LEVERAGING MAINTAINER EXPERIENCE TO INCREASE AVIATION READINESS

Abstract

This research examined the correlation between maintainer experience and F/A-18 readiness and how it can be leveraged through the creation of a specialist rate from within the existing manpower structure. This approach was derived from the naval aviation maintenance community’s ongoing manpower deficiencies, which have led to a decline in the average years of experience in enlisted maintenance personnel. This experience issue is further complicated by rapid changes in technology. The resulting experience gap has placed an increased emphasis on training and a reliance on civilian contractors for technical expertise in order to reduce the impact on aircraft readiness. Causal forecasting models were used to determine the existence of a significant positive correlation between experience and readiness. We accomplished this by focusing on two quantitative datasets that contain a detailed two-year historical compilation of aviation maintainer experience levels and readiness numbers of F/A-18 Super Hornet squadrons. We then explored ways to leverage experience in the Naval Aviation Enterprise by comparing current policy with historical approaches, specialization in the DOD, and industry practices.