by Maj. Gen. Anthony Jones In 1973 the Department of Defense consolidated all Army aviation flight training at Fort Rucker, Ala. As the "Home of Army Aviation," Fort Rucker continues to train Army aviators, as well as students from all of the sister services and from more than 60 foreign countries. The mission of the U.S. Army Aviation Center (USAAVNC) meets our nation's commitments by training military, civilian and international personnel in aviation. We will continue to provide the force with highly motivated aviation soldiers and leaders equipped with modern systems and trained to world-class proficiency. The scope of aviation flight training conducted at Fort Rucker includes everything from initial-entry rotary wing (IERW) training through post-graduate advanced aircraft transitions. The support system that makes this mission possible is a workforce made up of approximately 13,500 military, civilian and contract workers who work hand in glove on a daily basis. Fort Rucker's training force includes approximately 775 military members, Department of the Army civilians and contract flight instructors. The post also employs about 350 classroom instructors. The annual flight student load totals around 4,000 and the non-flight student load totals almost 6,000 students (career courses, professional leader training and maintenance managers). Fort Rucker's vast training area encompasses approximately 33,150 square miles and includes five active base fields, 17 active stage fields, 109 tactical training sites and one testing site. The installation manages an extremely high operational tempo, executing 31 percent of the entire active Army's flying hour program with 20 percent of the active Army's aircraft. Including the Army Reserve and National Guard components, Fort Rucker flies the highest percentage of the Army's total flying-hour program with fewer total aircraft. In order for Fort Rucker to sustain its flight school training load it is necessary to launch approximately 465 sorties a day. The vast majority of the Army's maintenance support personnel, general mechanics and specialized repairers, out of necessity, are located in the field with deployable units. So, with this in mind, how does Fort Rucker make this happen? Fort Rucker's aviation maintenance is put firmly in the hands of a civilian aviation maintenance contractor. DynCorp Technical Services Inc. is the current contractor entrusted with aviation maintenance at Fort Rucker. Founded in 1946, the firm is one of the largest high-tech, employee-owned companies in the United States. DynCorp is an industry leader in the professional and technical services, and provides diverse technical support to both U.S. and foreign government agencies, employing more than 16,000 personnel worldwide. DynCorp uses the world renowned International Standard of Operation (ISO) 9000 quality-assurance system as a major management tool. The intent of IS0 9000 is that this set of equal, worldwide quality standards is used in a two-party contract where the purchaser (Army) requires the supplier (DynCorp) to operate a quality system compliant with these standards as part of the contractual relationship. The ISO 9000 series standard was implemented in 1987 as a method of standardizing a quality business system for all industries worldwide. It is currently recognized in 134 countries, with some 350,000 companies now being registered. The longtime Department of Defense MilSpec for quality requirements, 9858A, expired in 1997 and was not renewed in the interest of having the DOD get on board with the commercial corporations worldwide in having a standard that is uniform and consistent for quality. The term "quality" as used in the ISO 9000:1994E Standard deems every facet of the business to affect the quality of the customer's product or service in some way. In addition, the Aircraft Maintenance Contract for fiscal year 1998 had ISO 9000 compliance listed as its quality standard. Through its Internal Quality Audits DynCorp is able to constantly strive for improvements and ensure that any and all problems are always elevated to all the highest positions within the organization for review and recommended improvements. At Fort Rucker, DynCorp employs approximately 2,400 personnel. They work at the five base field locations, the aviation maintenance support shops, supply warehouses, the 17 stage fields and the aerial-gunnery range complex. DynCorp's maintenance capability includes everything from aviation unit maintenance tasks to limited depot-repair capability for both airframe and component repair. The Aircraft Logistics Management Division (ALMD) of the Directorate of Logistics (DOL) at Fort Rucker was formed to provide contract oversight and to act as liaison between the government and the maintenance contractor. ALMD is the Army's advocate for enforcing the world's largest rotary-winged maintenance contract. The ratio of contractor personnel to Department of the Army personnel is 40:1. There are more than 510 aircraft and seven different mission/design/ series (MDS) airframes