11/15/2010 9:25:00 AM
Lockheed Readies For Federal Inspections Over Missing Jet Fasteners

Lockheed Martin prepares to host several federal quality inspectors at its Greenville, SC, facility after reports surfaced in August that the aerospace giant failed to install the proper number of fasteners on military jets, the Greenville News reports.

A team of Defense Contract Management Agency inspectors reportedly arrived on Monday for a week-long series of inspections to determine if the defense contractor has corrected the problems.

Deficiencies in aircraft maintenance related to fastener installation have prompted the Pentagon to review its contract with Lockheed Martin.
 

DCMA is overseeing a corrective action plan for Lockheed’s facility in Greenville, SC, where a government review discovered fasteners missing from repaired military aircraft.
 
 

Lockheed officials said that fasteners missing from wing installations didn’t create “immediate safety-of-flight concerns” and no aircraft required grounding for maintenance.
 
 

“A comprehensive engineering analysis concluded that the components missing fasteners had substantial margins-of-safety and determined future repair thresholds,” the officials said.
 

Lockheed officials confirmed that wing fittings were improperly installed on military aircraft during maintenance work in Greenville. But they insist that quality issues at the facility, which employs 1,000 workers, posed no safety risk to military aircraft.
 
 

“The important thing is we identified the problem areas,” and through a 180-day review known as Project Odyssey, “we are making the appropriate corrections to prevent any recurrence,” the statement said.
 
 

A DCMA evaluation in May found “deficiencies” that needed correcting, prompting a full facility review. Lockheed’s local site operations leader in Greenville, Bob Owenby, acknowledged the problem in an August 11 letter to employees.
 
 

“We are not where we need to be but continue to see evidence that our work force is committed to make the necessary changes at our site,” he told employees.
 
 

He emphasized that while Lockheed is meeting its corrective action goals.
 
 

According to Lockheed’s website, the 161-acre Greenville facility handles maintenance, modification and logistics support contracts through 14 hangars and 26 fully-equipped bays.

Operations range from “large structural repairs to engine changes, flight control changes, airframe overhaul and interior refurnishment.”
 
 

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