Five cash in on innovative ideas

Five Reservists have a little more jingle in their pockets thanks to their suggestions that will save the Air Force millions of dollars each year.

Master Sgt. Andrew Calvello of Dover Air Force Base, Del., received $10,000 for his idea for repairing auxiliary power units, or small engines, that are standard on every Air Force aircraft. And a group of four Reservists shared $10,000 for an idea to design a handheld monocular that helps downed pilots find their way through the dark.

All five Reservists received their cash awards through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.

Calvello, an aircraft engine mechanic supervisor with the 512th Component Maintenance Squadron, said a common repair on an APU is the tailpipe. Maintenance guidance stipulates the entire APU, at a cost of $127,000, be replaced if a tailpipe is broken.

"I designed a way for only the tailpipe, which costs $3,000, to have to be replaced," Sergeant Calvello said.

The air reserve technician said that in addition to saving money, his suggestion is convenient because it does not require repairs to be done in the shop. Maintenance workers can take a new tailpipe right to the plane and replace it, he said.

Sergeant Calvello said he doesn't plan on spending the money anytime soon.

"I have a 16-year-old daughter, Madison, and I've put the money in her college fund," he said.

Master Sgts. Joel Womack, Tommy Reeves and Michael Baril, and Tech. Sgt. Phil Thomas came up with the idea for the handheld monocular.

The monocular is made by disassembling the tubes from old, unserviceable night-vision goggle assemblies and mounting a plate, a AA battery box and an on/off switch.

The NVG assemblies cannot be disposed of because of the sensitive technology involved and would otherwise sit in storage or be destroyed.

"Crewmembers now have at their disposal a handheld night-vision goggle for use in post-ejection/bailout escape and evasion scenarios," Sergeant Womack said.

One monocular costs about $50 to build, including labor, whereas a commercially procured monocular costs approximately $2,500, Sergeant Thomas said.

Sergeants Thomas and Womack are assigned to the 917th Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. Sergeant Baril was formerly with the 917th and is now assigned to the 926th Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La. Sergeant Reeves is a member of the 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla.

The IDEA program provides cash awards to Air Force military and civilian employees for sharing their ideas on how to save the Air Force money. (2nd Lt. Cathy Milhoan, 512th Airlift Wing public affairs, Dover AFB; and Tech. Sgt. Sherri Savant, 917th WG public affairs, Barksdale AFB)

COPYRIGHT 2004 Air Force Reserves
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group