Naval Aviation Maintenance Program for Plane Captain Qualification

Naval Aviation Maintenance Program for Plane Captain Qualification

References:

1. OPNAV 4790.2G Volume V, Chapter 15: Establishes detailed training and designation requirements.
2. NAVAIR 00-80T-113 (AC Signals NATOPS Manual)
3. NAVAIR 01-1A-509 (Aircraft Corrosion Control Manual)
4. NAVAIR 00-80T-105 (CV NATOPS Manual): Provides specific requirements of the Air Officer, Aviation Fuel Officer and Plane Captains.
5. NAVAIR 00-80T-106 (LHA/LPH/LHD NATOPS Manual): Provides specific requirements of the Air Officer, Aviation Fuel Officer and Plane Captains.
6. Line Maintenance Manual (LMM): Specific to T/M/S aircraft.
7. NWP-42H: Shipboard Helicopter Operating Procedures for Air-Capable Ships.

Objectives:

The Plane Captain Program:

a. Establishes policy, responsibilities, and requirements to delineate the procedures and guidelines for the qualification, designation, re-certification, and suspension/revocation of plane captains. Contractor personnel in positions with no corresponding Navy rate shall meet the same or equivalent standards as Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

b. Ensures safe and efficient squadron flight operations.

Background:

Modern naval aircraft are inherently complex. Although no one individual can be expected to have sufficient technical knowledge of all aircraft systems, there is a certain amount of pride and loyalty in taking ownership and responsibility for the overall condition of an aircraft. This is the job of the Plane Captain. A comprehensive Plane Captain Qualification Program is essential to safe and efficient squadron flight operations. In a squadron, each aircraft will have a plane captain assigned. This individual is normally assigned to the Maintenance Department but aircrew who have completed the required training

may be assigned the Plane Captain responsibilities.

A crucial program to the safe and efficient operation of aircraft, the responsibilities assigned the Plane Captain are many and diverse, ranging from aircraft movement to aircraft maintenance and inspection. The Plane Captain is responsible for the safety of ground personnel during the movement of aircraft as well as during maintenance turns. He must monitor the brake riders and wing walkers and ensure aircraft tie down chains and chocks are properly in use. Other technicians may perform portions of inspections and other maintenance, which are beyond the plane captain’s technical qualifications; however the plane captain has the final responsibility of the physical condition of their aircraft. Due to the high degree of responsibility attached to this assignment, care must be exercised in selecting plane captain candidates to ensure they possess sufficient mechanical ability, aptitude, personal integrity, and motivation to accept this responsibility. For this reason, a comprehensive NAMP Standard Operating Procedure (NAMPSOP) has been developed which outlines the process and all its participants and ensures the individual selected for this position is provided the tools to safely perform the assigned tasks. The program requirements include a broad and comprehensive formal and OJT program which ensures only the most qualified individuals are designated as plane captains. In addition, formal Corrosion Control school is mandatory and select support equipment training and licensing is also required. The program recognizes the increased risk of shipboard operations and specifies additional training required for deploying personnel.

Such extensive qualification is necessary because even a minor ground mishap can be costly in terms of replacement parts, manhours to effect repair, and loss of availability of an operational asset for the duration of the investigation and repair. Listed below is the total cost of ground mishaps. Not all are related to the Plane Captain Program but this does show the importance of safety on the ground.

Navy/Marine

FY98 – FY00 (thru 05/09/00)

Class A Ground Mishaps

TOTAL COST

FY 98 $46,024,695

FY 99 $5,940,140

FY 00 $125,000

Effectiveness:

The effectiveness of this program can only be measured by the safety record of each activity. The Navy Safety Center data indicates that the overall number of Ground Mishaps has been steadily decreasing over the last decade.

Navy/Marine

Class A/B/C Ground Mishaps

FY89 – FY99*

ALL MODELS

YEAR HOURS NO. RATE

FY 89 2,306,414 63 2.73

FY 90 2,201,634 74 3.36

FY 91 2,154,079 81 3.76

FY 92 1,962,943 68 3.46

FY 93 1,865,702 77 4.13

FY 94 1,675,241 55 3.28

FY 95 1,656,450 57 3.44

FY 96 1,650,026 46 2.79

FY 97 1,523,507 45 2.95

FY 98 1,518,109 50 3.29

FY 99 1,527,186 46 3.01

TOTAL 20,041,291 662 3.30

Current mandated training and qualification syllabi have resulted in an effective Plane Captain program. A review of Plane Captain Audits has revealed only minimal discrepancies in the program. Approximately 78 percent of activities inspected were graded as on track.

The following data provided by the Navy Safety Center, illustrates mishaps caused by insufficient training instructions for Plane Captains. The results are very positive.

Class of
Mishap / 1990 / 1991 / 1992 / 1993 / 1994 / 1995 / 1996 / 1997 / 1998 / 1999 / 2000
A
B / 1
C
HAZARD / 1

The vast majority of mishaps queried, and included in the total cost figures in the background paragraph, were caused by Plane Captains failing to follow proper procedures and not by insufficient training.

Analysis:

The Plane Captain Program requirements are listed below. The responsibilities are listed by the individual within a squadron who is responsible for completing the task and classified into the four categories requested. The manhour estimates are based on a 10-12 aircraft F/A-18C squadron with 180 sailors assigned to the Maintenance Department.

