RILOP shop saves Navy big money - Around the Fleet - Reclamation in Lieu of Procurement shop at Naval Air Reserve Minneapolis - Brief Article

All Hands, Feb, 2002 by Frederick C. Busch

The RILOP (Reclamation in Lieu of Procurement) shop at Naval Air Reserve Minneapolis has been saving the Navy lots of money since it began saving usable parts off T-56 jet engines several years ago.

Led by Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) Bruce Ager of the Naval Air Base Support Unit (NABSU), the maintenance shop re-conditions, labels and ships jet engine parts back to the fleet.

In one year alone, they saved the Navy 354 man-hours, 256 parts and $1,414,959, because the Navy did not have to hire a private contractor to do the work. Ager said the work is challenging, but rewarding.

"This is one work center that really gives Sailors the feeling that they really did something to help the Navy as a whole. Nothing gives a Sailor more pride than to know [what was done was] something that helped save our country so much money," Ager said.

On average, about 36 parts are saved from each jet engine amounting to $134,616 in savings. Dollar amounts were calculated by subtracting the rework cost from the Navy stock number "ready-for-issue" value. Some engines do not have all parts due to pre-shipment cannibalism.

The shop has orders for gearboxes, planetary assemblies, compressors and back plates, among others. Some of these parts cost $30,000 each. Additionally, it's great training for the aviation maintenance, Seabees and supply personnel of NABSU.

They custom build elaborate shipping boxes for the odd-shaped, heavy jet engines. Parts are shipped to places like Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.; Norfolk; Naval Station San Diego; and Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. For more information on NAR Minneapolis, go to www.navalairmpls.navy.mil.