Military airplanes and helicopters are made up of thousands of parts, and when those aircraft come in for maintenance or repair, somebody has to account for each and every one of those parts throughout the entire rework process. At Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), that organizing challenge is being managed using a new software application called WISK, short for Work-in-Process Inventory, Storage and Kitting.

An eight-person Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) team recently received high praise for deploying to Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Mississippi, to support Rolls-Royce in production of the F405 engine used in the T-45A/C Goshawk jet trainer.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) marked a milestone in its support of the F-35 Lightning II program when the depot inducted its 100th F-35 for modifications June 11.

The induction signifies more than just a number – it represents eight years of efforts to stand up and grow the F-35 modification line at the depot, said FRCE Commanding Officer Col. Thomas A. Atkinson.

Advanced military aircraft rely on fiber optics to transmit massive amounts of data to avionics and flight control systems in real time. Like most other parts of an aircraft, the connectors at the ends of these critical cables and the ends of the fiber strands inside the connectors can get dirty with use in harsh environments, which can degrade their efficiency. 

When it comes to military aircraft maintenance, corrosion is a fact of life. The Navy and Marine Corps aircraft maintained at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) operate in some of the planet’s most extreme conditions and demanding scenarios, resulting in the need for costly and time-consuming corrosion inspection and repair processes.

Engines on the H-53 helicopter and the F/A-18 attack aircraft work in some harsh environments, as hundreds of parts spin, torque and rotate to power these massive aircraft. This constant wear and tear means these metal parts often have to be replaced when the engines are at Fleet Readiness Center East for maintenance and repair. These worn-out blades, nozzles and vanes have to be accounted for and processed before they can be scrapped, which can be a cumbersome, costly process. 

The Fleet Readiness Center East workforce rarely encounters a problem that can’t be solved through teamwork, innovation and a little bit of elbow grease.

Fleet Readiness Center East hosted Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. Greg Murphy for a June 2 visit to the depot’s H-1 Aircraft Rework Facility at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston.

FRCE Commanding Officer Col. Thomas A. Atkinson discussed with the legislators potential partnerships that could facilitate workload expansion opportunities both at FRCE’s Global TransPark facility and within the depot’s footprint at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

Fleet Readiness Center East hosted Sec. Walter Gaskin of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs May 20 for a brief visit focused on FRCE operations and veteran participation in the depot’s workforce. 

Two groups of Fleet Readiness Center East apprentices celebrated success during a graduation ceremony held May 20 at the Craven Community College New Bern campus.

The apprentices earned certificates in industrial systems technology, recognizing their completion of the academic portion of the National Apprenticeship Program. The four-year program – governed nationally by Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers – offers participants the opportunity to work as full-time federal employees, receiving pay and benefits as they pursue a combination of education and on-the-job training.