EDITORS NOTE: This is one of six articles which can be updated by NAVAIR site to include local team participants.

By Robin Lundberg, NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

During a 15-month period, the Marine Corp's AV-8B Harrier community experienced 11 grounding incidents. As a result, 110 aircraft were left without engines. NAVAIR responded.

To fix this problem, the F402 Harrier Engine Performance Based Assessment Model Team was formed. For fixing this problem, the team received the NAVAIR "Supporting the Warfighter" Commander's Award.

NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. Joe Dyer presented the award to the team and commended their efforts. "This team was instrumental in several major process improvements," he said.

The team eliminated all of the bare firewalls but it also had enough output to produce spare engines. In addition, the team assisted the fleet customer with cost savings of more than $32 million dollars in the calendar year 2001.

Howard G. Germroth, division director of the Engine Strategic Business Team at NAVAIR Cherry Point, said that the success of the program was a team effort where "all team members were integral."

Col. Tom White, PMA-257 Harrier Program Office manager, requested that NAVAIR carry out an assessment of the maintenance program of the F402 engine.

As a result, a team formed consisting of members from NAVAIR headquarters, NAVAIR Cherry Point, NAVAIR Jacksonville, Marine Corps, Boeing Aircraft, Rolls Royce Engines, Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering Service Command, and the Defense Contract Management Agency came together at Cherry Point.
Obstacles that challenged the team included re-engineering balancing and assembly processes on the F402 engine, disassembling and re-balancing the major components of the 110 Harrier engines, and consistently producing quality engines while extending the life of the program, according to Germroth.

Germroth pointed out that the obstacles were overcome and the project was a complete success. He says that engine testing was near perfect and that the team has increased fleet readiness by producing quality engines within cost and on schedule.

Dyer agreed with this assessment saying, "This team has made a tremendous, positive impact on warfighter readiness, effectiveness and satisfaction."

Regarding how the team feels about receiving the Commander's Award, Germroth said they are "busting with pride and joy."

"Recognition of the team's efforts has reinforced our commitment towards team work and communication across all commands and private industry," Germroth said.

Photo by Kurt Langfield

Photo caption: Vice Adm. Dyer presents the Commander's Award for "Supporting the Warfighter" to the F402 team. From left: Rear Adm. Johnston, Mike Magill, Major Paul Thornton, John Gatt, Vice Adm. Dyer, Howard Germroth.