30 aircraft,” said Fowler. In fiscal year 03 (which starts on Oct. 1, 2002), the number should increase to 70 aircraft. “These numbers are increasing because the turnaround time is faster, and the aircraft that are in for Base Line now will need to be serviced again in two years starting with the PMI-1 at the squadron,” Brambila said.
Fowler said that in October 2003, the Depot would start servicing the H-53s again under the same concept. “The program is getting larger. We have 39 people working in the program now in all the aircraft trades.”
Fowler expects that a second shift will be added soon. “Starting in January, we will have 13 aircraft to work on in one quarter which is as much as we serviced all last year,” he said.
“We work hand in hand with the squadron; however, the aircraft is never in Depot custody. We don’t flight test the aircraft,” he said.