Chapter 8 Flashcards
What is the reason for armed aircraft safety?
The inadvertent release or firing of an aircraft’s weapons while on the ground could cause extensive damage and loss of life.
What is an Armed Aircraft?
Any Air System on the ground that is being loaded, is loaded, or is being unloaded with an explosive armament store, regardless of safety device conditions.
What is the Initially Armed state?
An armed Air System is in the initially armed state when all safety devices, other than those set to live condition before or during loading, have been set to safe condition.
What is the Finally Armed state?
An armed Air System is in the finally armed state when all safety devices required to be in live condition before flight acceptance have been set to that condition.
What is the Combat Armed state?
An armed Air System is in the combat armed state when accepted by the Aircraft Commander for flight and all required safety devices are set live before take-off.
Where can Armed Aircraft be parked?
Authorised locations.
What precautions are necessary for parked Armed Aircraft with Electro-Explosive Devices?
Steps must be taken to maintain prescribed safety distances from radio hazards.
What is required when an Armed Aircraft is parked or during loading/unloading?
The Aircraft is to be restrained by either chocks and/or lashings.
What restrictions apply to personnel and vehicles near Armed Aircraft?
Movement is to be restricted to the minimum necessary for operational purposes, with consideration for additional restrictive methods.
What is prohibited regarding Airborne Radio Installations near Armed Aircraft?
They are not to be operated within a licensed HAS housing an armed Aircraft or explosive armament stores, except when specifically authorized.
What must be displayed when armed aircraft and aircraft carrying explosive freight are parked?
Appropriate warning notices must be displayed in, or on, and outside the aircraft.
This includes flight lines, dispersals, HASs, Quick Reaction Alert accommodation, and flight decks.
What is the requirement for safety devices before loading explosive armament stores?
All relevant safety devices are to be set to the safe condition before loading begins and remain in that condition until final arming is undertaken.
Unless authorized procedures dictate otherwise.
What should be done when an aircraft lands with explosive armament stores still fitted?
All relevant safety devices are to be set to the safe condition as soon as it is safe to do so.
This setting must be certified on the armament clearance certificate.
How should the Master Armament Safety Switch (MASS) be operated?
The MASS in an Air System is to be operated only in accordance with the relevant Air System technical instruction and Aircrew Flight Reference Cards.
What is required for an initially armed Air System to enter the finally armed state?
The setting of safety devices to be carried out iaw to the Relevant Technical Instructions.
What must be certified when an initially armed Air System enters the finally armed state?
The entry into the finally armed state must be certified on the final arming certificate.
Who is responsible for setting further safety devices to allow a finally armed Air System to enter the combat armed state?
Air System commander, with assistance from engineering tradesmen controlled by the appropriate aircrew member.
What is the general maintenance requirement for armed aircraft?
Explosive armament stores are normally to be removed from aircraft before any maintenance, other than flight servicing, is carried out.
What must be assessed before conducting maintenance on an armed Air System?
An assessment of the operational requirement against the potential risk must be conducted, along with specifying any additional safety precautions.
What must be done before carrying out maintenance on an Air System in the finally armed state?
It must be reverted to the initially armed state, if applicable.
Who must consent to maintenance activities on an Air System once accepted?
A responsible aircrew member.
What should maintenance activities be limited to once the Air System is armed?
Those detailed in the Air System technical instruction.
Can loading or unloading of explosive armament stores be done concurrently with other maintenance?
No, unless approved in the technical instruction.
What is required when carrying out concurrent maintenance and loading/unloading of explosive armament stores?
Effective communication must be established and maintained between all personnel involved.
When can electrical testing of armed Air Systems take place?
If it is part of an authorised procedure or maintenance activity.
Under what conditions can faults on initially armed Air Systems be rectified?
If an unacceptable delay or mission abort would occur and safety will not be compromised.
What maintenance can be undertaken on initially armed Air Systems?
Flight servicing and authorised maintenance activities detailed in the Air System technical instruction.
What can be authorized to meet an urgent operational need on initially armed Air Systems?
Other maintenance activities not specifically prohibited in the technical instruction.
What must be done when maintenance activities are authorized on initially armed Air Systems?
A risk assessment must be carried out and safety precautions specified.
What is the condition for corrective maintenance on combat armed aircraft?
Corrective maintenance is only to be carried out if an unacceptable delay or a mission abort would occur and when approved by an authorised individual who has conducted a risk assessment.
Is preventive maintenance allowed on final armed or combat armed Air Systems?
No preventive maintenance of any sort is to be undertaken unless detailed in the relevant technical instruction.
What must the authorised individual specify when authorising maintenance on armed aircraft?
The authorised individual must specify the maintenance activity and the additional precautions required to reduce risk and enhance safety.
What considerations must be taken into account for maintenance on armed aircraft?
Considerations include enhancing supervision, safety implications, provision of additional fire and rescue facilities, necessity for direct involvement in supervision, and provision of a safety briefing.
What should be done if maintenance activities require work near loaded directional weapons?
Maintenance activities must be kept to an absolute minimum and the system must revert to the ‘initially armed’ state before any maintenance activity.
What is the requirement regarding electromagnetic radiation hazard instructions?
No relaxation of the electromagnetic radiation hazard instruction is permitted; the aircraft must be downloaded before investigation if risks are identified.
