INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF MATERIAL CONDITION OF THE KC–135 AERIAL REFUELING FLEET.

SEC. 345. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF MATERIAL CONDITION OF THE KC–135 AERIAL REFUELING FLEET. Not later than May 1, 2004, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees an assessment, conducted by an entity outside of the Department of Defense, of the material condition of the fleet of KC–135 aerial refueling aircraft of the Air Force. The assessment shall include the following:(1) Trend analysis for operational readiness for KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft from fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2003.(2) Trend analysis for the number of manhours of organizational-level and depot-level maintenance required for KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft from fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2003, setting forth separately the manhours required for control and treatment of corrosion.(3) The number of KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft grounded due to corrosion for each year, and the length of time each aircraft was grounded pending corrosion repair, based 117 STAT. 1450 on maintenance conducted from fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2003.(4) An itemization of improved corrosion repair processes for KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft used between fiscal year 1996 and fiscal year 2003 which resulted in a decrease in the number of manhours required for control and treatment of corrosion.(5) An analysis of the relationship between manhours for corrosion repair as set forth under paragraph (2) and the processes set forth under paragraph (4).(6) An analysis of major structural repairs required due to corrosion for KC–135E and KC–135R aircraft annually from fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2003.