Last Updated 18 Aug 06
by GySgt J. L. McLemore
1. Maintenance Management. Maintenance management is comprised of the management of personnel, aircraft, SE and material. The Maintenance Data System (MDS) can assist in all of these functions.
a. Organization. References:
| COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume II, Chapter 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10, Volume III, Chapter 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 16 |
(1) The overall objective of the activity's maintenance effort is to ensure availability of aircraft required to meet operational commitments. The Aviation Maintenance Manager is responsible for managing the total maintenance effort to attain this goal. The maintenance department organization has been developed to assist the Aviation Maintenance Manager in meeting this objective.
(2) Maintenance Administration. Maintenance Administration provides the personnel accounting, record keeping, and the clerical duties associated with administrative support.
(3) Quality Assurance/Analysis. Quality Assurance/Analysis provides the maintenance department with inspection techniques and monitoring procedures to assure quality control as described in Section IV of this guide.
(4) Maintenance/Material Control. Maintenance/Material Control has the responsibility for coordinating the repair of discrepancies; inspection, servicing, launch/recovery of aircraft; and scheduled/unscheduled maintenance of Aviation Life Support Systems and SE. To coordinate these efforts, maintenance control functions as a centralized control point. Maintenance Control is equipped with the appropriate display boards, record forms, and communication systems, etc. to expeditiously manage and direct the maintenance effort.
(5) Maintenance Divisions. The three maintenance divisions under the Maintenance Material Control Officer (MMCO) perform the bulk of the maintenance effort. These divisions are the Aircraft division, the Avionics/Armament division and the Line division. The composition of these divisions and their functions are outlined in the NAMP Manual (Volume II, Chapter 2). Detailed responsibilities and qualifications of selected personnel are also described in the NAMP Manual.
b. Online Maintenance Management Links.
| https://home.navair.navy.mil/redstripes/ | Red Stripe Website |
| http://www.nalda.navy.mil/aems | AEMS Reporting Website |
c. Command Relationships. Reference:
| COMNAVAIRFORISNT 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume I, Chapter 4 Volume III, Chapters 3 and 4 |
(1) Command Relationship. Command Relationship is divided into two areas: custodial responsibility (for aircraft) and maintenance/logistics responsibility.
(2) Custodial Responsibility. Chain of Command for Custodial Responsibility: Chief of Naval Operations, Aircraft Controlling Custodian, Reporting Custodian.
(3) Maintenance/Logistics Responsibility. Chain of Command for Maintenance/Logistics Responsibility: Chief of Naval Operations, Commander Naval Air Systems, Command/Naval Supply System Command, Type Commander, COMCARAIRWING (CVW) (when embarked), Type Wing (when ashore), Squadron/Unit.
d. Management Responsibilities.
(1) Manpower Management. The Aviation Maintenance Manager is responsible for selection, training, utilization and evaluation of assigned personnel. The Aviation Maintenance Manager must constantly be aware of any factor adversely affecting these areas.
(2) Financial Management. Flight Operations OPTAR (OFC-01) and Aviation Fleet Maintenance OPTAR (OFC-50). References:
| COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume II, Chapter 6, Volume III, Chapter 8 |
| NAVSO Publication 3006 | Financial Management of Resources Operations and Maintenance (for Shore Activities) |
| NAVSO Publication 3013-1 | Financial Management of Resources Fund Administration (Operating Forces) |
(a) Flight Operations (OFC-01) funds are those required by the squadron to perform its mission. Items included in this category are fuel; lube oil and fuel additives, pilot/crew flight clothing and operational equipment, administrative services, liquid and breathing oxygen, nitrogen, forms and publications, audiovisual costs, and flight deck clothing. Aviation Operation Maintenance (OFC-50) funds are used in maintenance of aircraft, associated ground support equipment, fuel consumed in associated ground support equipment and consumable hand tools.
(3) Financial Management. Funding of Aviation Depot Level (AVDLR) Repairables:
(a) Commencing 1 April 1985, repairables that were "free" in the past are paid for by the user. From a fleet perspective, there are two major changes associated with the AVDLR program. The first was establishment of a full carcass-tracking program between the Aviation Supply Office (ASO) and the user. The second major change was the user pays Aviation Operations Maintenance (AOM) dollars for the AVDLRs, and these charges will be reflected in the Flying Hour Cost Report. Maintenance Managers must be as concerned with AOM costs as the squadron is with fuel costs.
(4) Operational Management. Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Program: NATOPS prescribes the checklists to be used for Functional Check Flights and presents a detailed description of aircraft systems, performance data and operating procedures for safe and effective operation of the aircraft. The NATOPS manuals are not maintenance publications, but knowledge of their contents is helpful in explaining system procedures to maintenance and/or flight crews.
e. Maintenance Programs.
(1) Monthly Maintenance Plan. Reference:
| COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume II, Chapter 6, and Volume III, Chapter 8 |
(a) The Monthly Maintenance Plan is used to identify the projected maintenance workload such as inspections, receipts/transfers, technical directive compliance, etc. The Monthly Maintenance Plan provides requirement data for aircraft maintenance, SE material, manpower and training. The Monthly Maintenance Plan is under the cognizance of the MO. Although the format and arrangement are the prerogative of the MO, the plan will contain the following minimum information:
(b) Projected known operational commitments, including number of flights, flight hours and aircraft utilization goals.
(c) Dates of scheduled inspections.
(d) Date of receipt or transfer of aircraft.
(e) Precision Measuring Equipment (PME) calibration requirements.
(f) Schedule of technical training.
(g) Forced removal items.
(h) Technical Directive Compliance (TDC) requirements.
(i) Schedule of personnel for ejection seat safety check out.
(j) Schedule of pre-inspection meetings.
(k) Current list of QA personnel.
