Flight E

Photo By Lance Cpl. Brian Holloran | Capt. Brent A. Thorud straps himself into an AV-8B Harrier on the flight line at Al Asad, Iraq May 21. All of the equipment on Thorud, a pilot for Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Air Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is repaired and maintained by the Marines of the Flight Equipment shop.  

AL ASAD, IRAQ

06.09.2006

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

AL ASAD, IRAQ (May 28, 2006) " Murphy's Law states, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." It is up to the Marines with the flight equipment shop of Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, to ensure that if Murphy's Law proves right while in flight, the pilots will always have the needed
equipment to survive.

According to Capt. Carlton A. Wilson, AV-8B Harrier pilot, VMA-513, the flight equipment shop is responsible for all the gear pilots need in order to operate in the variety of different environments throughout the flight.

"Throughout the course of a flight we could be exposed to hot temperatures outside the airplane, low oxygen environments at altitude, and occasionally, high gravity environments," added Wilson. "The gear flight-E maintains helps pilots continue to perform well in these environments. Additionally, if we were to end up having to eject, whether here or in the states, the survival equipment we carry must work the first time."

According to Sgt. Joseph L. Moore, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge flight equipment shop, VMA 513, the flight-E Marines have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to keeping the pilots safe.

"Our job is important to VMA-513 completing their mission because without the flight gear our pilots wear, there would be no safety features in the AV-8B Harrier," said Moore, a native of Houghton, Iowa. "Pilots wouldn't have communications or the ability to breathe. Both of these capabilities are performed by the regulator and mask systems, which we are responsible for maintaining."

While in flight, the oxygen mask is one of the most important tools a pilot has available to him.

"Every 30 days we conduct a very in-depth inspection of the oxygen mask," said Moore. "We break the mask down completely; we then clean and inspect every component."

Flight equipment is also responsible for the anti-gravity suits the pilots wear. The anti-gravity suit slips on over a pilot's legs and is used to control the blood flow.

"The anti-gravity suit has bladders inside of it that inflate to counteract the pressure caused by gravity," said Moore. "This allows the blood to stay in the pilot's upper body and keeps the pilot from passing out."

According to Moore, the nylon and steel restraining harness is the most important piece of equipment the small section works on.

"The torso harness is our top priority," said Moore. "The torso harness is the overall structure of the parachute harness. It is what attaches the pilot to the ejection seat."

The harness is sized to fit the individual pilot. There are six buckles on the harness that hold the pilot to the seat. There is one located on each shoulder, just below the collarbone. There are two on the lap adaptors, which are in front of the left and right hip bones. The last two are behind the calf muscles. The fit for the harness is extremely important.

"If the torso harness does not fit properly, it could cause death or paralyzation to the pilot," said Moore. "When the pilot pulls the ejection seat handle, the harness pulls on the buckles, holding the pilot tight against the seat. Any slack in the harness can cause serious damage to the pilot. That's why we are very meticulous when it comes to the harness. Everything has to be perfect."

Flight-E is responsible for ensuring that when anything that could go wrong does, their pilots will know they are safe and that they have nothing to worry about.

"Without Flight-E we would still be flying around with leather jackets and football helmets from the 1920s," said Wilson, a native of Austin, Texas.

"Instead, we have reflective helmets, survival vests, gravity-suits, state of the art communications radios, and they even make nice chart bags. As with any other system in the airplane, they are an essential part of the overall weapons system, specifically the pilots" needs; and pilots have a lot of needs."

While they may not get a lot of recognition on a daily basis, the Flight-E Marines get it when it counts.

"We don't get thanked everyday for what we do," said Moore. "When a pilot does have to use our gear though, I drink for free for the next month. What more recognition could you ask for?"

• Date Taken: 06.09.2006
• Date Posted: 06.09.2006 12:41
• Story ID: 6760
• Location: AL ASAD, IQ