Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson wraps up PIA

After being moored pierside at Naval Air Station North Island for six months, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) has completed a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) ahead of schedule while underway conducting sea trials.

​Vinson started the maintenance period in June 2022, and over the duration of the availability, the ship received upgrades and repairs that enhanced its capabilities and lifecycle.

During PIA, testing and repairs focused on all areas of the ship to include habitability spaces, the flight deck, navigation, communications, radars, weapons, and information systems.

The successful coordination and team effort between the ship and shipyard allowed the completion of the availability four days early and saved the U.S. Navy 4 million dollars.

“This PIA was a much needed maintenance period to repair critical equipment onboard and install new systems and upgrades to our current configuration after a rigorous Western Pacific deployment,” said Cmdr. David Tirey, Vinson’s chief engineer.

“PIAs are critical to a ship’s overall health so we can continue to operate the ship for the planned 50-year lifecycle and maintain an operational readiness guaranteeing Carl Vinson is always mission ready.”

“Vinson’s ability to complete our availability period early is a huge win for the ship, the shipyards, the Navy, and the American people,” said Capt. P. Scott Miller, Vinson’s commanding officer.

“This accomplishment allows us to return to operational readiness and to get back to supporting and defending our nation.”

Vinson’s successful PIA was a joint effort spread among the ship’s crew, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS), and Southwest Regional Maintenance Center.

“The reason we were so successful in finishing PIA early was by building relationships amongst private sector maintenance and ships force; and the shipyard ability to understand who our counterparts were,” said Kendall Carlson, project superintendent for PSNS.

With PIA complete, Vinson is setting its sights on future operations.