HomeNewsArticle Display

Great idea saves Air Force money

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Kent Johnson's simple solution cleaned the thin tubes of an aircraft engine's augmenter fuel nozzle, saving the Air Force big money and earning him a $10,000 award through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.  He is a pneudrolics mechanic with Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center's fuel accessories shop here.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Kent Johnson's simple solution cleaned the thin tubes of an aircraft engine's augmenter fuel nozzle, saving the Air Force big money and earning him a $10,000 award through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program. He is a pneudrolics mechanic with Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center's fuel accessories shop here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) -- A little common sense can go a long way, and a pneudrolics mechanic here has the $10,000 check to prove it.

“I think in common sense circles; like ‘what if we just did this, would it make a difference,’” said Kent Johnson, of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center’s fuel accessories shop. “Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t.”

This time it did for Mr. Johnson who received a $10,000 award through the Air Force’s Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.

“We were having a real high reject rate on our augmenter core nozzle,” Mr. Johnson said. “Engineers were banging their heads, and mechanics were banging their heads, and I thought, ‘What if I just washed this a little bit longer and it might break down some of the hardened carbon.’ And it worked.”

The nozzle sprays fuel into the augmenter core band, and there are 28 within each aircraft engine.

Previously, parts underwent 15 minutes of washing in an ultrasonic tank to remove a buildup of hardened carbon from the inside of the nozzle, Mr. Johnson said.

“I said, if we washed it 45 minutes to an hour, it could turn out to solve the problem, and it did,” he said. “We were rejecting about 50 parts a quarter for that problem, and I cut it down to about three.”

Steve Hampton, a program analyst who reviews IDEA award submissions for accuracy for the 76th Maintenance Wing, said this idea will save the Air Force $107,000 in its first year of implementation.

“I believe the IDEA program definitely gives employees an opportunity to submit some good ideas, like Kent has done here, and that’s definitely value added to the government,” he said. “Not only did he save us this year, it can result in a cost savings year after year.”

Mr. Johnson gave a portion of the award money to his wife, paid off his four-wheeler and will use some of it to go on a bear-hunting trip to Idaho.

Engage

Facebook Twitter
A #USAF #F15D flies above the #MarianaIslands in support of exercise #ValiantShield Sept. 18. The ex enables profic… https://t.co/RASQP4AASA
.@PACAF #Airmen, #Soldier share more than #mil careers. They're also family and friends. https://t.co/Sbfr1PDs9M
#ICYMI, @Cavs bring the court to @WrightPattAFB as a show of appreciation for our #Airmen. @NBA https://t.co/wz5kgIqFik
The F-16 Fighting Falcon doesn't fix itself! These maintenance #Airmen are the reason @Buckley_AFB is home to more… https://t.co/vNu5fUH2FC
Hundreds of spectators, veterans and active-duty military members gathered for #AirForce's Master Sgt. John Chapman… https://t.co/DLO0WNMhHd
Congrats to the newest Gen. Larry O. Spencer award winners! Through their leadership across all #AirForce functions… https://t.co/noN7kJ4YtX
“I never thought that morning I would have a chance to help someone live,” - Lt. Gen. John Hudson. An #Airman share… https://t.co/fbi4SXUxZm
RT @DepSecDef: We love to highlight our service members and Civilians who are working hard every day, building lethality, strengthening par…
For more on our #OCP dress and appearance, click below! https://t.co/DcrfxMfHc2
#Airmen and #Marines sharpen their skills during #ExAmpleStrike, @NATODays Air Show in the Czech Republic, building… https://t.co/gYu6YWSbkI
#USAF has to do more than just turn off the lights this #EnergyActionMonth. It’s about flying efficiently, building… https://t.co/7Qgs2n7pwc
Newly implemented First Assignment Companion Trainer (FACT) program allows future #pilots @9thRW to innovate for th… https://t.co/pt5Moit2BM
RT @DeptofDefense: “Setting the bar a little higher.” @USAirForce Senior Master Sgt. David Snyder is on his way to recovery, working with…
#Airmen at @LukeAFB train to be #combatready as interface control technicians, surveillance technicians and electro… https://t.co/p4PSyl7XiK
Three things make up a successful #USAF squadron: verifiable mission success, purposeful leadership and esprit de c… https://t.co/dn2D6OiDGC
It's that time of year again, and you already know who we're rooting for! #GOAIRFORCE!!! #SinkNavy @AF_Academyhttps://t.co/HfpVssRn7c
Today, the nation recognizes the sacrifice that all #GoldStarFamily members make when a father, mother, brother, si… https://t.co/1FMuO4KNe7
#NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski noted some similarities between NASCAR and the B-2 during his visit to @Whiteman_AFBhttps://t.co/Xbf5CChBDo
.@AFCareers increases transparency of Developmental Special Duty assignments. https://t.co/CSchg5Nnaa https://t.co/lguLk9Ulx5