FRCSW Wins People’s Choice Award at 2024 Maintenance Innovation Challenge

 

By JANINA LAMOGLIA

Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) received the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Maintenance Innovation Challenge (MIC) for its presentation on cold spray technology, a repair process designed to restore corroded and damaged naval aircraft components.

The competition, held during the Department of Defense Maintenance Symposium in Salt Lake City, showcased five finalists presenting innovative solutions aimed at improving military sustainment and readiness. Attendees selected FRCSW’s cold spray technology as the standout innovation.

NAVAIR Additive Manufacturing Team helps Coast Guard maintain operational readiness

When the U.S. Coast Guard was unable to procure a wiring system part that affected its entire fleet of MH-60T helicopters in late November, they turned to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Additive Manufacturing (AM) Team. Thanks to a collaborative workplace culture between services and a recognition for urgent solutions at the time of need, the Coast Guard kept its aircraft flying without a break in operations.

NAVAIR Issues V-22 Bulletin and Interim Flight Clearance

Based on engineering analysis, on December 20, 2024 NAVAIR issued a fleet bulletin directing the inspection of V-22 Osprey to verify the flight hours on each Proprotor Gearbox (PRGB) prior to an aircraft’s next flight.

Aircraft with PRGBs that currently meets or exceeds a predetermined flight-hour threshold will resume flights in accordance with controls instituted in the March 2024 interim flight clearance (IFC).

FRCE marks 150th F-35 induction

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) marked a milestone in its support of the F-35 Lightning II program when the depot recently inducted and completed modifications on its 150th F-35 and returned the aircraft to the Fleet.

FRCE is the lead site for depot-level maintenance on the F-35B Lightning II and has conducted modifications and repair on the Marine Corps’ short takeoff-vertical landing variant of the aircraft since 2013. The depot has also worked with the F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing) and F-35C (carrier) variants.

New F-35 storage solutions set to boost efficiency at FRCE

The Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) F-35 Lightning II aircraft modification line continues to grow with the recent addition of a new storage system that will improve safety and efficiency.

As part of the F-35 modification line’s transformation efforts, FRCE has installed three new vertical lift modules – also referred to as vertical stackers – that act as a centralized storage unit for aircraft parts and components. The system effectively consolidates items that have traditionally been stored in various areas throughout the facility.

FRCE Supervisor of the Year leads with emphasis on service

A Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) engineer recently earned the title of the command’s 2024 Supervisor of the Year for his efforts to improve productivity, efficiency and team morale by emphasizing open communication, employee empowerment and work-life balance.

Naval Aviation Systems Command (NAVAIR) recognized FRCE Supervisor of the Year Michael Wagoner and 11 other Supervisors of the Year from across the enterprise during a virtual award ceremony held Oct. 24. The 12 site winners were chosen from almost 100 nominations, including five from FRCE.