Egress Icemen supply safety to pilots

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  While aviators may never have to eject from an aircraft, a team of Eielson Icemen keeps the advanced concept ejection seat ready to eject in case of a catastrophic failure.

Members of the 354th Maintenance Squadron egress section thoroughly inspect each component of the ACES II ejection system. The system contains 65 different items, including munitions, which must operate in an exact sequence to guarantee a pilot's safe exit.

Ejecting from a fighter jet is a violent, angry ride, said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Hicks, 354th MXS assistant egress section chief. And others would probably agree when you consider the forces exerted on a pilot's body.

"During the ejection process, the body is subjected to almost 14 times the force of gravity. The initial thrust tends to compress your spine," he said. "It hurts to eject and some pilots have been known to black out."

Hicks said the system was designed to have a pilot out in less than two seconds. In fact, most of the munitions used to eject have already been deployed within the first second of engaging the ejection handle on the seat.

"It's a system that has been combat proven over and over. There have been more than 426 ejections worldwide. If you pull the handle, it's going to punch," said Hicks.

There is no trial run in the ejection systems installed on F-16 Fighting Falcons and other airframes, only careful and diligent inspection. The closest thing to an operations check is when both the canopy and seat are removed for a 36-month inspection, at which time explosives are removed from both items and a function check is performed on the handles and other mechanisms to include pulleys, valves and linkages.

"We have to follow technical data," Hicks said. "Everything is checked at least 4 times. And that is only on the items that we remove and bring back to our section. The completed ejection system will also be re-inspected once all items are installed on the aircraft."

When it comes to the safety of the pilots, there is no margin for error, said Airman 1st Class William Harrison Jr., 354th MXS aircrew egress apprentice. Airmen in Eielson's egress section rely on each other to make sure the job gets done and lives are saved.

What cannot be stressed enough about the job is the cooperative effort put forth between the different maintenance squadrons to guarantee that when the time comes, pilots have a safe exit, said Harrison. Whether you are packing the parachutes, testing ballistic lines or performing a munitions check, everyone plays an integral role in making sure the ACES II ejection system functions as intended.

When the seat ejects and everything has been done correctly, the success validates our diligent maintenance and gives purpose to egress, said Hicks.

While most egress Airmen work behind the scenes, the job they perform is integral in keeping pilots alive to fly, fight and win another day.