01 March 2005
NAVAIR 01-1A-509-1
TM 1-1500-344-23-1
TO 1-1-689-1
control program and lend their full support. This ensures
2-4.2. Aluminum and magnesium alloys found in
the program receives sufficient priority to be
aviation equipment will normally begin to corrode if salt
accomplished along with other required maintenance.
deposits, other corrosive soils, or electrolytes are allowed
The goal of a preventive maintenance program is to halt
to remain. In order to prevent corrosion, a constant
corrosion before significant decline in equipment
cycle of cleaning, inspection, operational preservation,
performance occurs. As such, it is important to recognize
and lubrication must be followed. Prompt detection and
the difference between prevention of corrosion and
removal of corrosion will limit the extent of damage to
repair of damage caused by corrosion. A preventive
aircraft components. An effective preventive
maintenance program at the Organizational/Unit and
maintenance program requires cleaning, lubrication
Intermediate Maintenance Activities should:
and preservation, as well as corrosion removal, paint
removal, surface treatment, sealing, and painting. A
a. Reduce the maintenance time spent repairing
disciplined preventive maintenance program includes:
corrosion damage.
a. Regularly scheduled aircraft washing as specified
b. Improve avionic system reliability, durability, and
by parent service organization directives;
service life.
b. Using clean water with low chloride content for
c. Make the military avionics community aware of
aircraft washing and rinsing (chloride content should be
the extent of the problem.
less than 400 parts per million, approximately the same
limit as that for potable water);
d. Report any deficiencies with materials and
processes associated with corrosion control.
c. Regularly scheduled cleaning or wipe down of all
exposed unpainted surfaces, such as landing gear
2-5.2. APPLICABLE GUIDELINES. All activities
struts and actuating rods of hydraulic cylinders as
responsible for the maintenance of military aircraft and
specified by parent service organization directives, with
avionic systems shall establish a corrosion prevention/
a compatible fluid or lubricant;
control program. The type of program depends on the
conditions or environments to which the aircraft/avionic
d. Keeping low-point drains open;
systems are exposed. Those aircraft and avionic systems
exposed to salt-air and tropical environments require
e. Inspection, removal, and reapplication of corrosion
the most stringent corrosion prevention and control
preventative compounds (CPCs) on a scheduled basis;
programs.
f. Earliest detection and repair of damaged
2-5.3. MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS. Experience has
protective coatings; and
shown that all activities have a corrosion problem. This
is regardless of whether the equipment is an installed
g. Using padded panel racks to store panels/parts
avionic system, ground support equipment, or missile
for aircraft and equipment during maintenance and
system. Accordingly, corrosion control efforts by all
using protective measures to prevent abrasions/
hands is mandatory. This must be a day-to-day
scratches resulting from placement of parts, tools, or
requirement to prevent corrosion before it starts.
tool boxes on wings, fuselage or other aircraft surfaces.
Figure 2-2 depicts the basic maintenance functions.
2-5. AVIONICS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
2-6. C O R R O S I O N C O N T R O L P R O G R A M . A l l
PROGRAM.
activities responsible for aircraft maintenance shall
establish corrosion control programs as required by the
2-5.1. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. Successful
parent service organization. This program shall be
avionic cleaning and corrosion prevention/control efforts
depend on a coordinated, comprehensive preventive
structured as required by OPNAVINST 4790.2 (Navy),
maintenance program. Everyone involved in
TO 00-20-1 (Air Force), or AR 750-59 (Army) and
maintenance, repair, and operation of avionic systems
ensure that personnel receive hazardous material/waste
must be concerned with corrosion, cleaning, inspection,
handlers training. The type of program depends upon
prevention, and treatment. Specifically, avionic corrosion
the environment to which the aircraft may be exposed.
prevention/control is everyone's responsibility. Each
At sea, where conditions are normally the most severe,
command must place special emphasis on the corrosion
aircraft are exposed to salt spray, ship stack gases, and