(l) Dates of scheduled SE inspections.
(m) Scheduled nondestructive inspection (NDI) requirements.
(3) Aircraft Service Period. References.
| OPNAVINST 3110.11T | Peacetime Planning Factors Governing Naval Aircraft |
| COMNAVAIRPACINST 4790.42 | Procedures for Requesting Aircraft Planner and Estimator (P & E) Inspection Services |
(a) Each aircraft, with the exception of a few T/M/S (i.e. F/A-18), has a prescribed service life, which is divided into Operational Service Periods (OSP) of specified lengths based on the required frequency of Standard Depot Level Maintenance (SDLM). The operating periods between SDLMs (operating service months) are defined by type/model/series in OPNAVINST 3110.11T. Procedures for requesting Planner and Estimator (P&E) services for aircraft material condition certification, to support such extensions, are contained in COMNAVAIRPACINST 4790.42.
(4) Standard Depot Level Maintenance (SDLM). Reference:
| COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume II, Chapter 6, Volume III, Chapters 5, 13, and 15 |
(a) Standard Depot Level Maintenance (SDLM) restores an aircraft to a condition, which can be maintained at the organizational maintenance level. SDLM consists of a thorough inspection of aircraft structures, systems and components, with depot level repair, preventive maintenance and modification, as necessary. Individual aircraft model SDLM specifications can be obtained from the Cognizant Field Activity (CFA). Aircraft going to SDLM require a "Special Work Request" to be submitted 30 days prior to the scheduled induction date, if additional maintenance other than that specified in the SDLM specification is desired. The Special Work Request is defined in COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2, Volume II, Chapter 6.
f. Management Information Systems. References.
| COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume II, Chapter 5, and Volume III, Chapter 8 |
(1) Squadron Generated Data. The 3M data collected and reported by the activity is used in the MDS. Inputs to the system include:
(a) Maintenance Data Reporting (MDR).
(b) Subsystem Capability Impact Reporting (SCIR).
(c) Material Reporting (MR).
(d) Aircraft Utilization (NAVFLIRS).
(e) Training Device Utilization (TDU).
(2) Statistical Data. The squadron 3M analysts can provide the Squadron Maintenance Officer with reports on the below statistical data based upon the squadrons data input:
(a) Equipment maintainability and reliability.
(b) Equipment configuration.
(c) Equipment mission capability and utilization.
(d) Maintenance material usage.
(e) Material non-availability.
(f) Maintenance and material processing times.
(3) Navy-Wide Data. Reference:
| OPNAVINST 4790.4D | Aviation 3M Manual (Part I) |
| NAVSEAINST 4790.8B | Aviation 3M Manual (Part II) |
(a) The Naval Sea Logistics Center (NAVSEALOGCEN) is the central data bank for Aviation 3M data. The data bank is compiled from the data submitted into the Maintenance Data System (MDS) by each activity. At the direction of OPNAV N43, the 3-M Manual has been rewritten. The instruction now consists of two pieces, an OPNAV (OPNAVINST 4790.4D) policy instruction and a NAVSEA (NAVSEAINST 4790.8B) instruction, which contains the bulk of the old manual. The Fleet Commanders and TYCOMs have been major players in rewriting the old manual. Both instructions have been signed and are available here https://secure.nslc.navy.mil/nslcprod/4790.nsf. These instructions will be web based and be distributed on the PMS Force Revision CD-ROMs. Two long standing NAVSEA Instructions (NAVSEAINST 4790.3B and 4790.8A) have been incorporated into Appendix H. These instructions are now cancelled upon release of the new 3-M Manual. Reports produced by NAVSEALOGCEN provide the Aviation Maintenance Manager with statistical data related to similar type squadrons, Navy-wide standings, etc.
(b) In CONUS, maintenance managers can also gain access to Navy-wide data through the Type Wing's Naval Aviation Logistics Data Analysis (NALDA) Terminal. NALDA provides Navy-wide data listed by aircraft for work unit codes, unscheduled maintenance actions, man-hours, total failures, and mission capability status codes.
(3) Subsystem Capability Impact Report (SCIR). References:
| COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume II, Chapter 11, and Volume V, Chapters 2, 3, 6, and 9 |
| OPNAVINST 5442.4M | Aircraft, Training Devices and Ground Support Equipment Material Condition Definition, Mission Essential Subsystems Matrices and Mission descriptions (MESM) |
(a) The SCIR system is used to monitor mission capability of selected end items. The system provides the degree of mission impairment, length of time of reduced capabilities and system or subsystem, which caused impairment. Data is compiled from the VIDS/MAF.
g. Aircraft Material Readiness/Air Operations Reporting. References:
| COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 | Naval Aviation Maintenance Program, Volume II, Chapter 11 |
| OPNAVINST 5442.4M | Aircraft, Training Devices and Ground Support Equipment Material Condition Definition, Mission Essential Subsystems Matrices and Mission Descriptions (MESM) |
| COMNAVAIRPACINST 5442.5d | Aircraft Material Readiness/Air Operations Reporting |
(1) The Maintenance Data System (MDS) provides readiness tracking of a historical nature. To provide near real-time data, squadrons are required to submit an Aircraft Material Readiness Report.
h. Aviation Maintenance/Supply Readiness Report (AMSRR) Difficulties.
(1) AMSRR has been directed to be utilized by Commander, Naval Air Forces and Commandant of the Marine Corps, Aviation Logistics Support as one site to view the status of all aviation assets. The AMSRR requires manual input and only reflects information at one time. There is no manual, follow on training, or available schools for instructions. 1st MAW currently utilizes an automated report that is updated every 30 minutes.
(2) AMSRR has been utilized by Naval squadrons, both active and reserve for several years.3" href="#top">Back to top