F-16 Down Pilot killed ejection seat malfunction

[Pilot Fighter]

Maybe you can explain how can you regenerate a part that never existed before, Time travel ?

I understand it was a new fix and I understand that parts weren't available. I didn't read that a new part was required. Most "new fixes" don't involve new parts.

A technical order describing the installation of a shorting plug could mean replacement on a different time or cycles interval or a modification, with or without a new part.

The unavailability of part doesn't necessarily mean there isn't a part sitting in an airframe someplace. Some categories of AMARC storage are resistant to parts scavenging.

I'll defer to you knowledge of the specifics in this case.

 

[knot4u]

I understand it was a new fix and I understand that parts weren't available. I didn't read that a new part was required. Most "new fixes" don't involve new parts.

A technical order describing the installation of a shorting plug could mean replacement on a different time or cycles interval or a modification, with or without a new part.

The unavailability of part doesn't necessarily mean there isn't a part sitting in an airframe someplace. Some categories of AMARC storage are resistant to parts scavenging.

I'll defer to you knowledge of the specifics in this case.

I don't know how to make this more simple, the "fix" requires a part not previously made available by the vendor, the vendor doesn't have any available. The jets in the desert never had this new part installed.

Edit to add: I hated working on ejection seats, the amount of small explosives and larger rockets can be unnerving when they're being maintained. Once everything is hooked up and installed I'll cast the cockpit a suspicious sideways glance but I can't deny the fact that they work.

 

[///AMG]

Maybe you can explain how can you regenerate a part that never existed before, Time travel ?

I think time travel is always on the table, particularly in tough situations. I'd prefer to time travel to next summer and see what is new.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

I don't know how to make this more simple, the "fix" requires a part not previously made available by the vendor, the vendor doesn't have any available. The jets in the desert never had this new part installed.

Edit to add: I hated working on ejection seats, the amount of small explosives and larger rockets can be unnerving when they're being maintained. Once everything is hooked up and installed I'll cast the cockpit a suspicious sideways glance but I can't deny the fact that they work.

You don't need to simplify anything.

There was the TCTO issue, the shelf-life issue, and the upgrade issue. No planes in storage would have had the upgraded seats.

With regards to the TCTO which preceded the upgrade issue, there was a "lack of available parts". Anybody that's been proximate to military MX knows that an inability to obtain a part doesn't necessarily mean there aren't parts out there. For example, there are aircraft in storage at AMARC that can't be touched. Likewise, there are hangar queens that may never fly again but can't be cannibalized outside the unit.

The upgrade would have negated the TCTO but the incident aircraft could have been repaired to the pre-upgrade TCTO standard...or grounded.

 

[Flyinthrew]

Edit to add: I hated working on ejection seats, the amount of small explosives and larger rockets can be unnerving when they're being maintained. Once everything is hooked up and installed I'll cast the cockpit a suspicious sideways glance but I can't deny the fact that they work.

I've been the Officer in Charge of the Seat Shop at three separate units. I don't think someone who hasn't seen the inner workings of an ejection seat can even fathom all the plumbing and different explosives that are inside that thing.

Something preventable like this is an absolute shame. Almost none of the causal factor had to be.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

I've been the Officer in Charge of the Seat Shop at three separate units. I don't think someone who hasn't seen the inner workings of an ejection seat can even fathom all the plumbing and different explosives that are inside that thing.

Something preventable like this is an absolute shame. Almost none of the causal factor had to be.

Are seat tech reps still a thing?

 

[Flyinthrew]

Are seat tech reps still a thing?

Yes. Each of the maintenance functional areas are backed by platform specific engineers and other specialists. Seats have their own extra niche of experts on the explosives/ordnance side of the house. As a safety officer, I leaned on those guys really hard for corporate knowledge on systems engineering and failure mode analysis.