Avionics makes the grade

  • Published
  • By SrA Kedesha Pennant
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- --  
The 7th Component Maintenance Squadron avionics back shop met all of their monthly collaboration requirements under the Air Force’s Repair Network Integration Center of Excellence program.

The Center of Excellence initiative divides line replaceable unit responsibility and production for the B-1B Lancer across three bases—Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and Robins AFB, Ga. The line replaceable units are part of the defensive avionics system of the B-1. This system identifies and jams threats and ultimately safeguards the aircraft and aircrew onboard.

The 7th CMS avionics back shop is accountable for the radar electronic warfare defensive systems, offensive systems and flight controls and indicators on the B-1. The goals met for the defensive avionics systems are the main focus of the CoE program.

The avionics section was able to meet their requirements for 13 months straight from June 2015 to June 2016. These requirements are tracked by the 635th Supply Chain Operations Wing at Air Force Air Combat Command headquarters, where they tell each base what is needed each month.

The CoE program started in April 2015, and was established to improve the entire B-1 fleet worldwide. This was part of a rapid improvement event to streamline the community of bases working toward this same goal.

Before the CoE program, each base reported how many LRUs they would be able to repair during the month, said Master Sgt. Vidal Maldonado, 7th CMS avionics flight chief. However, all bases weren’t able to meet their requirement goals consistently due to test station limiting factors. These reports would trigger a mission capability indicator for the B-1; therefore, alerting that a unit was needed to be produced as soon as possible. As a result, avionics personnel would have to work extended hours or weekend duty to generate these LRUs for the aircraft.

“Our shop used to be responsible for 15 defensive system LRUs,” said Staff Sgt. Ray Ramos, 7th CMS avionics craftsman. “Now, we are solely responsible for four of these units, and other bases are responsible for their own as well. If our parts break at another base, then they send them to us [instead of fixing them on site]. We depend on each other to fix each aircraft part.”

The program has proven to be an effective tool for the avionics team in its efforts to support the B-1 and its capabilities. The focus on maintaining specific parts along with teamwork amongst the three bases has helped them meet their goals and set internal goals within the defensive systems and flight controls and indicators.

“The CoE initiative has allowed us to focus our priorities on specific LRUs,” Maldonado said. “By doing this, it minimizes equipment reconfiguration, which results in aircraft downtime. Every time we had to reconfigure one of the 15 units, it involved hitting the reset button. During a reconfiguration, a unit undergoes a test using an interface adapter and a test station; the interface adapter allows a unit to communicate to the test station and has to be reconfigured each time a unit is switched out, which takes a long time.”

There are factors that contributed to avionics being able to meet their monthly goals. They include the avionics back shop being able to receive the parts they order in a timely manner, and now having to concentrate on only their assigned LRUs. Also, by focusing on the specific LRUs, expert technicians are grown.

“Our trained technicians ensure our nearly 30-year-old test stations are serviceable to effectively troubleshoot and fix the LRUs we are responsible for,” Maldonado said.

The 7th CMS avionics back shop has reaped the benefits of the CoE program in more ways than one.

“This achievement proves we’re dependable, stable and able to fortify our back shop structure,” Ramos said. “This program is a great approach to being able to work with other bases. We hope to continue our streak.”