Page 10 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 9-18-15

Sept. 18, 2015 NEWS
10 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
AFE parachute section Airmen keep pilots safe
6WRU\DQGSKRWRE\ $LUPHQZKRLQVSHFWDERXWÀYHSDUDFKXWHV
Senior Airman
GRACE LEE
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
A crucial part of a pilot’s survival, if
the worst were to happen, is a serviceable
parachute. Without it, a pilot wouldn’t be
able to land safely, and that’s where the
$LUPHQ LQ WKH DLUFUHZ ÁLJKW HTXLSPHQW as the explosives and risers that attach the
parachute section at Luke Air Force Base
step in.
“In the parachute section we work on the
Advanced Concept Ejection Seat II person-
nel parachute,” said Staff Sgt. Marianne
Hebreo, 56th Operations Support Squad-
ron AFE technician. “We also work on the
ejection seat parachute called the drogue
parachute.”
For those who don’t know, when the
pilot ejects from the aircraft the ACES
II ejection seat will detach automatically
since it has an environmental sensor that
can read altitude, air speed and will deter-
mine how the pilot’s parachute will deploy,
Hebreo said.
“The drogue parachute is smaller in
diameter but it’s made to withstand more,
having thicker material and designed to
stabilize an ejection seat,” said Senior
Airman Bryce Gardner, 56th OSS AFE
journeyman.
The parachute section currently has two
FREE BREAKFAST, SHUTTLE & INTERNET
GLENDALE COMFORT SUITES
9824 WEST CAMELBACK ROAD
GLENDALE, ARIZONA, 85305
PHONE: 623.271.9005
BY CHOICE HOTELS FAX: 623.271.9808
www.comfortsuites.com/hotel/az296
Just 7 miles from Luke AFB
Ask for the “Luke AFB Rate”
YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD
ATTORNEY
BANKRUPTCY‡FAMILY LAW ‡ REAL ESTATE
MOVE AHEAD WITH
FIRST RATE LEGAL STRATEGY
COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATIONS:
INFO@CLGAZ.COM ‡ 480.240.0040 ‡ SCOTTSDALE
4BU
Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
6WDII6JW0DULDQQH prevents a canopy blowout and the other
a week depending on mission require- +HEUHRWK2S- explosive is attached to the pilot’s harness
ments. erations Support so if the pilot falls unconscious and lands in
6TXDGURQ$LUFUHZ water, it will release the pilot from the para-
Accomplishing an inspection on a para- )OLJKW(TXLSPHQW chute, preventing them from drowning.”
chute is a two-person job. WHFKQLFLDQYHUL¿HV
the stowing of the It’s crucial to check every component on
“We always need two pairs of eyes during parachute’s suspen- the inspection checklist.
an inspection because everything is done VLRQOLQHV6HSW
by measurement and has a shelf life, such in the AFE building “If any one step is missed, it can cause
at Luke Air Force the parachute to malfunction when de-
suspension lines to the pilot, and more,” %DVH&RQGXFWLQJDQ ployed, and that’s why it’s important for
Hebreo said. “There’s always at least two inspection on a para- us to follow the checklist and pay great
people signing off on the parachute — one chute is a two-per- attention to detail,” Hebreo said. “Let’s
VRQMREDQGUHTXLUHV say someone skips a step they must go
great attention to EDFNWRWKHODVWYHULÀHG,3,DQGFRQWLQXH
GHWDLOEHFDXVHPLVV- from there.”
ing one step could
lead to a malfunction Ejection seat parachutes and personal
ZKHQGHSOR\HG parachutes are to be used only once and
cannot be reused.
is the inspector and packer and the other
one is the in-process inspection inspec- “We cannot reuse parachutes that have
tor. Once our inspection is completed the been deployed because the integrity of
parachute is serviceable for another year.” the parachute would come into question
and the safety of the pilot compromised,”
“We also have to work with the para- Gardner said.
chutes in certain temperatures and humid-
ity levels because the parachutes contain The AFE parachute section Airmen are
explosives, which may be triggered if in essential to the Luke mission.
contact with static in dry environments,”
Hebreo said. “There are two explosives “Ensuring everything is in working order
on the parachute — one to cut the line at and inspecting our parachutes guarantees
the right time so it deploys correctly and the integrity of the equipment,” Hebreo
said. “Most importantly, if the pilot was to
KDYHWRHMHFWGXULQJDQLQÁLJKWHPHUJHQF\
we would know we did our part in making
sure the parachute deploys, and he makes
it back to the ground, and lands safely.”
Together, we will turn type one into
jdrf.org
A CFC participant. Provided as a public service.
ALIGNMENT
$20 OFF* For Improved Tire Wear:
8FXJMMJOTQFDUGSPOUFOETVTQFOTJPO
TZTUFN"EKVTUBMMBEKVTUBCMFBOHMFT
UPNBOVGBDUVSFTTQFDJýDBUJPOT
.PTUDBSTMJHIUUSVDLT8JUIDPVQPO
/PUWBMJEXJUIBOZPUIFSPGGFST&YQJSFT
SPECIAL OFFER
25% Discount on Parts
and Labor
0OBOZTFSWJDFPSSFQBJSXPSL.VTUQSFTFOUDPVQPO%PFTOPU
BQQMZUPPUIFSTQFDJBMT.BYWBMVF&YQJSFT
LUBE, OIL & FILTER
$1999* Up to 5 Quarts premium oil, oil
filter & chassis lube (if applicable)
Plus FREE brake inspection
.PTUDBSTMJHIUUSVDLT8JUIDPVQPO
/PUWBMJEXJUIBOZPUIFSPGGFST&YQJSFT
Insist on Auto Service that is…
ĽPğPæıŒŒƒį,PıÃíæŊįįpį íæíğŒƒįPIJįíʼnŒğįĶřřřřį FREE Shuttle Service
ØíqPıÃíæĥįæPıÃíæŊįpįāĻį+íæıÀĥįíğįāĻřřřį+Ã،ĥ 13127 W. Glendale Ave.
COYOTE /FYUUP1J[[B)VUt48$PSOFSPG%ZTBSU(MFOEBMF
(623) 536-9974
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR The Card For Your Car www.CoyoteTire.com
*6 MONTHS, NO INTEREST
See Store for Complete Details.
.'