Ike's Calibration Lab

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class James Norket | 191203-N-OX360-1008 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 3, 2019) Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Baylee Kriegsies, from Oceanside, California, calibrates a water load aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Ike is underway conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James Norket)  

UNITED STATES

12.05.2019

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class James Norket 

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)   

The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) is one large machine. From the catapults that launch aircraft to the nuclear reactors that power the ship, one thing that all the equipment have in common is the need for periodic calibration.
Webster’s dictionary defines calibrate as “to adjust precisely for a particular function,” and Ike’s calibration petty officers, or Cal. POs, do just that.
“Every instrument on this ship that gives a reading is required to be calibrated,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Darrel Hieatt, the ship’s calibration program manager. “Every thermometer, torque wrench and pressure gauge has, at one point, been in the calibration lab. If it hasn’t been properly calibrated, then we can’t be sure that the instrument is giving us accurate readings.”
With thousands of assets onboard Ike, the calibration program has become a team effort.
“There are countless divisions on the ship and every division has specific [calibration] needs,” said Hieatt. “That’s why we assembled a team of 97 departmental Cal. POs to help ease the work load.”
Every Cal. PO is responsible for organizing and coordinating appointments and ensuring that their equipment is up to date and accurate.
“There are some items that are brought to us, items that have to be calibrated off-ship, and other items that can’t be removed and require us to go to the space,” said Hieatt. “That’s where the Cal. POs come in.”
Hieatt says that the Cal. POs are an essential part ofthe ship’s operability and material readiness.
When an item needs to be calibrated, it is taken to the calibration lab in the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Division tunnel. There, the calibration team has equipment that is used to ensure all the parts work properly and accurately.
The calibration lab is also responsible for maintaining and ensuring the accuracy of the equipment that calibrates other equipment.
According to Hieatt, with so many items onboard, the calibration lab has a steady and large work flow.
“We calibrate multiple items a day,” said Aviation Electronics Mate 3rd Class Baylee Kriegseis, a Sailor that works in the calibration lab. “Some items can be done in an hour, while others take multiple days.”
Sometimes, vital equipment is not accurate, which means it must either be recalibrated or replaced.
“There have been items that are out of calibration and we are unable to fix it,” said Kriegeis. “We have been in situations where the ship can’t complete certain evolutions because the equipment that is required is not functioning.”
Despite the stressful nature of the job, working with the calibration team can be rewarding.
“We often go unnoticed and that’s okay,” said Kriegseis. “I know what we do is important in accomplishing the ship’s mission.”

• Date Taken: 12.05.2019
• Date Posted: 12.06.2019 20:54
• Story ID: 354633
• Location: US