EJECTION SEAT CHECK-OUTS

The modern, high-performance aircraft used by todays Navy place extreme demands on emergency escape systems. These systems contain highly explosive devices that are designed for onetime use only. Actuation of these devices could

result in severe injury or death to personnel and damage to or destruction of aircraft. Therefore, due to the inherent dangers associated with ejection seats and canopy systems, a seat/canopy check-out procedure is required. The Egress/ Environmental Work Center (AME shop) is responsible for indoctrinating all personnel in the hazards and safety precautions associated with these systems. A thorough seat check-out will be given, by a qualified Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipmentman) (AME), to all newly assigned maintenance personnel prior to their performing any aircraft maintenance work on the aircraft, and every 6 months thereafter. In addition, any personnel removed from aircraft maintenance responsibilities for over 90 days must receive a seat check-out before performing any aircraft maintenance. The AME work center and the other maintenance work centers will maintain records of seat check-outs, including date given, date due, and the signature of the AME performing the check-out.

The seat check-out program will be established by a squadron MI. All personnel due seat checkout requalification will be listed in the monthly maintenance plan.

EJECTION SEAT CARTRIDGES AND CARTRIDGE-ACTUATED DEVICES (CAD)

The types of explosive devices incorporated in egress systems are varied. The AME working with these devices must know how they function, their characteristics, how to identify them, their service-life limitations, and all safety precautions.

The AME who understands the importance of all these factors and who correctly uses the maintenance manuals is better equipped to supervise and train others. The following manuals are required for the AME to meet the above requirements:

1. Description, Preparation for use, and Handling Instructions, Aircrew Escape Propulsion System (AEPS) Devices, NAVAIR 11-85-1

2. General Use Cartridges and Cartridge Actuated Devices for Aircraft and Associated Equipment (CADS), NAVAIR 11-100-1.1, NAVAIR 11-100-1.2, NAVAIR 11-100-1.3

3. Specific aircraft MIMs

4. OP 4, Ammunition Afloat

5. OP 5, Ammunition and Explosives Ashore

Service Life

The service life of a CAD is the specific period of time that it is allowed to be used. These periods of time are affected by various environmental conditions, which have resulted in the assignment of time limits or overage requirements. These limits are shelf life and installed life.

The establishment of service-life limits is based upon design verification tests, qualification tests, and surveillance evaluations. The established limits are approved by the Naval Air Systems Command. Therefore, the establishment of service-life time limits is not arbitrary and must be adhered to as specified.

Before deployment to areas that do not permit ready supply and servicing of cartridges or cartridge-actuated devices, an inspection must be made of all CAD service-life expiration dates. If, during this inspection, it is determined that a CAD will become overage during the period of the deployment, the CAD must be replaced prior to the deployment. Before installation of any CAD, the service life expiration date of the unit must be checked to ensure that the unit is not overage and will not become overage prior to the next periodic maintenance cycle of the aircraft.

During standard depot-level maintenance (SDLM), the expiration dates of all installed CADs must be checked. Those CADs assigned to organizational level for maintenance and have expiration dates prior to the next scheduled inspection after the aircraft is returned to its custodian must be replaced. CADs assigned to depot level for maintenance that have expiration dates falling prior to the next scheduled SDLM should also be replaced. The exception is systems replaced exclusively through the use of a field modification team. Adherence to these procedures will prevent loss of aircraft mission capability due to CAD service-life expiration.