Survival equipment shop works hard to ensure many happy landings

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Brugman
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The work can be repetitive and the hours can seem long, but inevitably all efforts could save lives. 

The 60th Equipment Maintenance Squadron’s Survival Equipment Shop supplies Travis aircraft with reliable, life rafts, life preservers, anti-exposure suits, emergency escape slides, parachutes, personnel restraint harnesses and local manufactured fabric items. 

The Survival Equipment Shop is in charge of inspecting an average of 193 flotation items alone each week as well as inspecting parachutes and fabricating aircraft insulation. 

“[Packing chutes] is one of the most intricate and detail-oriented jobs,” said Tech. Sgt. Clifford Clemons, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge. “It requires a lot of attention to detail – from configuration through inspection to folding the canopy and packing it correctly. Everything has its own place.” 

It takes three to four hours to inspect and re-pack each parachute. Every chute is required to be inspected and repacked every six months. With the addition of the C-17s to Travis, the survival equipment shop’s work-load will increase by 120 chutes. 

Earlier in their careers, both Sergeant Clemons and Tech Sgt. John Jacobs, assistant NCOIC, had parachutes they worked on used in an emergency situation. Both individuals who deployed the chutes came out unscathed. 

In order to complete their mission, they must work closely with the 6th Aerial Refueling Squadron, 9th Aerial Refueling Squadron, and 60th Operation Support Squadron Life Support flights, 60th and 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Dash 21 sections and the 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron local manufacture section. 

“We maintain all the equipment required and if we have to build it from scratch we’ll build it,” Sergeant Clemons said. 

Each week, they unpack, inspect all associated components and repack, life preservers, 25-person life rafts, C-5 emergency slides, an assorted quantity of restraint harnesses for aircraft maintainers, build-up of parachutes and various local manufactures. 

Manufacturing aircraft textiles such as under-floor blankets, interior insulation panels and other local manufactures, is another part of their job. 

The textile manufacturing part of the Survival Equipment Shop gives them a chance to be creative. 

“It’s a creation from nothing,” Sergeant Jacobs said. “Someone will come and tell you a certain piece of equipment needs a cover.” 

While some of their work can be tedious, Sergeant Clemons says by switching between the different areas of their shop can keep the job fresh and interesting. 

“When you have your equipment used and it works as advertised, it’s a good feeling,” Sergeant Jacobs said.