Jacksonville is establishing the 'fly-in, fly-out' PMI capability to handle overflow workload from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., according to the center. The additional PMI site expands maintenance capability at a time when large numbers of Super Hornets near their required six-year inspections and maintenance.
“Our goal is to complete PMI on 16 aircraft each year, an average of four per quarter," said John Bandor, the F/A-18E/F Integrated Maintenance Concept (IMC) program manager. Four prototype PMI aircraft are planned for fiscal 2011, which ends Sept. 30.
The first Super Hornet arrived at Cecil Commerce Center on Dec. 8, 2010, for planned maintenance and minor repairs. “The first always takes longer due to the learning curve, setup and defining processes," Bandor explained in an April 8 announcement. "We need to ensure we’re effective first, then efficient. Once the capability is fully established and the processes defined, we will be at a fixed price. The PMI goal is 53 calendar days.”
Cmdrs. Mitch Conover and Paul Filardi delivered the first PMI prototype to the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 at Oceana April 4.
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