Senior Airman Brandon Craddock, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems journeyman, conducts a routine inspection on the egress system of a B-1 Lancer while deployed to Southwest Asia July 11, 2012. The egress crew must inspect the ejection systems thoroughly to make sure they are within limits, check for any leaking oil and verify the explosive lines aren’t bent or broken and in working order. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)
Senior Airman Kenneth Auchenbach, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems journeyman, conducts maintenance on ballistic components for the B1-Lancer as he stands half way up the crew ladder July 6, 2012. The four-man B-1 egress team maintains the ejection seats, hatches and crew ladder for the Lancer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)
Senior Airman Kenneth Auchenbach’s hands stay steady as he completes maintenance on ballistic components for the B-1 Lancer’s crew ladder July 6, 2012. Auchenbach is an aircrew egress journeyman assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron in Southwest Asia. This four-man egress team works around the clock replacing, repairing and maintaining the ejection seats, hatches and crew ladders for the B-1. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)
Senior Airman Brandon Craddock, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems journeyman, tightens down an emergency oxygen tank on a B-1 Lancer while deployed to Southwest Asia July 11, 2012. The four-man B-1 egress team maintains the ejection seats, hatches and crew ladder for the Lancer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)
by Senior Airman Bryan Swink
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
7/11/2012 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The worst-case scenario for a pilot is to be in a situation where the ejection handle must be pulled. This last resort option is something no one wants however, the reality is always present. Fortunately, the men and women from the 379th EMXS are focused on their mission and ready the egress in the event an emergency evacuation is ordered.
Members of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems ensure their work is operational when needed. Their main focus is for the pilots and aircrew of the B-1 Lancers to have complete faith and confidence that the ejection systems work properly.
This four-man team works around the clock replacing, repairing and maintaining the ejection seats, hatches and crew ladder for the B-1. There are four crew members on each B-1 mission and all four have ejection seats which must be properly maintained.
"The equipment must work 100 percent of the time," said Senior Airman Kenneth Auchenbach, 379th EMXS aircrew egress systems journeyman, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. "There is absolutely no room for error. If one thing doesn't work correctly, the whole system won't function properly."
To ensure the egress system will work properly, the crew conducts 30-day and 100-hour inspections. The 30-day inspection is an overall visual inspection of the entire ejection sequence.
"We look at everything ... from the seats and hatches down to the ballistic components underneath," said Auchenbach. "It's important to pay attention to every little detail about every single part."
The 100-hour inspections center on the retract thruster which is located under and behind the seat. The retract thruster pulls the seat backward, depending on where the crew member has the seat positioned, to prepare for ejection. The egress crew must inspect this thoroughly to make sure it's within limits, check for any leaking oil and verify the explosive lines aren't bent or broken and in working order.
Depending on the hours each B-1 is in the air, 100-hour inspections can be conducted from once a week to once every three weeks.
"If anything were to happen with that jet, we are the crew's last line of life," said Staff Sgt. Woodrow Rieman, 379th EMXS aircrew egress systems craftsman, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. "We have to be on point every time we step out there, because the crew member's lives are at stake."
It's safe to say, crew members on the B-1 Lancer can fly with confidence and be at ease if an emergency evacuation is ordered because of the focus and dedication the egress crew has to their job.
