MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- It is something that never comes to mind until needed and a situation every pilot hopes they never face.
Marines in the ejection seat shop with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All-Weather) 225 ensure that should an F/A-18 pilot ever need to eject, the process goes smoothly.
"Everyone always thinks of powerlines, airframes and ordnance," said Sgt. Justin English, the noncommissioned officer in charge of VMFA(AW)-225 seat shop and a Westville, Ill., native. "No one ever really thinks of the seat shop. We're kind of the unsung heroes of the squadron."
Though the seat shop may not be recognized until a pilot needs to eject, Marines in the shop are content staying out of the limelight.
“The best part of working in the seat shop is knowing that you’re here to save aircrews’ lives if you have to," said Gunnery Sgt. David Freed, an aviation life support system division chief with VMFA(AW)-225 and a Boyers, Pa., native.
Visual seat inspections occur daily to ensure seats are fully functional, but every two years the seats are completely torn down and the Marines in the shop test and check every component from the electronic sequencer to the leg restraints.
The full inspection is performed every two years because the more Marines work on this vital equipment the greater the chance a mistake will be made, explained Freed.
"Any other shop can miss something, or not trouble shoot properly and they have a second chance, whereas if we mess up there is no second chance," said English. "Everything that we do has to be done right the first time."
A typical seat shop houses around 14 Marines, but VMFA(AW)-225 only has five, explained English.
Fewer workers results in longer hours and when a Marine from the shop is out for either annual training, medical reasons or leave, the other Marines in the shop change their schedule to cover the shift.
"We're kind of short manned and all of us work extremely hard and long hours to make up for it, but it brings us closer," said English.
The ejection seat shop may not be the first thing that comes to mind for aircraft safety, but when all else fails in the aircraft and a pilot needs to eject, the seat is the one thing that needs to work properly.