Employee suggestions recognized
By Frank Taormina, NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville Public Affairs Specialist

Daniel M. Anderson, Harold E. McLeod, and Thomas H. Wheeler earned official recognition for suggesting that the Emergency Power Lighting Unit (ELPU) used in the S-3 aircraft be re-conditioned vice being discarded. Previously, the ELPU was simply scrapped once its lifecycle was reached, requiring S-3 Fleet customers to purchase new units at a cost of $500. Through the combined effort and innovation of Anderson, McLeod, and Wheeler, a battery analyzer was fabricated. The analyzer, designed to automatically discharge and re-charge the S-3 ELPU, has already proven successful, thus saving the S-3 community nearly $20,000 per year while generating new workload and revenue for the Depot.

Manuela A. DeVack was recognized for recommending that Job Announcements be printed in-house, in a condensed format utilizing “light-duty” personnel. This new format is comprised of only two pages and reduces paper usage by 600 percent. This simple solution will save the Depot over $18,000 per year in duplication costs, while improving printing turn-around-time.

Kenneth P. Ravenscroft was recognized for recommending and developing a new repair procedure for the shroud on the F110-GE-400 Engine Oil Cooler. This repair incorporates the use of a “structural doubler” in the area of the shroud that is susceptible to cracking. This procedure will be used on all coolers inducted for repair, thus greatly increasing the service life of the shroud. This suggestion will result in nearly $175,000 in savings the first year of implementation.

Donnie R. Seago earned official recognition for recommending the use of “protective cover-guards” in the repair of the H-60 transmission bridge assembly. The cover-guards, designed by Mr. Seago, are placed over the blade fold transducers to prevent potential damage while repairing the bridge assembly. The cover-guards are easily installed and removed and no longer require artisans to remove the transducers, thus reducing repair time by three man-hours and improving turn-around-time.

Photo by: Amy Cheshire, Public Affairs Specialist.

Photo caption: From the left: Ralph Brown, VISION Program Manager; Manuela Devack; Harold McLeod; Capt. Karl Yeakel, Commanding Officer; Daniel Anderson; Kenneth Ravenscroft; Donnie Seago; and Thomas Wheeler.

-USN -

"NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter."