The U.S. Navy's single point of accountability for developing, delivering and supporting aviation technical training recently implemented the final phase of a five-year effort to streamline aircraft corrosion control courses.

The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), after several business case analysis studies at CNATT units, began offering corrosion control training in August at CNATT Unit Detachment Atsugi, the last of five sites offering courses in what is a naval aviation mainstay.

According to Joe Meehan, Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering Service Center (NATEC) liaison to CNATT, the additional teaching sites will result in decreased training times and provide a significant improvement in corrosion control practices throughout the fleet.

"The increased training of Navy and Marine Corps technicians will improve aircraft material condition and ultimately increase fleet readiness," he said. "CNATT courses will continue evolving to address valid fleet training requirements."

A corrosion control course was pioneered in the 1970s. In 1998, Naval Aviation Maintenance Training Group Detachment Norfolk, Virginia, was asked to teach the corrosion and paint final finish courses in the Norfolk region. The two courses were eventually transitioned to proper format, assigned course numbers and ultimately taught.

With the expansion of fleet corrosion training requirements, courses were taught through CNATTU Norfolk, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and remotely by NATEC representatives. A significant backlog - sometimes approaching nine months - was noticed for service members needing the course. To address this issue, in 2010, NAVAIR and CNATT leadership investigated the possibilities of expanding the CNATTU Norfolk corrosion course to CNATTUs in Lemoore and Ocean. CNATT approved the proposal in 2012 after a business case analysis reflected a major cost savings.

Meehan added that with the success of those two initiatives, CNATT approved the expansion of the course to CNATTU Whidbey Island, Washington, and the CNATT Detachment in Atsugi, Japan.

A decade ago, less than 150 students completed aircraft corrosion control courses in a calendar year. Today, almost 1,000 students finish the requisite coursework each year, a number Meehan said is ensuring that the best trained and best qualified service members are working corrosion control issues throughout naval aviation.

CNATT is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities. The center and its many units provide operational and maintenance training that supports ashore and afloat operations. This includes specialized skills training for enlisted ratings and officer designators, supporting all facets of aviation maintenance and support.

For more news from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, visit www.navy.mil/ .