Survival equipment: Taking fear out of flying

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (AFPN) --  Almost everyone has seen movie heroes parachuting out of planes and helicopters into dangers unknown. However, not many people think about how they are able to do that, or who ensures their parachutes are packed safely and carefully.

Ten Airmen, assigned to the 100th Maintenance Squadron’s survival equipment flight here, are the last people to touch parachutes before use.

Their customers include Airmen from the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, 67th Special Operations Squadron, 7th SOS, 21st SOS and 351st Air Refueling Squadron.

“We provide them one more chance of life when all else fails,” said Staff Sgt. Danny Salazar, 100th MXS survival equipment floor chief.

“Performing inspections on the equipment is part of our daily routine,” Sergeant Salazar said. He said checks are carried out so nothing leaves the survival equipment flight with any discrepancies.

“The people using this equipment only have one chance; there’s no room for mistakes,” he said. “We’re the last set of eyes to quality check the parachutes before they leave the shop.”

They are responsible for five different types of parachutes, life rafts, life preservers and escape slides, said Staff Sgt. Paul McArdle, survival equipment fabrication section chief.

“When a parachute comes to our shop, we’ll either put it on the table or the floor to take a look at it,” Sergeant McArdle said.

The entire chute canopy is checked for any holes, rips or tears; then the components are checked for rust or damaged equipment, and items are replaced as necessary, he said.

“If the parachute comes to us after it’s been in (the water), we’ll hang it in our tower and allow it to dry,” Sergeant McArdle said. “If there’s been contamination of any kind, we’ll clean it before hanging it in the tower. The tower is also used for parachutes that have been (used); so we can shake the chute out and get rid of all the debris collected when the jumpers land.”

Another part of survival equipment maintenance happens in the fabrication section.

It is here modifications and repairs are made to the equipment using heavy-duty sewing machines.

Although the flight’s Airmen said they enjoy their job, it is a big responsibility for them knowing what they do is the difference between life and death.

“I got my first ‘save’ in Korea last year,” Sergeant McArdle said. “A plane went down, and the pilot ejected due to an engine failure. He jumped out using the parachute that I and another (Airman) packed -- and he’s walking today. It’s an awesome feeling when you know the equipment you’re responsible for works.”

People from the 321st STS said they know they can do their own job without worrying if their parachute will open or their life raft will inflate.

“Without the survival equipment shop, we could not complete our mission,” said Senior Airman James Hawkins, a 321st STS fabrication and parachute journeyman. “With only two people assigned to our own parachute shop, it’s impossible to maintain the 500-plus pieces of equipment we use.

“When (someone) is about to exit an aircraft, the last thing he wants to think about is whether or not his parachute is going to work,” he said. “Survival equipment’s hard work and attention to details allows our guys to jump with the confidence they need to perform their duties.”

Although they are usually behind the scenes, making sure the equipment is packed properly and in serviceable condition, occasionally the Airmen get to see their work “in action.”

“I recently got back from (temporary duty) with the 321st (STS) guys in Spain -- I got to videotape them using the parachutes we packed,” said Staff Sgt. Angel Villalobos, survival equipment flotation section chief.

“It’s not often we get to go, but when we do, we see our equipment in action,” Sergeant Villalobos said. “Being out in the drop zone, waiting for (the Airmen) to land ... that’s pretty awesome.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)