in Fort Rucker's school training fleet. ALMD is comprised of three branches: the Maintenance Surveillance Branch, the Material and Systems Management Branch, and the Supply Surveillance Branch. ALMD's mission is to measure and report contract performance, and to ensure contract compliance (in terms of quality, safety, mission, aircraft availability and cost control). ALMD is responsible for providing accountability of property worth approximately $2.5 billion and Class IX repair parts inventory valued at approximately $350 million annually. In order to ensure that all maintenance and support issues are synchronized, ALMD spends a large amount of time coordinating with DOD support agencies, working behind-the-scenes issues that affect daily aircraft availability at Fort Rucker. ALMD also advises the command on all matters pertaining to aviation logistics and maintenance that might influence command decisions on flight training. In this time of limited resources, even Fort Rucker finds that it is a daily challenge to meet the mission. In an effort to train soldiers, DynCorp, in conjunction with ALMD, develops a "Critical Parts List" which is forwarded to the U.S. Army Aviation Missile Command (AMCOM) each week. Fort Rucker also conducts an "on-site" IPR every 45 days with AMCOM, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to work Fort Rucker's unique parts and system-support requirements. These agencies truly are a part of the "Rucker Team," each stepping up to the plate to assist Fort Rucker in training the student load. ALMD works hand in hand with DynCorp to identify components and repair capability that is beyond the aviation intermediate level, and then to procure authority through AMCOM to complete special repairs for those aircraft components. Limited Depot Repair (LDR) capability is important to the aviation center for a variety of reasons. LDR allows the contractor to repair aviation parts and components here at Fort Rucker, thus eliminating shipment time and thereby reducing the overall part turn-around time. Our Army workforce continues to work closely with AMCOM and DLA to support the OPTEMPO of our fleet. ALMD's Maintenance Surveillance Branch (MSB) is comprised of a commissioned officer, seven warrant officers, 32 noncommissioned officers and 10 DA civilians (DACs). All personnel assigned to the MSB are required to have an extensive aviation maintenance background. The officers are all qualified maintenance test pilots. The NCOs and DACs are all qualified and seasoned technical inspectors. MSB provides contract surveillance over the Army's single largest flying-hour program, more than 265,000 annual flight hours. Aircraft launch three times a day and maintenance is working 24 hours a day. An average day consists of 183 aircraft launching during the morning, 172 aircraft launching during the afternoon and evening, and 108 aircraft launching at night. On any given day, many of the aircraft at Fort Rucker may launch two or three times. With Fort Rucker's tremendous OPTEMPO and the daily wear and tear from training students, the fleet shows signs of stress and fatigue at a much earlier age (in years) than aircraft that are assigned to deployable units. MSB is required to perform a minimum of 144 check-list inspections in 15 categories on DynCorp each month at the base fields, stage fields, the back shops and the aerial-gunnery range. The job requires more than just inspecting the contractor for contract compliance. MSB's part of that equation is to ensure contract compliance and report compliance. Additionally, each member of MSB is responsive and responsible to: - Identify issues early on, talk to the instructor pilots and students, and find out what they think about the helicopters they depend on everyday. - Explain that your job is to ensure the pilots have the safest and most reliable helicopters that can be provided to fly. - Interface with battalion commanders and their staffs at the airfields, attend their staff meetings and keep them updated on aviation-maintenance issues. - Research issues and provide viable solutions to concerns. - Make yourself available to commanders, be their advisor and resolve issues between the schoolhouse and the contractor to the lowest level possible. - Identify issues before they become major safety concerns. Conduct a thorough root-cause analysis to determine what the actual problem is, and then roll up your sleeves and assist to implement corrective actions. - Conduct acceptance preflight inspection on up to 10 percent of the aircraft (each of the three flight periods) that DynCorp designates as ready for issue. Material Systems Management Branch (MSMB) consists of a branch chief and six aircraft equipment specialists. They conduct all internal and external coordination for the USAAVNC maintenance program, including logistics support, engineering support, technical procedures and policies, and aircraft requirements models. Coordination with internal and external units, ensuring efficient quality maintenance management and supply economy is