Brazilian aviators join P-3 community

The Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) group, led by Maj. Gen. Jose Malta, the school commandant, and Col. Marcos Pacheco, assistant defense and air attaché at the Brazilian embassy in Washington D.C., coordinated the visit through the Navy International Programs Office (NIPO).

According to NIPO officials, the U.S. Navy and the United States conduct this cooperative engagement to build interoperability with maritime partner nations. As the CNO has said, although our forces can surge when necessary to respond to crises, trust and cooperation cannot be surged: They must be built over time so that the strategic interests of our partners and allies are continuously considered while mutual understanding and respect are promoted.

Air Traffic Control Facility Officer Lt. Michael Fahnestock explains to the students of Centro de Irtucao de Irtucao e Adaptacao da Aeronautica (Brazilian Airforce) how the NAS Jax Air Traffic Control Tower operates during the group's visit to the station Nov. 19. Photos by AM3(AW) Nicole Bieneman

"FAB has a lot of aeronautical experience and operates many platforms. In fact, FAB is the largest air force in South America," said Malta. "Maritime patrol is a capability we have been losing over the years, so now we are going to gain this back with the P-3."

NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. said, "Hosting our Brazilian partners supports the CNO's Cooperative Maritime Strategy. It clearly reflects Adm. Roughead's commitment to work cooperatively with friends, partners and allies in order to realize a shared vision of security, stability and prosperity."

"I was also delighted by the interaction between the FAB cadets and our Sailors. It represents the Navy's commitment develop and expand trust, not only among current leaders, but between young officers and Sailors who are the next generation of leaders," added Scorby.

Air Traffic Control Facility Officer Lt. Earl Drey shows the students of the Brazilian Airforce how the radar room operates at Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility. Air Traffic Control Facility Jax to assist base air traffic controllers with flight operations.

To enhance its maritime patrol capabilities, FAB recently purchased 12 Lockheed Martin P-3A Orions. Paul Lange, foreign military sales program manager for Brazil, Korea and Japan, works for Naval Air Systems Command PMA-290 at Patuxent River, Md.

He explained that 'logistics' translates to the basic care-and-feeding of a P-3, including flight line activities and the management of spare parts and other materials required to maintain mission readiness.

"NAS Jacksonville is a center of P-3 excellence. As the FAB aviation personnel await the delivery of their upgraded P-3s, they want to increase their exposure to squadron-level maintenance and operations. While they are setting up their own systems and procedures, it always helps to see how the other guy runs their operation. So, we're pleased to host them for their P-3 fact-finding tour and show them how we do business," said Lange.

NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr., right, and Brazilian Air Force Maj. Gen. Jose Malta converse about the P-3C Orion aircraft.

CIAAR air traffic controllers were hosted by NAS Jax Air Operations and Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) Jax. "Our concern is maintaining safety for both military and civilian aircraft," said FACSFAC Facility Officer Lt. Earl Drey.

"We talked a lot about how to adapt and optimize airspace for the P-3. The key is directing the P-3 to and from its patrol area safely and efficiently." FACSFAC provides air traffic control services for fleet and local squadrons from Florida to North Carolina. A close relationship is maintained with the Federal Aviation Administration, because the airspace FACSFAC controls is sometimes needed for commercial planes during foul weather.

Military aircraft on training missions are given clearances to use protected airspace, and then to leave once the training is accomplished.

Malta and his group also visited Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE), where they toured the P-3 production line. Executive Officer Capt. Rob Caldwell spoke of the importance of FRCSE to the warfighter. The organization performs two levels of maintenance – intermediate and depot.

Photo by Miriam S. Gallet Brazilian Air Force Maj. Gen. Jose Malta, center, listens attentively as NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr., left, explains the patrol and reconnaissance mission at NAS Jacksonville during an executive brief. Malta also received briefs from VP-8 and Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Jax.

ADC(AW) Joseph Rechis and AD2 Javier Ruiz, who work at the intermediate level site, explained the maintenance process for the T56 engine that powers the P-3.

P-3 Product Manager Rick Theilacker, explained the in-depth, depot-level repair processes performed by FRCSE on the P-3. Currently the Zone 5 Program is the major structural modification process that disassembles the aircraft so planks, webs and spars can be removed and replaced. This program extends the service life of the P-3 by eight to 10 years.

At Hangar 511, home of the VP-8 "Fighting Tigers," Maintenance Officer Lt. Cmdr. David Brinson and AFCM(AW) Kevin Holden briefed the Brazilians on the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) and its role in ensuring the continued flight integrity of the P-3 platform. Brinson described how the NAMP addresses maintenance policies and procedures for maintenance at all levels (depot, intermediate and organizational).

"The P-3 is a resilient airplane that has treated us well. I'm happy to see other countries recognize the ability of this aircraft," said Holden as he guided the group through the hangar bay.

Brazilian Air Force Major General Jose Malta and NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. (center) pose for the camera after a plaque exchange in front of a VP-8 P3 Orion aircraft. From left, Col. Marcos Pacheco of Office of Air Attache, Brazilian Air Force, Paul Lange of Naval Air Systems Command, Malta, Scorby, Brazilian Student Officer Al Cardim and VP-8 Executive Officer Cmdr. Jiancarlo Villa.

At the AT/AE work center, ATC(AW) Patricia Derosia explained the complexities of overseeing programs such as electrostatic discharge.

"Our systems include sensitive circuit cards, so we take precautions to protect them. Normal static electricity can damage these cards if handled inappropriately," she said.

AT3 Richard Corrales explained the tool control program and the importance of maintaining a detailed inventory to ensure aircraft safety.

VP-8 Executive Officer Cmdr. Jiancarlo Villa joined Lt. j.g. Kristina Romero, Lt. j.g. Chad Martin and AWV3 Carl Gallaher to welcome the guests aboard a P-3C and answer their questions.

"The P-3 has provided 40 years of faithful service and will continue to provide the much needed reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capability to the 16 countries that currently fly the venerable Orion," said Villa.

Lange said, "The Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales program allows foreign militaries to purchase our equipment and facilitates interoperability between allies. A recent example is Germany, Japan and Australia working anti-piracy operations in P-3s from a coalition base in Djibouti, East Africa. The platform commonality factor simplifies logistics and operations."

"This visit truly reflects our commitment to foster and sustain cooperative relationships throughout the world. We stand ready to fully support their logistics requirements for P-3s or even the F/A-18, which Brazil is considering purchasing," Lange added.

The visit concluded with an exchange of plaques between Scorby and Malta.