US Navy USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier completes on time its Planned Incremental Availability.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy on April 10, 2021, U.S. Navy USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier successfully completed the largest Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) on time.
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The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) departs Naval Air Station North Island. Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

A PIA (Planned Incremental Availability) is critical to prolonging the lifespan of a ship and maintaining material readiness. During this maintenance period, repairs and upgrades were completed that could not be accomplished while deployed and operational.

Abraham Lincoln’s PIA planning took approximately two years to piece together, resulting in all-hands collaboration between the ship’s crew, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) workers, and multiple civilian contractors.

During the 6-month-long PIA, the maintenance team surpassed more than 2.6 million man-hours including more than 320,000 hours of ship’s force work overhauling spaces and equipment from the top of the mast to the keel of the ship.

The habitability team alone, consisting of active duty Sailors and civilian contractors, teamed together to update more than 800 lockers and beds, commonly referred to as racks, in 14 berthings and were responsible for renovating the deck, installing new gear, and painting various spaces.

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is the fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in service with the United States Navy. The ship was launched on 13 February 1988 and commissioned on 11 November 1989. In December 2020, it was announced that Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt will assume command of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), marking the first time a female commanding officer will lead the crew of one of the Navy’s 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has a length of 332.8 m, a beam of 76.8 m, and a draught of 12.5 m. It has a displacement of 97,000 tons. The propulsion system consists of two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, four steam turbines, and four shafts. The ship can reach a top speed of over 30 knots (56 km/h) and has an unlimited cruising range due to the nuclear engines.

The USS Abraham Lincoln can carry 90 aircraft and helicopters including nine squadrons with Super Hornet and Hornet fighter, E-2 Hawkeye early-warning fixed wing, Grumman C-2 Greyhound cargo aircraft, and SH-60 Seahawk naval helicopters. The vessel can accommodate up to 5,680 people, including the ship’s crew of 3,200 and aircrew of 2,480.