JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) — A three-day conventional weapons technical proficiency inspection (CWTPI) for Patrol Squadron (VP) 30 ordnance personnel supporting the P-8A Poseidon aircraft took place last week at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, beginning Feb. 6.
The “ordies” were seeking their certifications to handle, load and deliver ordnance such as torpedoes, missiles and mines.
“VX-1 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River loaned VP-30 their Poseidon T-5 so we can maintain our schedule for conducting our CWTPI over the next three days,” said VP-30 Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Stevens.
“Our ordnance professionals are shooting for a good score from a team of inspectors from the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapon School based here at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Basically, our people will receive their load plans and then go to work loading inert Mark-54 torpedoes in the bomb bay of the P-8,” said Stevens.
He added that when the ordnance team was not using the aircraft for CWTPI, there would be training sessions aboard T-5 for maintainers and troubleshooters who are working for their certifications to diagnose, service and repair the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft.
Lt. Cmdr. Jason Parmley from Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Group serves as the lead weapons training officer.
Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician David Wood, of VP-30 maintenance control, said the CWTPI is an important milestone in transitioning to the P-8A platform.
“Since August of last year, we’ve been training a core group of about 80 maintainers by going on site to Boeing in Seattle, Wash., and following that with additional P-8 training and certifications at VX-1 in Pax River, Md.
“While we have the T-5 at NAS Jax, our core group of P-8 maintainers will also conduct walk-throughs of the aircraft to their VP-30 shipmates who will be part of the transition from the P-3 Orion to the P-8 Poseidon. Our goal is to train up and certify all of our VP-30 personnel so as the Navy’s P-8 fleet replacement squadron, we’re ready to teach the P-8 to VP-16 beginning this July.”
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is slated to receive four squadrons of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft under the Navy’s current program of record.
