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

On October 3, 2002, Capt. Karl E. Yeakel, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (NAVAIR Depot Jax) awarded Depot employees through the Valuable Ideas Save Investments Of NADEP (VISION) Program.

Paul R. Noe, quality assurance specialist, and David L. Tribble, metals inspector, earned official recognition for recommending the use of “Eddy Current” inspections as the initial test in lieu of magnetic rubber inspections. Eddy Current, a non-destructive procedure, provides a faster alternative allowing technicians to detect and quantify corrosion and material imperfections in multilayer aluminum aircraft structures.

Ginger K. Peyton, aircraft engine repairer, and Douglas A. Skinner, pneudraulic systems worker, were recognized for developing a new procedure utilizing dry ice in spherical bearing replacement of the F404 HPC Variable Geometry Actuator Assembly Body. This new procedure eliminates metal shavings from being produced during bearing installation, thus preventing premature component failure and increasing the product life span.

Azael O. Davila, pneudraulic systems mechanic, earned recognition for the design of a new lapping tool used to repair seal face assemblies on the fuel pump of the F404 engine. This tool, manufactured locally by Depot personnel, significantly improves the lapping process, thus reducing time and improving component turn-around-time.

Brian C. Johnson, sheet metal mechanic, earned recognition for recommending that the seal clips on the engine nacelle longerons be manufactured out of stainless steel vice aluminum. The use of stainless steel clips improves the quality of the product and prevents frequent replacement due to corrosion, thus saving hundreds of labor hours per year.

Frank E. Mahr, equipment specialist, was recognized for suggesting the repair of the F-14 AWG-9 Dehydrator Module instead of scrapping the component. Mr. Mahr is credited with the development of repair and test procedures for the module that have already proven to be successful. This simple but effective solution will save the NAVAIR community thousands of dollars without compromising component quality.

Phillip J. McLane, sheet metal mechanic, earned official recognition for recommending and designing a wave-guide guard used during the removal of door Number 18 on F/A-18A and C model aircraft. This simplistic solution prevents accidental damage to the wave-guide, thus reducing Depot costs and helping to improve over-all turn-around-time.

Ronald F. Sharpe, sheet metal worker, was recognized for recommending the use of stainless steel bolts and washers vice steel alloy bolts on the P-3 Auxiliary Power Unit Exhaust Duct Assembly. Stainless steel hardware improves the quality of the product and prevents frequent replacement of the bolts due to heat damage, thus saving hundreds of labor hours per year.

Yeakel commended the recipients of the VISION awards and applauded them for their efforts to improve quality, productivity, and economy at NAVAIR Depot Jax.

– USN –

Photo by: Victor Pitts, NAVAIR Public Affairs Specialist.

Photo caption: (left to right) Phillip McLane, Ronald Sharpe, Ginger Peyton, Douglas Skinner, Azael Davila, Paul Noe, Ralph Brown Jr., Capt. Karl Yeakel, Frank Mahr, David Tribble, and Brian Johnson.