VFA-211 Uses Deliberate ORM

cringed as the weight nearly tore off the prop cuff. Despite referencing my checklist as required, I had combined two different procedures into one and, as a result, did both wrong.

Representatives from AIMD couldn’t fix the cuff, and they recommended a prop replacement. Luckily, once the prop was removed and sent to AIMD, they were able to fix it and downgrade what easily could have been a Class-C mishap.

From my perspective, the aircrews in our squadron spend a lot of time discussing ORM and how it applies to their time in the air. The same principles that guide aircrew to safely execute a mission should govern how we operate as maintainers. If you can identify the potential hazards associated with a particular maintenance action, you can take steps to mitigate those risks. ORM should be more than a three-letter acronym on a poster in the mech shop.

The bottom line is: Don’t get ahead of yourself. Go step-by-step, and don’t mix up your work packages. If you ever hear someone say, “I’ve never done that before,” get involved with the process from start to finish and make sure you are training the person to do it the right way.

AD1 Caffrey works in the powerplants shop at VP-26.

By CWO5 Ron Stebbins

VFA-211 Checkmates at NAS Oceana use a model operational risk-management program in their maintenance department. The squadron uses indepth ORM from CNAFINST 4790.2A and other governing directives, locally produced deliberate ORM briefs and checklists, and time-critical ORM at maintenance meetings.

VFA-211’s program is a model for other squadrons because of how they create and use deliberate ORM briefs and checklists developed for highrisk maintenance evolutions. For example, the squadron has a binder in Maintenance Control where these briefs are available to all personnel. When a high-risk maintenance task is required, the maintenance chief uses the briefs and checklists to mitigate risk.

The Naval Safety Center’s aviation-survey team observed the Checkmates’ ORM application while squadron mechs were jacking an aircraft last summer.

The work centers used a locally produced checklist that identified hazards with aircraft jacking, and they implemented the required mitigation actions for the identified risks. VFA-211 is clearly leading the way with aggressive mishap-reduction strategies that save lives and resources.

CWO5 Stebbins is the avionics/ALSS/analyst branch head at the Naval Safety Center.