The technicians of the 564th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center introduced a process that cuts the time needed to perform acceptance inspections of KC-135 tankers that have just come out of routine depot maintenance. The standard practice after an aircraft was sent back to hits home station was for the home station maintainers to disassemble the tanker to check for deficiencies, a process that took 52 days on average. Kandis West reports that the new method brings a home-station team to the ALC to conduct 80 percent of the acceptance inspection, cutting home station checks from 52 to 14 days. Defects get addressed on the spot.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.