Photo By Lance Cpl. Josue Aguirre | Lance Cpl. Christopher Knight, right, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 flight...... read more read more
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Editor’s note: “The anatomy of aviation logistics support” is a series of articles that will cover the different jobs Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 performs which helps other squadrons function seamless. This issue of the Desert Warrior will cover the three MALS-13 sections that work in the paraloft.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. - There are three Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 sections pilots depend on for survival when forced to eject their Harrier.
Located at the station paraloft building, MALS-13 parachute riggers and flight equipment technicians from section A, B, and C maintain a variety of gadgetry. Ranging from providing the pilots with oxygen, to keeping them dry and alive, the gear will work even if pilots lose consciousness after ejecting from a Harrier.
Made of nylon yarn, the parachute’s importance is obvious; keeping the pilot from a free fall and floating him or her to the ground. Section A, or alpha, rigs all the parachutes and tests, inspects, maintains and repairs specific parts of the parachutes for the Harrier pilots.
“It’s important to inspect the parachute because you don’t want find out later that something is wrong with it like a hole in the parachute or a line is frayed, maybe cut,” said Lance Cpl. Miguel Chavez, MALS-13 parachute rigger and 21-year-old Riverside, Calif., native.
As if from muscle memory, the riggers pull detailed gear manuals to closely examine a parachute with what is a more than 30-step inspection process, according to Chavez.
Section B, Bravo, packs a survival kit referred to as the “seat pan,” due to its convenient location inside the pilot’s seat. The kit contains 11 survival items in addition to an oxygen cylinder with approximately ten minutes of breathable air, a radio beacon which emits a signal for rescue, and a one-man life raft preparing the pilot for even the ocean. A parachute harness sensing releasing unit does exactly what its name says and releases the parachute when it hits water to prevent the pilot from being dragged under or over the water.
Bravo also deals with the pilot’s attire. Constantly checking it for leaks, they maintain a dry suit pilots wear which keeps them dry and warm.
Charlie, or Section C, deals with the oxygen on the jets.
Using an oxygen system test stand dubbed “the Green Monster,” they test multiple pieces of gear that pilots use, said Cpl. Kyle Press, MALS-13 flight equipment technician and 24-year-old Mathuen, Mass., native. Gear being tested is placed in the Green Monster behind an air tight clear panel and the machine can simulate an altitude of up to 80,000 feet.
“There’s a multitude of components that actually come into effect,” said Press. “We have regulators that regulate how much air the pilots get, but we also have oxygen hoses with communication hookups we test as well.”
They also test oxygen concentrators which take in ambient air, heat it up and concentrate it down so the pilot can actually breathe it when the bird is at higher altitudes in thinner colder air, said Press.
Other devices they test are two aneroid mechanisms involving cartridge actuated devices, which are basically explosives that deploy the parachute. The aneroids make sure it does so at 14,000 feet with a backup at 7,000, with or without the pilot’s consciousness.
Using nitrogen to test aneroids, regulators and hoses with the Green Monster, and oxygen for the concentrators, the Charlie section can assure pilots that gear vital to their survival has been thoroughly inspected and functions correctly.
“The maintainers that work on the jet or the engine, their job is to make sure the jet doesn’t go down. If their job fails, then our job is to save the pilot,” said Lance Cpl. Christopher Knight, MALS-13 flight equipment technician and 23-year-old Vancouver, Wash., native. “We’re the pilot’s last resort.”
| Date Taken: | 07.28.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.28.2011 17:45 |
| Story ID: | 74493 |
| Location: | YUMA, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 184 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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