performed. MSMB coordinates with Aviation Branch Safety Office (ABSO), AMCOM, TRADOC, Department of the Army and other major commands - including aircraft manufacturers - in exerting maximum effort to insure sufficient aircraft are available daily to train the student load. MSMB has Program Manager's responsibilities for a commercial fleet of 137 TH-67 aircraft, which are used in IERW and instrument flight training. These helicopters are FAA-registered and are maintained under an FAA-approved maintenance program. MSMB coordinates all aircraft-maintenance training and FAA approval to qualify the aircraft maintenance contractor to complete engine and drive train component overhauls at Fort Rucker. MSMB coordinates the movement and repair at FAA-approved repair stations of all components that are beyond Fort Rucker's repair capability. MSMB works directly with the FAA and Bell Helicopter Textron to ensure that all required policies and standards are met. MSMB reviews all draft Safety of Flight (SOF) messages and Aviation Safety Action Messages (ASAM). The drafts are reviewed for content and inspection procedures, including USAAVNC training and worldwide fleet impact. Additionally, if unique or special modifications are required on a particular model, design and series of training aircraft, MSMB coordinates through TRADOC with AMCOM engineering for the issuance of an Airworthiness Release. The DA Modification Work Order (DAMWO) fielding plan between USAAVNC and AMCOM prescribes mutually acceptable arrangements for MWO application on aircraft assigned to Fort Rucker. MSMB also coordinates with ABSO on all aircraft accidents, ensuring a Quality Deficiency Report (QDR) is submitted. The QDR program was established to provide a standardized system for reporting equipment failures and receipt of defective material. DynCorp submits a Category I QDR immediately upon discovery of any condition involving safety of personnel or a potential safety of flight condition. USAAVNC submits approximately 280 QDR reports monthly, about 3400 annually. In addition, MSMB assists in obtaining repair parts and special repair authority (SRA) in resolving problems that adversely affect the training mission. MSMB also maintains an operational External Satellite Repair (ESR) program, which is designed to assist other units throughout the Army. MSMB simultaneously manages numerous, complex, multimillion dollar programs, resulting in reduced aircraft maintenance cost and increased aircraft availability and reliability. The aircraft equipment specialists are the aviation maintenance subject matter experts for their respective airframes and ensure superior performance is obtained from the Aircraft Maintenance Services Contractor. MSMB consists of true professionals who always seek better ways of doing business and demand that the highest level of professional standards are sustained. The Supply Surveillance Branch (SSB) is responsible for surveillance of an ASL containing more than 11,000 lines with an authorized stockage value of approximately $45 million, and more than 3,000 lines of industrial property valued at more than $48 million. In addition, SSB holds the hand receipt for all of Fort Rucker's hangars, shops, storage buildings and other facilities occupied by the aircraft maintenance contractor. In other words, most of the real estate at Fort Rucker that is key to maintaining and flying aircraft is SSB's responsibility. SSB is also responsible for oversight of the Programmed Realtime Information System for Management (PRISM) and for the standard Army management information systems (STAMISs) - SARSS, SAMS, ULLS-G, ULLS-S4 and DPAS - which we are currently converting to in preparation for the Single Stock Fund (SSF). SSB also works environmental issues for ALMD and is proud of the performance of the aircraft maintenance contractor in maintaining an impeccable record in safeguarding the environment, despite being the largest single user of hazardous materials at Fort Rucker. SSB uses an annual systems analysis mandated by the Federal Acquisition Regulation, 25 locally developed inspections and the Supply Performance Inspection, which determines the contractor's Supply Incentive Fee, to monitor the supply and property management portions of the contract. The responsibility is clearly identified for working specific critical aircraft parts. Financial management is a highly visible area of responsibility for SSB. With the increased emphasis on financial management in recent years, SSB has had to monitor not only OMA funds usage but also Stock Fund Obligation Authority and Stock Fund Credit Authority. The school training fleet of helicopters at Fort Rucker has flown more than three million hours without a maintenance-related accident - an unsurpassed safety record. ALMD and DynCorp deliver commitment without compromise in a business where there is no room for error. Maj. Gen. Anthony R. Jones is commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., and chief of the aviation branch.
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