Naval Aviation Training Systems Program Office , PMA-205, here, in cooperation with Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), Orlando, Fla., upgraded three AV-8B Harrier II Plus maintenance trainers at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., in May.
Each trainer was returned to “ready for training” status approximately four weeks early—with the delivery of the third device, the upgrades were completed three months ahead of schedule—and, upon testing, met all requirements, according to Brian Barnhill, the AV-8B deputy integrated product team lead, PMA-205.
The AV-8B trainers, which are physical mock-ups of the Harrier II Plus aircraft, teach Marine Corps maintainer students how to troubleshoot and repair a host of aircraft malfunctions. The devices can recreate almost any maintenance scenario maintainers may experience in the fleet.
“Being able to deliver these three trainers to the fleet a month early apiece, and without any issues during testing, is a significant achievement,” said Lt. Col. Scott Harris, Marine Corps deputy program manager for naval training systems, PMA-205.
The upgrades resulted in the configuration of each device being fully concurrent with the operational aircraft, emulating capabilities the trainee will see when they arrive at their first squadron. The upgrades will free up the actual aircraft for other uses, and will focus the maintenance training in the squadron.
Barnhill said to minimize disruption of training, the Marine Corps unit requested that no two trainers be taken down at the same time for upgrade work. This resulted in the contract requiring CymSTAR to work extremely irregular schedules. Despite this, CymSTAR was able to deliver quality training products on cost and nearly three months ahead of schedule.
