USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
The Shuttle Newsletter Edition
“We are Legend”
May 1, 2012 Issue
Behind the Double Blue Doors
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Jared King “Man all recovery stations, man all recovery stations,” sounds over the 5MC, an announcing system aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Sailors and Marines scramble to their assigned duty stations on the flight deck in order to carry out their daily responsibilities, ensuring the safe and expeditious recovery of aircraft. The vociferous growl and gust of the turbine engines is heard from the flight deck as jets fly overhead and parallel to the island until the time the aircraft bump and thump on the flight deck as the arresting gear wire snags the tail hook of the aircraft. It appears a routine day, business as usual, until SNAP! Sailors dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge as if playing a game, but this is no game - their lives are at stake. Situations such as this are in Cpl. Kenneth W. Bowden, assigned to the Thunderbolts of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron the forefront of the minds of three (VMFA) 251, holds up film to an illuminator to locate defects on circuit cards in the NonSailors and one Marine, assigned to Destructive Inspection Lab aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Aviation Intermediate Maintenance leading petty officer. “Finding any crack or defect means you Department’s (AIMD) Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) are saving a life.” Lab. This small, yet meticulous group works to ensure that Whether it is a 100-hour inspection or a 400-hour inspection, equipment failures do not occur aboard the Big E. the NDI technicians must be ready at all times. Occasionally, Located on the fantail behind the double blue doors, far a hard landing will cause great stress on certain aircraft parts, from the sight of the flight deck, is a highly-committed group leading to random inspections of the aircraft. of personell dedicated to the detailed inspections of all aircraft “When an inspection comes, my guys are always ready,” said parts and topside arresting gear. Okpara. “They are hard workers and they always do everything The NDI Lab is exclusively responsible for inspecting parts by the book.” for corrosion, cracks and defects that could possibly cost As collateral duty inspectors, it is necessary to utilize someone their life or the Navy a 30-million dollar aircraft. references and publications to know and understand the The NDI technicians are professionals, all of whom were specifics required for each job. recommended after completing their first term of enlistment “I enjoy what I do and I think I contribute a lot to and having proven themselves through sustained superior maintaining the safety of the pilots and the crew on the flight performance. deck,” said Cpl. Kenneth W. Bowden, NDI’s shop technition. They have five extremely effective methods of inspection: eddy current, ultra-sonic, magnetic, x-ray and liquid penetrant. “There is no time for complacency during my work day. If I say a part is good, then the part is good.” The particular inspection method chosen is dependent upon These three Sailors and Marine continue to run Big E’s NDI either the piece of metal or an engineer recommendation. Lab around the clock, and are always ready on arrival. “We prevent mishaps from happening,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Ikechukwu E. Okpara, IM-2’s