PROGRAM ELEMENT / ELEMENT IMPACT
Commanding Officer (CO):
Administrative:
-Establish indoc and training programs to ensure personnel designated are fully qualified.
-Designate, in writing, qualified plane captains.
-Specifically grant his authority, in writing, to each OINC, the authority to designate/requalify and suspend Plane Captain Designations only for detachments in excess of 90 days.
-Suspend or revoke designations. / Manhours expended
Admin: <.001 hours per day.
Maintenance Officer (MO):
Administrative:
-Designate, in writing, the Line/Power Line Division Officer as the Plane Captain Qualification Program Manager.
-Chair the Plane Captain Selection and Examination Board.
-Recommend suspension/revocation of designations to the CO.
-Develop local command procedures. / Manhours expended
Admin: <.1 hours per day.
Assistant Maintenance Officer (AMO):
- Assist in development and maintenance of standardized plane captain training syllabus, re-qualification requirements, including written and practical exams. / Manhours expended
Train: <.001
hours per day.
Program Manager:
Administrative:
-Be knowledgeable of NAVAIR 00-80T-113,NAVAIR 00-80T-105,NAVAIR 00-80T-106, NWP-42H, applicable MIMs,MRCs,NATOPS procedures for their specific T/M/S and the OPNAV 4790.2G.
- Initiate the Plane Captain Designation (OPNAV 4790/158) and request a Selection and Examination Board. Form shall be completed upon initial qualification and annually thereafter.
- Document initial, annual and refresher training and file qualification and annual re-qualifications in the individuals training record.
- Maintain a program file to include, applicable points of contact, program related correspondence and message traffic, applicable references or cross reference locator sheets and a copy of all current Plane Captain Designations.
- Ensure Monthly Maintenance Plan lists all currently designated plane captains and expiration dates.
Operational:
- Assign a highly experienced designated plane captain to each plane captain trainee.
- Ensure designated individuals assigned away from plane captain duties over 90 days receive refresher training and are interviewed by the Program Manager prior to assuming plane captain duties.
- Ensure at least one plane captain trainee is in training per aircraft assigned to compensate for attrition.
- Ensure plane captains re-qualify annually.
Assessment:
- Review annual audits and reports to aid in assessing the program.
Training:
-Provide indoctrination and follow-on training. Conduct formal training as delineated by the training syllabus / Manhours expended
Admin: <.35
Operation: <.35
Train: <.25
Assessment:
<.05
hours per day.
Quality Assurance Officer:
-Designate, in writing, a Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) as the Plane Captain Qualification Program Monitor. / Manhours expended
<.001 hours per day.
Program Monitor:
Administrative:
-Administer written and practical examinations (initial and requalification).
Assessment:
-Periodically monitors the program and all plane captains, flight engineers, and crew chiefs that perform plane captain functions.
-Perform annual audits using the Computerized Self-Evaluation Checklist / Manhours expended
ADMIN:<.10
ASSESSMENT: <.25
hours per day.
Plane Captain:
Operational:
- Complete all plane captain training syllabus requirements, pass the Selection and Examining Board, and be designated in writing.
- Perform daily and turnaround inspections in conjunction with O-level maintenance tasks.
- Assist pilots in flight preparation and advise them of material condition of aircraft.
- Be responsible for the cleaniness and prevention of corrosion on the aircraft.
- Perform work required and assist on phase, special, and conditional inspections within rating speciality.
- Closely supervise the training of assigned plane captain trainees.
- Account for each tool prior to and after launch, recovery, and turn-up of aircraft.
-Conduct FOD inspections of assigned aircraft and surrounding areas.
Assessment:
- Be familiar with and demonstrate practical knowledge of the aircraft and its systems.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the ordnance and armament equipment installed in or on the aircraft.
- Be thoroughly familiar with proper fueling and defueling procedures.
- Show knowledge of the content and be able to use technical publications for proper servicing of aircraft
- Know how and when to use the methods of aircraft security required for various weather conditions and shipboard operations.
- Demonstrate, in writing and by practical application, a complete knowledge of the procedures for riding brakes and the brake system.
- Demonstrate, in writing and by practical application, a complete knowledge of standard hand signals for controlling aircraft both ashore and afloat. / Manhours expended
Operation: <7.0
Assessment:
<1.0 hours per day.
Total hours per day:
Administrative= 0.543 Training= 0.26
Operational= 7.35 Assessment= 1.30
The total operational hours and assessment hours are based on one plane captain. On average, a F/A-18C squadron has a minimum of 12 full time plane captains which would increase the operational hours by (11*7)= 77 hours per day and the assessment hours by (11*1)= 11. / Total hours per day: 9.453 based on only 1 plane captain. If all the plane captain hours are included the total is = 97.48

Recommendations:

The Plane Captain Program is critical to ground safety and safety of flight. Due to safety of flight elements and potentially high repair cost in the event of a mishap, it is recommended that the Plane Captain Program not be deleted from the OPNAV 4790.2G and no further changes be made beyond those NAMP changes already submitted:

a. A NAMP Change has been submitted and approved which allows the Commanding Officer to delegate authority to Maintenance Officers (MO) to sign the Plane Captain designations. Designations of flight engineers and crew chiefs still lie with the CO. (Estimated Manhour Savings: Admin .01)

b. A NAMP change has been submitted to modify the requirement to have one plane captain trainee per aircraft to ensure a sufficient number of plane captains are in training to meet emerging operational requirements and provide continuity during personnel attrition.

c. A NAMP change has been submitted to delete the annual requalification requirement for Plane Captain. The Program is audited annually and each Plane Captain’s performance is closely monitored on a daily basis during flight operations.

CURRENT INITIATIVES: The Aviation Maintenance Training Continuum System ASM Software Module is planned to provide the tool to automatically track the qualification process and all maintenance actions performed by an individual. ASM is a relational data base that uses NALCOMIS data, individual training plans, actual job task listings, service record data, and medical certification requirements to increase the efficiency of a maintenance process. Prototyping of this capability is currently underway. It is anticipated that the introduction of all ASM capabilities in the fleet will greatly reduce the remaining administrative aspects associated with this process.