RAAF C-130J Maintenance
Challenges and Successes
Darryl Stokes / Laura Sheppard
www.ausaero.com.au
darryl.stokes@ausaero.com.au
laura.sheppard@ausaero.com.au
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS BRIEFING IS FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE LATEST AIRCRAFT
MODEL(S) OR CONFIGURATION(S). THIS PRESENTATION IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NO US GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO SELL, LOAN, LEASE,
CO-DEVELOP OR CO-PRODUCE DEFENSE ARTICLES OR SERVICES IS IMPLIED OR INTENDED.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Introduction
• Please refer to the preceding RAAF C-130J
Aircraft Support presentation by John Longrigg
Michael Masse for contextual background on the
RAAF C130J and Through Life Support Contract.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
RAAF C130-J
Fleet Support Construct
• Maintenance Construct
– Flight line support,
operational maintenance,
and intermediate servicings
(R10, R20, R30) are
conducted by 37 SQN.
– Depot level servicings are
conducted by AusAero at
RAAF Richmond under the
C130J TLS Contract.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
RAAF C130-J Maintenance
Effort and Issues
• AusAero are working closely with the RAAF and
our prime subcontractor Lockheed Martin to
manage RAAF C130J fleet cost of ownership and
proactively counter aging aircraft risks.
– Major and/or recurring defects receive special caseby-case review for causal factors and lessons learned.
– Understanding the contributing causal factors and
seeking to eliminate or reduce their influence on fleet
condition offers significant potential savings.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
RAAF C130J Maintenance
Effort and Issues
• Example Issue: Blister and Fuselage Side Skin Corrosion
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
RAAF C130J Maintenance
Effort and Issues
• Example Issue: Trailing Edge Corrosion and Delamination
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
RAAF C130J Maintenance
Effort and Issues
• Example Issue: Cargo and Ramp Floorboard Damage and Defects
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
RAAF C130J Maintenance
Effort and Issues
• Example Issue: Leading Edge Rib Cracking
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
RAAF C130J Maintenance
Effort and Issues
• Example Issue: Flap Rib Cracking and Delamination
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reducing Recurring
Unserviceability Risks
• Belly Skin Protection
– Trial modification of A97-465 with spray protection,
with comparative analysis ongoing at this time.
– Intention is to modify the fleet as the aircraft cycle
through depot level servicing (or repaint).
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reducing Recurring
Unserviceability Risks
• Interior Surface Finish Restoration
– Fleet inspection, reporting, and remediation program
currently in progress concurrent with DM/R80 to
address peeling and deteriorated interior surface finish
and restore corrosion prevention.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reducing Recurring
Unserviceability Risks
• Debris Shield Extension
– Fleet modification starting
from A97-466 (currently
undergoing R80).
– Extends the debris shield for
greater skin protection and
resistance to damage.
– Anticipated reduction in side
skin rework and replacement.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reducing Recurring
Unserviceability Risks
• Strobe Light Relocation
– Fleet modification to move the strobe light forward,
behind the protective shield of the nose wheel doors.
FS345E / FS245
FS245 / FS245E
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reducing Recurring
Operational Issues
• FSR Support to No Fault Found
– Root cause reduction assistance
for recurring NFF components
such as EGI and CNI-SP
– Support to NFF HF system issues.
• Transitioning to AvDec Tape
– Reduced time to remove and
reinstall floor boards.
– Anticipated reduction in
maintenance induced damage.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reducing Recurring
Operational Issues
• Negator Spring Modification
– Reduces load when lifting the paratroop door.
– Significant operational HSE (OHS) improvement.
– Additional benefit of enhanced maintainability.
Previous
Negator
Springs
Current
Negator
Springs
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Optimising the Planned
Servicing Schedule
• Transition from 30 week servicing period to 38
week period (LM Aero 540 day P2 program).
• LM Aero support for project.
• Improved maintenance policy combined with
stabilised TMS results in 1 extra aircraft available
per day (from a fleet of 12).
• Optimised fleet plan enables level floor loading.
• For more details, come to presentation at 1300.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Improved Ready-Use
Technical Data
• AusAero and the Commonwealth, with the
support of Lockheed Martin, are continuously
improving the limits, tolerances, and standard
repairs available in maintenance procedures.
• Floorboard tolerances.
• Para-door lower fwd
corner skin cracking.
• Shelf bracket.
• Lower after nacelle
angle cracking.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Practical and Effective
Engineering Dispositions
• Practical timely guidance to
fleet special issues and
unserviceabilities.
• Recent examples include:
–
–
–
–
–
–
C-130H horizontal stab LE
C-130H wing LE
DFDR transducer failures
Alternate (federated) ELT
APU plugs
SAASM EGI
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Practical and Effective
Engineering Dispositions
• Continued…
–
–
–
–
–
Drag angle repairs
Brake cable pulley/pin issue
Longeron end fitting damage
EGI alignment
Fibreglass duct repairs
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Practical and Effective
Engineering Dispositions
• M113 Cargo Ramp and Supports
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Increased RAAF
Awareness of Depot Issues
• Collaboration and Teaming
– Open communication to
increase awareness of defects
and fleet issues.
– RAAF technicians are
periodically assigned to work
as members of the AusAero
depot maintenance team.
– Stakeholders are currently
considering permanent
integration of scheduled
maintenance resources.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
The Path Ahead
• Maintaining the Fleet: Smarter, Not Harder
– Growing a lean TLS culture and capability.
– Enhancing the Product Support approach to facilitate
improvements to maintainability and reliability.
– Continuing to invest in cost of ownership activity.
– Continuing open communication and collaboration.
– Actively supporting RAAF C130J operational
availability initiatives.
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.
Questions
Image Credits: Images used throughout this presentation are a combination of stock images from the Air Force Image Gallery (Australian Defence, Copyright Commonwealth of Australia)
and photo taken by members of the Australian Aerospace workforce at RAAF Richmond under approved permit. Our thanks to all of the photographers for their contributions!
Copyright 2013, Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved.